Robert Williams Buchanan

“ Not a wedded man and woman.
II.
Wife, like a tragedy queen in a play,
Tossed her sweet little head in as lofty a way
As so little a woman was able;
She clenched her lips with a sneer and a frown,
While I, being rougher, stamped up and down,
Like a careless groom in a stable. ”

“ In the great fierce fights of the world we try
To shield one mother, my wife and I,
⁠Like brave strong man and woman;
But the trivial quarrels o' days and nights
Unshackle our souls for the great fierce fights,
⁠And keep us lowly and human. ”

“ Thro’ yellow meadows of wheat and bean,
And thro’ green wood and glade;
The balmy peace he found not then
Among the busy haunts of men,
He sought in summer shade,
And all day long as thus he rode
Unrest within his heart abode. ”

“ The lust of women and of wine,
And seek the lily white flower of kings;
In whose left court degenerate knights
Wanton like swine in gross delights,
Killing the heart's pure quiet
With petty rage and riot! ”

“ While, bound in tears that find no pause,
I haunt the shadowy counterpart
Of the decay myself did cause;
A devil gnaws me day and night,
While, guided by that stainless light,
Thou sailest to thy master. ”

“ The peace it sees around about;
Here day and night at last unite
To make a very calm delight
Of beautiful romances,
Cool pulses, and pure fancies.
XXIX.
"Here Nature is her own sweet law,
Beauty completes her mission here!" ”

“ Thro’ thickest woods his way he took,
Thro’ many a deep and chilly brook,
And foamy water-course,
Two summer days; then on the plain
He halted with Maid Avoraine.
XX.
When at the cottage door they stopt,
Down at his feet the maiden dropt,
Worn with the weary race ”

“ At my swift horse’s side,
Thro’ bush, thro’ brake, thro’ thorny woods,
And swimming over swollen floods.
XX.
“The ladies of the court I leave
Are false and fair,—their smiles deceive
The foolish and the mad ”