III.— IN DORSETSHIRE

Cold and bare the sunlight

Drifted across the hill,

Round which the sea wind's current

Unfathomable and chill,

From dawn to silver sunset

Poured now faint, now shrill.

“How to comfort you,

Share any part?

Even to understand you

Too deep an art!

Yet I'd comfort you,

Tear out my heart.”

“Do not look on me,

Dry eyes for my sake;

Do not smooth my forehead

Your hands make me ache;

O, and turn away your kisses

Or heart must break.”

Cold and bare the sunlight

Drifted across the hill,

Only the sea-wind's current,

Unfathomable and chill,

Heard such speech gather,

Bewail itself... fall still.

Toward the hill then zigzagged

One wind-harried plover —

Rocked for a moment....

Cried to love and lover

The top of loneliness

Ere he heeled over.