THE SEVEN TIMES

The dark was thick. A boy he seemed at that time

Who trotted by me with uncertain air;

“I'll tell my tale,” he murmured, “for I fancy

A friend goes there?... "

Then thus he told. “I reached —‘ twas for the first time -

A dwelling. Life was clogged in me with care;

I thought not I should meet an eyesome maiden,

But found one there.

“I entered on the precincts for the second time -

‘ Twas an adventure fit and fresh and fair -

I slackened in my footsteps at the porchway,

And found her there.

“I rose and travelled thither for the third time,

The hope-hues growing gayer and yet gayer

As I hastened round the boscage of the outskirts,

And found her there.

“I journeyed to the place again the fourth time

( The best and rarest visit of the rare,

As it seemed to me, engrossed about these goings ),

And found her there.

“When I bent me to my pilgrimage the fifth time

( Soft-thinking as I journeyed I would dare

A certain word at token of good auspice ),

I found her there.

“That landscape did I traverse for the sixth time,

And dreamed on what we purposed to prepare;

I reached a tryst before my journey's end came,

And found her there.

“I went again — long after — aye, the seventh time;

The look of things was sinister and bare

As I caught no customed signal, heard no voice call,

Nor found her there.

“And now I gad the globe — day, night, and any time,

To light upon her hiding unaware,

And, maybe, I shall nigh me to some nymph-niche,

And find her there!”

" But how,” said I, “has your so little lifetime

Given roomage for such loving, loss, despair?

A boy so young!” Forthwith I turned my lantern

Upon him there.

His head was white. His small form, fine aforetime,

Was shrunken with old age and battering wear,

An eighty-years long plodder saw I pacing

Beside me there.