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1840–1928

THE MAN WITH A PAST

Thomas Hardy

There was merry-making When the first dart fell As a heralding, - Till grinned the fully bared thing,

And froze like a spell - Like a spell. Innocent was she, Innocent was I,

Too simple we! Before us we did not see, Nearing, aught wry - Aught wry!

I can tell it not now, It was long ago; And such things cow; But that is why and how

Two lives were so - Were so. Yes, the years matured, And the blows were three

That time ensured On her, which she dumbly endured; And one on me - One on me.

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