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.
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