44
ENOCH ARDEN.
As tho’ it were the burthen of a song,
‘Not to tell her, never to let her know.’
‘Not to tell her, never to let her know.’
He was not all unhappy. His resolve
Upbore him, and firm faith, and evermore
Prayer from a living source within the will,
And beating up thro’ all the bitter world,
Like fountains of sweet water in the sea,
Kept him a living soul. ‘This miller’s wife’
He said to Miriam ‘that you spoke about,
Has she no fear that her first husband lives?’
‘Ay, ay, poor soul’ said Miriam, ‘fear enow!
If you could tell her you had seen him dead,
Why, that would be her comfort;’ and he thought
‘After the Lord has call’d me she shall know,
I wait His time,’ and Enoch set himself,
Scorning an alms, to work whereby to live.
Almost to all things could he turn his hand.
Cooper he was and carpenter, and wrought
To make the boatmen fishing-nets, or help’d
Upbore him, and firm faith, and evermore
Prayer from a living source within the will,
And beating up thro’ all the bitter world,
Like fountains of sweet water in the sea,
Kept him a living soul. ‘This miller’s wife’
He said to Miriam ‘that you spoke about,
Has she no fear that her first husband lives?’
‘Ay, ay, poor soul’ said Miriam, ‘fear enow!
If you could tell her you had seen him dead,
Why, that would be her comfort;’ and he thought
‘After the Lord has call’d me she shall know,
I wait His time,’ and Enoch set himself,
Scorning an alms, to work whereby to live.
Almost to all things could he turn his hand.
Cooper he was and carpenter, and wrought
To make the boatmen fishing-nets, or help’d
