Page:Aurora Leigh a Poem.djvu/393

He could not sleep for pastime? Nay, I swear
By life and love, that, if I lived like some,
And loved like . . some . . ay, loved you, Romney Leigh,
As some love (eyes that have wept so much, see clear),
I’ve room for no more children in my arms;
My kisses are all melted on one mouth;
I would not push my darling to a stool
To dandle babies. Here’s a hand, shall keep
For ever clean without a marriage-ring,
To tend my boy, until he cease to need
One steadying finger of it, and desert
(Not miss) his mother’s lap, to sit with men.
And when I miss him (not he me) I’ll come
And say, ‘Now give me some of Romney’s work,
To help your outcast orphans of the world,
And comfort grief with grief.’ For you, meantime,
Most noble Romney, wed a noble wife,
And open on each other your great souls,—
I need not farther bless you. If I dared
But strain and touch her in her upper sphere,
And say, ‘Come down to Romney—pay my debt!
I should be joyful with the stream of joy
Sent through me. But the moon is in my face . .
I dare not,—though I guess the name he loves;
I’m learned with my studies of old days,
Remembering how he crushed his under-lip
When some one came and spoke, or did not come.
Aurora, I could touch her with my hand,
And fly, because I dare not.’
⁠She was gone.