Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. V. Browning to Rupert Brooke

Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton (1809–1885)

Shadows

THEY seemed to those who saw them meet

The casual friends of every day,

Her smile was undisturbed and sweet,

His courtesy was free and gay.

But yet if one the other’s name

In some unguarded moment heard,

The heart, you thought so calm and tame,

Would struggle like a captured bird:

And letters of mere formal phrase

Were blistered with repeated tears,—

And this was not the work of days,

But had gone on for years and years!

Alas! that Love was not too strong

For maiden shame and manly pride!

Alas! that they delayed so long

The goal of mutual bliss beside.

Yet what no chance could then reveal,

And neither would be first to own,

Let fate and courage now conceal,

When truth could bring remorse alone.