Enoch Arden, &c. by Alfred Lord Tennyson
page 20 of 118 (16%)
page 20 of 118 (16%)
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Pray'd for a sign `my Enoch is he gone?'
Then compass'd round by the blind wall of night Brook'd not the expectant terror of her heart, Started from bed, and struck herself a light, Then desperately seized the holy Book, Suddenly set it wide to find a sign, Suddenly put her finger on the text, `Under a palmtree.' That was nothing to her: No meaning there: she closed the book and slept: When lo! her Enoch sitting on a height, Under a palmtree, over him the Sun: `He is gone' she thought `he is happy, he is singing Hosanna in the highest: yonder shines The Sun of Righteousness, and these be palms Whereof the happy people strowing cried "Hosanna in the highest!"' Here she woke, Resolved, sent for him and said wildly to him `There is no reason why we should not wed.' `Then for God's sake,' he answer'd, `both our sakes, So you will wed me, let it be at once.' So these were wed and merrily rang the bells, Merrily rang the bells and they were wed. But never merrily beat Annie's heart. A footstep seem'd to fall beside her path, She knew not whence; a whisper in her ear, She knew not what; nor loved she to be left Alone at home, nor ventured out alone. What ail'd her then, that ere she enter'd, often Her hand dwelt lingeringly on the latch, |
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