The Project Gutenberg eBook, Aylwin, by Theodore Watts-Dunton

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Title: Aylwin

Author: Theodore Watts-Dunton

Release Date: September 14, 2004 [eBook #13454]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AYLWIN***

E-text prepared by Roy Brown, Trowbridge, England

AYLWIN

With Two Appendices, One Containing a Note on the Character of
D'arcy; the Other a Key to the Story, Reprinted from _Notes and
Queries_

by

THEODORE WATTS-DUNTON

Author of 'The Coming of Love: Rhona Boswell's Story,' etc. etc.

TO
C. J. R.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF SUNNY DAYS AND STARLIT NIGHTS
WHEN WE RAMBLED TOGETHER ON CRUMBLING CLIFFS THAT
ARE NOW AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
THIS EDITION OF A STORY WHICH HAS BEEN A LINK BETWEEN US
IS INSCRIBED

CAUGHT IN THE EBBING TIDE

A REMINISCENCE OF RAXTOX CLIFFS

The mightiest Titan's stroke could not withstand
An ebbing tide like this. These swirls denote
How wind and tide conspire. I can but float
To the open sea and strike no more for land.
Farewell, brown cliffs, farewell, beloved sand
Her feet have pressed--farewell, dear little boat
Where Gelert,[Footnote] calmly sitting on my coat,
Unconscious of my peril, gazes bland!

All dangers grip me save the deadliest, fear:
Yet these air-pictures of the past that glide--
These death-mirages o'er the heaving tide--
Showing two lovers in an alcove clear,
Will break my heart. I see them and I hear
As there they sit at morning, side by side.

[Footnote: A famous swimming dog.]

THE VISION

_With Barton elms behind--in front the sea,
Sitting in rosy light in that alcove,
They hear the first lark rise o'er Raxton Grove:
'What should I do with fame, dear heart?' says he,
'You talk of fame, poetic fame, to me
Whose crown is not of laurel but of love--
To me who would not give this little glove
On this dear hand for Shakespeare's dower in fee.

While, rising red and kindling every billow,
The sun's shield shines 'neath many a golden spear,
To lean with you, against this leafy pillow,
To murmur words of love in this loved ear--
To feel you bending like a bending willow,