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<h3>The Lord of Burleigh.</h3> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> In her ear he whispers gaily, "If my heart by signs can tell, Maiden, I have watched thee daily, And I think thou lov'st me well." She replies, in accents fainter, "There is none I love like thee." He is but a landscape-painter, <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's note: Original had a page break here: a stanza break may not have been intended.">And a village maiden she.</ins> </div> <div class="stanza"> He to lips, that fondly falter, Presses his without reproof; Leads her to the village altar, And they leave her father's roof. </div> <div class="stanza"> "I can make no marriage present; Little can I give my wife. Love will make our cottage pleasant, And I love thee more than life." </div> <div class="stanza"> They by parks and lodges going See the lordly castles stand; Summer woods, about them blowing, Made a murmur in the land. </div> <div class="stanza"> From deep thought himself he rouses, Says to her that loves him well, "Let us see these handsome houses Where the wealthy nobles dwell." </div> <div class="stanza"> So she goes by him attended, Hears him lovingly converse, Sees whatever fair and splendid Lay betwixt his home and hers. </div> <div class="stanza"> Parks with oak and chestnut shady, Parks and order'd gardens great, Ancient homes of lord and lady, Built for pleasure and for state. </div> <div class="stanza"> All he shows her makes him dearer; Evermore she seems to gaze On that cottage growing nearer, <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's note: Original had a page break here: a stanza break may not have been intended.">Where they twain will spend their days.</ins> </div> <div class="stanza"> O but she will love him truly! He shall have a cheerful home; She will order all things duly When beneath his roof they come. </div> <div class="stanza"> Thus her heart rejoices greatly Till a gateway she discerns With armorial bearings stately, And beneath the gate she turns; Sees a mansion more majestic Than all those she saw before; Many a gallant gay domestic Bows before him at the door. </div> <div class="stanza"> And they speak in gentle murmur When they answer to his call, While he treads with footstep firmer, Leading on from hall to hall. </div> <div class="stanza"> And while now she wanders blindly, Nor the meaning can divine, Proudly turns he round and kindly, "All of this is mine and thine." </div> <div class="stanza"> Here he lives in state and bounty, Lord of Burleigh, fair and free. Not a lord in all the county Is so great a lord as he. All at once the colour flushes Her sweet face from brow to chin; As it were with same she blushes, <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's note: Original had a page break here: a stanza break may not have been intended.">And her spirit changed within.</ins> </div> <div class="stanza"> Then her countenance all over Pale again as death did prove: But he clasp'd her like a lover, And he cheer'd her soul with love. </div> <div class="stanza"> So she strove against her weakness, Tho' at times her spirits sank; Shaped her heart with woman's meekness To all duties of her rank; And a gentle consort made he, And her gentle mind was such That she grew a noble lady, And the people loved her much. But a trouble weigh'd upon her And perplex'd her, night and morn, With the burden of an honour Unto which she was not born. </div> <div class="stanza"> Faint she grew and ever fainter. As she murmur'd, "Oh, that he Were once more that landscape-painter Which did win my heart from me!" </div> <div class="stanza"> So she droop'd and droop'd before him, Fading slowly from his side; Three fair children first she bore him, Then before her time she died. </div> <div class="stanza"> Weeping, weeping late and early, Walking up and pacing down, Deeply mourn'd the Lord of Burleigh, <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's note: Original had a page break here: a stanza break may not have been intended.">Burleigh-house by Stamford-town.</ins> </div> <div class="stanza"> And he came to look upon her, And he look'd at her and said, "Bring the dress and put it on her That she wore when she was wed." </div> <div class="stanza"> Then her people, softly treading, Bore to earth her body, drest In the dress that she was wed in, That her spirit might have rest. </div> </td></tr></table> Alfred Tennyson. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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