Porphyria's Lover

1The rain set early in to-night,

2 The sullen wind was soon awake,

3It tore the elm-tops down for spite,

4 And did its worst to vex the lake:

5 I listened with heart fit to break.

6When glided in Porphyria; straight

7 She shut the cold out and the storm,

8And kneeled and made the cheerless grate

9 Blaze up, and all the cottage warm;

10 Which done, she rose, and from her form

11Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,

12 And laid her soiled gloves by, untied

13Her hat and let the damp hair fall,

14 And, last, she sat down by my side

15 And called me. When no voice replied,

16She put my arm about her waist,

17 And made her smooth white shoulder bare,

18And all her yellow hair displaced,

19 And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,

20 And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair,

21Murmuring how she loved me — she

22 Too weak, for all her heart's endeavour,

23To set its struggling passion free

24 From pride, and vainer ties dissever,

25 And give herself to me for ever.

26But passion sometimes would prevail,

27 Nor could to-night's gay feast restrain

28A sudden thought of one so pale

29 For love of her, and all in vain:

30 So, she was come through wind and rain.