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!”
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.

Weeping, weeping late and early,
Walking up and pacing down,
Deeply mourn’d the Lord of Burleigh,
Burleigh-house by Stamford-town. 
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.”

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.

DORA.

BY LORD TENNYSON.

With farmer Allan at the farm abode
William and Dora.  William was his son,
And she his niece.  He often look’d at them,
And often thought “I’ll make them man and wife.” 
Now Dora felt her uncle’s will in all,
And yearn’d towards William; but the youth, because
He had been always with her in the house,
Thought not of Dora.

                 Then there came a day
     When Allan call’d his son, and said, “My son: 
     I married late, but I would wish to see
     My grandchild on my knees before I die: 
     And I have set my heart upon a match. 
     Now therefore look to Dora; she is well
     To look to; thrifty too beyond her age. 
     She is my brother’s daughter:  he and I
     Had once hard words, and parted, and he died
     In foreign lands; but for his sake I bred
     His daughter Dora:  take her for your wife;
     For I have wished this marriage, night and day,
     For many years.”  But William answered short: 
     “I cannot marry Dora; by my life,
     I will not marry Dora.”  Then the old man
     Was wroth, and doubled up his hands, and said: 
     “You will not, boy! you dare to answer thus! 
     But in my time a father’s word was law,
     And so it shall be now for me.  Look to it;
     Consider, William:  take a month to think,
     And let me have an answer to my wish;
     Or, by the Lord that made me, you shall pack
     And never more darken my doors again.” 
     But William answer’d madly; bit his lips,
     And broke away.  The more he looked at her
     The less he liked her; and his ways were harsh;
     But Dora bore them meekly.  Then before
     The month was out he left his father’s house,
     And hired himself to work within the fields;
     And half in love, half spite, he woo’d and wed
     A labourer’s daughter, Mary Morrison.