25 Lone inns we loved, my man and I, My man and I; 'King's Stag', 'Windwhistle'4 high and dry, 'The Horse' on Hintock Green, The cozy house at Wynyard's Gap, 30 'The Hut' renowned on Bredy Knap, And many another wayside tap? taproom, inn Where folk might sit unseen.
5
Now as we trudged?O deadly day, O deadly day!? 35 I teased my fancy-man in play
And wanton idleness. I walked alongside jeering John, I laid his hand my waist upon; I would not bend my glances on
40 My lover's dark distress.
6 Thus Poldon top at last we won, At last we won,
2. Path running along a ditch. beautiful spot near which it stands and entering 3. Sad because of the Battle of Sedgemoor (1685), the inn for tea, he was informed by the landlady when the rebellion of the duke of Monmouth that none could be had, unless he would fetch
against James II was crushed with excessive cru-water from a valley half a mile off, the house con
elty. taining not a drop, owing to its situation. However,
4. The highness and dryness of Windwhistle Inn a tantalizing row of full barrels behind her back was impressed upon the writer two or three years testified to a wetness of a certain sort, which was
ago, when, after climbing on a hot afternoon to the not at that time desired [Hardy's note].
.
187 4 / THOMAS HARDY
And gained the inn at sink of sun
Far-famed as 'Marshal's Elm'.5
45 Beneath us figured tor and lea,6
From Mendip to the western sea?
I doubt if finer sight there be
Within this royal realm. 7
Inside the settle all a-row?
50 All four a-row
We sat, I next to John, to show
That he had wooed and won.
And then he took me on his knee,
And swore it was his turn to be
55 My favoured mate, and Mother Lee
Passed to my former one.
8 Then in a voice I had never heard,
I had never heard,
My only Love to me: 'One word,
60 My lady, if you please!
Whose is the child you are like to bear??
His? After all my months o' care?'
God knows 'twas not! But, O despair!
I nodded?still to tease. 9
65 Then up he sprung, and with his knife?
And with his knife
He let out jeering Johnny's life,
Yes; there, at set of sun.
The slant ray through the window nigh
70 Gilded John's blood and glazing eye,
Ere scarcely Mother Lee and I
Knew that the deed was done.
10 The taverns tell the gloomy tale,
The gloomy tale,
75 How that at Ivel-chester jail
