Explore "A Church Romance" by Thomas Hardy on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
(MELLSTOCK _circa_ 1835)
SHE turned in the high pew, until her sight / Swept the west gallery, and caught its row / Of music-men with viol, book, and bow / Against the sinking sad tower-window light.
She turned again; and in her pride's despite / One strenuous viol's inspirer seemed to throw / A message from his string to her below, / Which said: "I claim thee as my own forthright!"
Thus their hearts' bond began, in due time signed. / And long years thence, when Age had scared Romance, / At some old attitude of his or glance / That gallery-scene would break upon her mind, / With him as minstrel, ardent, young, and trim, / Bowing "New Sabbath" or "Mount Ephraim. "