It chanced his lips did meet her forehead cool. <br />She had no blush, but slanted down her eye. <br />Shamed nature, then, confesses love can die: <br />And most she punishes the tender fool <br />Who will believe what honours her the most! <br />Dead! is it dead? She has a pulse, and flow <br />Of tears, the price of blood-drops, as I know, <br />For whom the midnight sobs around Love's ghost, <br />Since then I heard her, and so will sob on. <br />The love is here; it has but changed its aim. <br />O bitter barren woman! what's the name? <br />The name, the name, the new name thou hast won? <br />Behold me striking the world's coward stroke! <br />That will I not do, though the sting is dire. <br />Beneath the surface this, while by the fire <br />They sat, she laughing at a quiet joke.<br /><br />George Meredith<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/modern-love-vi-it-chanced-his-lips-did-meet/
