Late Lyrics and Earlier, With Many Other Verses/The Wedding Morning

by Thomas Hardy

THE WEDDING MORNING

ΤΑBITHA dressed for her wedding:—
"Tabby, why look so sad?"
"—O I feel a great gloominess spreading, spreading,
Instead of supremely glad! . . .

"I called on Carry last night,
And he came whilst I was there,
Not knowing I'd called. So I kept out of sight,
And I heard what he said to her:

"'—Ah, I'd far liefer marry
You, Dear, to-morrow!' he said,
'But that cannot be.'—O I'd give him to Carry,
And willingly see them wed,

“But how can I do it when
His baby will soon be born?
After that I hope I may die. And then
She can have him. I shall not mourn!'