Thomas Hardy

The Wedding Morning

Tabitha 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!’