Two in a tower

Viviette, Lady Constantine, tender

Even at her thirty, was a splendour.

Her husband had no time to engage her

As with other women he was merrier.

The tender vine lady, stake less, wandered

And, on a lad in a tower, stumbled.

She endeared the lad to explore her

While he was there to explore stars elsewhere.

Her age and dignity held Swithin.

His age and purity held Viviette.

Death of her husband rescued her from guilt;

Warmth of her lover was free to travel.

The Bishop, a widower, was enchanted

With the company of Lady Constantine,

And was desperate to secure her hand,

Her young widowhood taken for granted.

Viviette had loved Swithin for her sake

And more for his sake; she subjected her

.Self-love to his benevolence, and made

Her motherly love shade her sexual love.

.

She coerced him to set out for his future

And forced herself to desert his gesture.

She made herself marry the widower

To be father for her expecting child.

Viviette again became a widow

And for Swithis’ return, she stood in glow.

The joy of reunion took her life;

The child got him, the bona fide father.

Her first husband deserted her

Her lover could not marry her.

Her second one is not her choice.

She thanked her lover with a child.

“‘tis in the mercy of her eye

If poor love shall live or die;

A silver line is her child,

In her life, full of cloud.”

29.08.2000

[ a novel by Thomas Hardy]