Baffle him henceforth, keep him out who can!

Stop up the door at the first hint of hoof,

Presently at the window taps a horn,

And Satan 's by your fireside, never fear!

Pompilia, left alone now, found herself;

Found herself young too, sprightly, fair enough,

Matched with a husband old beyond his age

(Though that was something like four times her own)

Because of cares past, present and to come:

Found too the house dull and its inmates dead,