II

William Habberton drank his ale;

An iron man! An iron man!

—Without the first stars, cold and pale,

Streaked heaven with radiance milky-wan.

William Habberton sat at meat;

He frowned an oaken frown and stark.

The lovers cursed at Time, the fleet,

And stumbled, kissing, towards the dark.

And as they went the purse chinked thrice,