Bifurcation

We were two lovers; let me lie by her,     My tomb beside her tomb. On hers inscribe,     I loved him; but my reason bade prefer     Duty to love, reject the tempters bribe     Of rose and lily when each path diverged,     And either I must pace to lifes far end     As love should lead me, or, as duty urged,     Plod the worn causeway arm-in-arm with friend.     So, truth turned falsehood: How I loathe a flower,     How prize the pavement! still caressed his ear,     The deafish friends, through lifes day, hour by hour,     As he laughed (coughing). Ay, it would appear!     But deep within my heart of hearts there hid     Ever the confidence, amends for all,     That heaven repairs what wrong earths journey did,     When love from life-long exile comes at call.     Duty and love, one broad way, were the best,     Who doubts? But one or other was to choose,     I chose the darkling half, and wait the rest     In that new world where light and darkness fuse.     Inscribe on mine, I loved her: loves track lay     Oer sand and pebble, as all travellers know.     Duty led through a smiling country, gay     With greensward where the rose and lily blow.     Our roads are diverse: farewell, love! said she:     Tis duty I abide by: homely sward     And not the rock-rough picturesque for me!     Above, where both roads join, I wait reward.     Be you as constant to the path whereon     I leave you planted! But man needs must move,     Keep moving, whither, when the star is gone     Whereby he steps secure nor strays from love?     No stone but I was tripped by, stumbling-block     But brought me to confusion. Where I fell,     There I lay flat, if moss disguised the rock,     Thence, if flint pierced, I rose and cried Alls well!     Duty be mine to tread in that high sphere     Where love from duty neer disparts, I trust,     And two halves make that whole, whereof, since here     One must sufice a man, why, this one must!     Inscribe each tomb thus: then, some sage acquaint     The simple, which holds sinner, which holds saint!