Thomas Hardy - The Man With A Past lyrics

There was merry-making When the first dart fell As a heralding, - Till grinned the fully bared thing, And froze like a spell - Like a spell. Innocent was she, Innocent was I, Too simple we! Before us we did not see, Nearing, aught wry - Aught wry! I can tell it not now, It was long ago; And such things cow; But that is why and how Two lives were so - Were so. Yes, the years matured, And the blows were three That time ensured On her, which she dumbly endured; And one on me - One on me.