| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Robert Browning. 1812–1889 |
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| 724. Meeting at Night |
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| THE gray sea and the long black land; | |
| And the yellow half-moon large and low; | |
| And the startled little waves that leap | |
| In fiery ringlets from their sleep, | |
| As I gain the cove with pushing prow, | 5 |
| And quench its speed i' the slushy sand. | |
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| Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach; | |
| Three fields to cross till a farm appears; | |
| A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch | |
| And blue spurt of a lighted match, | 10 |
| And a voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears, | |
| Than the two hearts beating each to each! | |
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