25 APRIL 1952, Page 11

I'm Through With You For Ever

The oddest, surely, of odd tales Recorded by the French Concerns a sneak-thief of Marseilles Tried by a callous Bench.

His youth, his innocency, his tears— No, nothing could abate

Their sentence of : " One hundred years In galleys of the State."

Nevertheless, old wives affirm And annalists agree, He sweated out the whole damned term, Bowed stiffly and went free.

Then ccm:. my angry love, review Your sentence of today.

" For ever " was unjust of you, The end too far away.

Give me four hundred years, or five—

Can rage be so intense ?- And I will sweat them out alive To prove my impenitence.

ROBERT GRAVES.