Lilliput Levee [by W. B. Rands]: With illustrations by J. E. Millais and G. J. Pinwell |
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THE PENANCE OF THE LITTLE MAID. |
Lilliput Levee | ||
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THE PENANCE OF THE LITTLE MAID.
I met a fair maiden, I saw her plain,
In the five-acre when the corn was mellow,
Counting her fingers again and again,
Her kirtle was green, her hair was yellow.
In the five-acre when the corn was mellow,
Counting her fingers again and again,
Her kirtle was green, her hair was yellow.
“Oh, what are you counting, fair maid?” said I,
“Counting, I will be bound, your treasures?”
“Oh no, kind sir,” she made sad reply,
“Counting, for penance, my unshared pleasures.”
“Counting, I will be bound, your treasures?”
“Oh no, kind sir,” she made sad reply,
“Counting, for penance, my unshared pleasures.”
Her head was bent low, and slowly went she;
If she goes on straight, she must come to the sea!
If she goes on straight, she must come to the sea!
Blow, blow, south wind, the year's on the turn;
Creep, little blue-bell, close under the fern!
I hope that the penance the little maid is doing
Will be finished before winter comes with rattle, rain, and ruin?
Creep, little blue-bell, close under the fern!
I hope that the penance the little maid is doing
Will be finished before winter comes with rattle, rain, and ruin?
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“Oh yes, kind sir, my penance will be over,”
(She told me in a dream last night, I know it will come true,)
“Come and look for me next summer, when the bee is in the clover,
And I will share my pleasures then with you, you, you!”
(She told me in a dream last night, I know it will come true,)
“Come and look for me next summer, when the bee is in the clover,
And I will share my pleasures then with you, you, you!”
Lilliput Levee | ||