Under a true man's hand."

I bow'd my head to hear it said

In words of long ago;

For ever since the world was made

Our lot was order'd so.

And I was bred in pious bed,

Brought up to be good:

Respect yourself, my mother said,

And rule your own mood.

Fend for yourself while you're a may,

And keep your own counsel,

And pick at what the neighbours say

As a bird picks at groundsel.

But Love said Nay to Watch and Pray

When the birds were singing,

And taught my heart a roundelay

Like the bells a-ringing;

And so blindfast I ran and cast

My treasure on the gale—

Would the storm-blast had snapt the mast

 Prev. P 12/82 next