Hop-Gathering.
Mary.—
Oh the heart I used to have !1
Innocent and meek,2
Some one stole it suddenly,3
Kissed it from my cheek :4
Now the pride of bitterness5
Will not let me speak.6
Robin.—
There she sits, the idle thing,7
Careless as a queen ;8
Fairer in good sooth than all9
Queens that I have seen ;10
Queen of all the garden, she11
Knows it well I ween.12
Blossom of the vine is she,13
Gathered in my haste ;14
Who would give so fair a thing15
Such a bitter taste ?16
Who would think for such a thing17
I my life should waste ?18
Swaying lightly to and fro,19
Blossom of the vine,20
Any hand may gather it,21
Any hand but mine ;22
Any staff will serve for it,23
Such a clinging vine.24
Mary.—
Some one looks away from me,25
Let him look away,26
Other men will wait on me27
Gladly, all the day,28
If I had but heart enough29
Always to be gay !30
Robin.—
Does she droop, the little thing ?31
Paler is she too ?32
Robin, man, you are but dull,33
Know not how to woo ;34
’Tis of old the lover’s part35
Tenderly to sue.36
Softly dropped her little hand37
Down among the leaves ;38
Such a weary fall it had,39
As of one that grieves ;40
Then my heart leapt up, as one41
That at last believes.42
Does she leave me ? be it so,43
I will not forsake ;44
Does she spurn me ? better so45
Than two hearts should break ;46
Here unto her feet I go,47
My petition take.48
Mary.—
Oh, the meanest thing is pride—49
Better coward fear !50
Love, in brave humility,51
Come and nestle here ;52
Robin, if I kneel to you,53
Will you love me, dear ?54
A woman and man are foregrounded while a group of indistinct figures perform various
work tasks in the background. The man
stands to the left as he looks at the seated woman to his right. Her face is turned
away from the man and she clutches a cross
around her neck. There are trees and birds in the background. Full-page illustration
contained within a single-ruled
border.