I have old women's secrets now br That had those of the young; br Madge tells me what I dared not think br When my blood was strong, br And what had drowned a lover once br Sounds like an old song. br br Though Margery is stricken dumb br If thrown in Madge's way, br We three make up a solitude; br For none alive to-day br Can know the stories that we know br Or say the things we say: br br How such a man pleased women most br Of all that are gone, br How such a pair loved many years br And such a pair but one, br Stories of the bed of straw br Or the bed of down.