ONCE, deep in thought, I, passing 'neath some trees, br Beheld a troop of maidens gathering flowers; br One cried: 'Ah look'; another: 'Nay, see these,' br 'What hast thou there? ' 'I doubt not lily-showers.' br 'And here, I trow, are violets blue.' br A rose — woe's me, a thorn hath pricked my finger through! ' br 'Alas, alas! ' br What's that in the grass? ' br 'A cricket.' 'Make haste, br Here are salads to taste.' br 'No, no! ' br 'But it's so.' br 97 'Thee and thee I will show br Where the mushrooms do grow: br And this is the way br For the wild-thyme spray.' br 'Come homewards, it darkeneth and soon it will rain, br It lightens, it thunders, hark! vespers again! ' br 'But it's early still! ' br 'Lend an ear if you will.' br 'The nightingale, I'll be bound.' br 'I hear a louder sound.' br ' 'Tis strange to me.' br 'O what can it be? ' br 'Where, where? ' br 'Out there? ' br 'In the bushes.' Tic, toc. br Ever nearer the knock, br Till a snake crept out: br Then they turned about br In a wild affright: br 'Ah me, sorry plight! ' br 'Alack aday! ' br 'Flee away! ' br Then the rain poured down forlorn, br One slipped, another fell, br One trod upon a thorn, br Bossoms were spilled pell-mell, br Some cast aside, some left to lie, br Most fortunate who could swiftest fly: br And while I watched what they would do br The rain-shower drenched me through and through.