This dainty maid, the hamlet’s pride, A lambkin trotting at her side, Then hied her through the park; A fond and gentle foster-dam— May be she slumbered with her lamb, Thus rising with the lark!
The lambkin frisk’d, the damsel fain Would wile him back,—she called in vain. The truant gamboll’d farther: One follow’d for the maiden’s sake, A pilgrim in an Angel’s wake— A happy pilgrim, rather.
The maid gave chase, the lambkin ran, As only woolly vagrant can, Who never felt a crook; But stay’d at length, as ’twere disposed To drink, where tawny sands disclosed The margent of a brook.
His mistress, who had follow’d fast, Cried, “Little rogue, you’re caught at last; I’m fleeter, Sir, than you.” Then straight the wanderer convey’d Where tangled shrubs, in branching shade, Protected her from view—
Of all save one. She glanced around, All fearful lest the slightest sound Might mortal footfall be. Then shrinkingly she stepped aside One moment, and her garter tied The truant to a tree.
Perhaps the world may wish to know The hue of this delightful bow, And how it might be placed: No, not from him, he only knows— It might be purple, blue, or rose,— ’Twas tied—with maiden taste.
Suffice it that the nymph was fair, With dove-like eyes, and golden hair, And feet of lily dye: And, though these feet were pure from stain, She turned her to the brook again, And laved them dreamingly.
Awhile she sat in maiden mood, And watch’d the shadows in the flood, Which varied with the stream: And as each pretty foot she dips, The ripples ope their crystal lips In welcome, as ’twould seem.
But reveries are fleeting things, Which come and go on Fancy’s wings, Now longer, and now shorter: The Fair One well her day-dream nurst, But, when the light-blown bubble burst, She wearied of the water;
Betook her to the spot where yet Safe tether’d lay her snowy pet, To roving tastes a martyr: But something met the damsel’s gaze, Which made her cry in sheer amaze, “Good gracious! where’s my garter?”
Yes! where indeed? the echoes there, Inquisitive, responded “where?” And mourn’d the missing fetter: A something else a little space Must render duty in its place, Till banish’d for a better.
The blushing Fair her lamb led home, Perhaps resolved no more to roam At peep of day together; If chance so takes them, it is plain She will not venture forth again Without an extra tether.