262 LAY OF THE ROSE. 



" For if I wait," said she, 



" Till times for roses be, 

 For the musk rose, and the moss rose, 

 Royal red and maiden blush rose, 



" What glory then for me, 



In such a company ? 

 Roses plenty, roses plenty, 

 And one nightingale for twenty ! 



< Nay, let me in," said she, 



*t Before the rest are free, 

 In my loneness, in my loneness, 

 All the fairer for that oneness. 



" For I would lonely stand, 



Uplifting my white hand, 

 On a mission, on a mission, 

 To declare the coming vision. 



" See mine, a holy heart, 



To high ends set apart, 

 All unmated, all unmated, 

 Because so consecrated. 



