252 
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 l 
“ Nay, let me in,” said she, 
u Before the rest are free, 
In my loneness, in my loneness. 
All the fairer for that oneness. 
u 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. 
