A Lovely Woman

In fancy I could see her stand

Before a savage, fighting band,

And make them, with her words and looks,

Exchange their spears for shepherd’s crooks,

And sing to sheep in quiet nooks;

In fancy saw her beauty make

A thousand gentle priests uptake

Arms for her sake, and shed men’s blood.

The fairest piece of womanhood,

Lovely in feature, farm and grace,

I ever saw, in any place.