She then took the hair and tied it round me, singing a strange, sweet song, which I could not understand, but which left in me a feeling like this-- "I saw thee ne'er before; I see thee never more; But love, and help, and pain, beautiful one, Have made thee mine, till all my years are done." I cannot put more of it into words.

She closed her arms about me again, and went on singing.

The rain in the leaves, and a light wind that had arisen, kept her song company.

I was wrapt in a trance of still delight.
It told me the secret of the woods, and the flowers, and the birds.

At one time I felt as if I was wandering in childhood through sunny spring forests, over carpets of primroses, anemones, and little white starry things--I had almost said creatures, and finding new wonderful flowers at every turn.