No. 35.—A Fleet of Ships.
My fleet of ships went over the sea,
Bound for a distant shore.
One day, they all came back to me,
And marvellous freight they bore.
The first brought home a cargo of love,
The second, labor and toil;
A title the third on me bestowed;
The fourth gave claim to the soil;
The fifth my knees bent low in prayer;
The sixth gave control of men;
The seventh another put under my care;
The eighth in my hand laid a pen;
The ninth sent me far away from my home;
The tenth gave me limitless power;
The eleventh put me in charge of a court;
The twelfth made learning its dower;
Number thirteen brought me a steed;
Fourteen forth sent me to preach;
Fifteen gave charge of other men's goods;
Sixteen brought duty to teach;
Seventeen to another bound me for years;
Eighteen left no leisure from writing;
Nineteen supplied me aid in my work;
While twenty gave position for fighting.