If God will give our poor friend health once more
Then have I vow’d that never will I take
A veil, save one that weds me to the Church.”
“My daughter,—what?” he ask’d, “you never take—
Ay, what is this you say?—you wed the Church?—
In God’s name, child, explain yourself.”
“A vow,”
I said, “A vow that I have made the Virgin.”
“What strange, what thoughtless deed is this?” he ask’d.
“You take a vow, one not to be recall’d,