(O maidens, well you know how it was done!)
Stood a-gazing at her feet until he saw she was afraid
Of the water there a-whimpling in the sun.
Now that simple lad had in him all the makings of a man;
And he stammered, “I had better lift you over!”
Said the dainty, dainty maid—“Do you really think you can?”
And the water hid its laughter in the clover.
So he carried her across, with his eyes cast down,
And his foolish heart a-quaking with delight.
And the maid she looked him over with her elfin eyes of brown;