XIII
‘Nay, nay,’ sweet Jesus said,
‘Nay, nay, that may not be,
For there are too many sinful souls
Crying out for the help of me.’
[111. The Seven Virgins]
I
All under the leaves and the leaves of life
I met with virgins seven,
And one of them was Mary mild,
Our Lord’s mother of Heaven.
II
‘O what are you seeking, you seven fair maids,
All under the leaves of life?
Come tell, come tell, what seek you
All under the leaves of life?’
III
‘We’re seeking for no leaves, Thomas,
But for a friend of thine;
We’re seeking for sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our guide and thine.’