She had a tall man’s height or more;
  Her face from summer’s noontide heat
  No bonnet shaded, but she wore
  A mantle, to her very feet
  Descending with a graceful flow, 5
  And on her head a cap as white as new-fallen snow. [1]

  Her skin was of Egyptian brown: 
  Haughty, as if her eye had seen
  Its own light to a distance thrown,
  She towered, fit person for a Queen [2] 10
  To lead [3] those ancient Amazonian files;
  Or ruling Bandit’s wife among the Grecian isles.

  Advancing, forth she stretched her hand
  And begged an alms with doleful plea
  That ceased not; on our English land 15
  Such woes, I knew, could never be; [4]
  And yet a boon I gave her, for the creature
  Was beautiful to see—­a weed of glorious feature. [B]

  I left her, and pursued my way;
  And soon before me did espy 20
  A pair of little Boys at play,
  Chasing a crimson butterfly;
  The taller followed with his hat in hand,
  Wreathed round with yellow flowers the gayest of the land. [5]

  The other wore a rimless crown 25
  With leaves of laurel stuck about;
  And, while both [6] followed up and down,
  Each whooping with a merry shout,
  In their fraternal features I could trace
  Unquestionable lines of that wild Suppliant’s face. [7] 30

  Yet they, so blithe of heart, seemed fit [8]
  For finest tasks of earth or air: 
  Wings let them have, and they might flit
  Precursors to [9] Aurora’s car,
  Scattering fresh flowers; though happier far, I ween, 35
  To hunt their fluttering game o’er rock and level green.

  They dart across my path—­but lo, [10]
  Each ready with a plaintive whine! 
  Said I, “not half an hour ago
  Your Mother has had alms of mine.” 40
  “That cannot be,” one answered—­“she is dead:”—­
  I looked reproof—­they saw—­but neither hung his head. [11]

  “She has been dead, Sir, many a day.”—­
  “Hush, boys! you’re telling me a lie; [12]
  It was your Mother, as I say!” 45
  And, in the twinkling of an eye,
  “Come! come!” cried one, and without more ado,
  Off to some other play the joyous Vagrants flew! [13] [C]

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1845.

  She had a tall Man’s height, or more;
  No bonnet screen’d her from the heat;
  A long drab-colour’d Cloak she wore,
  A Mantle reaching to her feet: 
  What other dress she had I could not know;
  Only she wore a Cap that was as white as snow. 1807.