Algernon Charles Swinburne — The Kings Daughter

We were ten maidens in the green corn,         Small red leaves in the mill-water: Fairer maidens never were born,         Apples of gold for the king's daughter. We were ten maidens by a well-head,         Small white birds in the mill-water: Sweeter maidens never were wed,         Rings of red for the king's daughter. The first to spin, the second to sing,         Seeds of wheat in the mill-water; The third may was a goodly thing,         White bread and brown for the king's daughter. The fourth to sew and the fifth to play,         Fair green weed in the mill-water; The sixth may was a goodly may,         White wine and red for the king's daughter. The seventh to woo, the eighth to wed,         Fair thin reeds in the mill-water; The ninth had gold work on her head,         Honey in the comb for the king's daughter. The ninth had gold work round her hair,         Fallen flowers in the mill-water; The tenth may was goodly and fair,         Golden gloves for the king's daughter. We were ten maidens in a field green,         Fallen fruit in the mill-water; Fairer maidens never have been,         Golden sleeves for the king's daughter. By there comes the king's young son,         A little wind in the mill-water; "Out of ten maidens ye'll grant me one,"         A crown of red for the king's daughter. "Out of ten mays ye'll give me the best,"         A little rain in the mill-water; A bed of yellow straw for all the rest,         A bed of gold for the king's daughter. He's ta'en out the goodliest,         Rain that rains in the mill-water; A comb of yellow shell for all the rest,         A comb of gold for the king's daughter. He's made her bed to the goodliest,         Wind and hail in the mill-water; A grass girdle for all the rest,         A girdle of arms for the king's daughter. He's set his heart to the goodliest,         Snow that snows in the mill-water; Nine little kisses for all the rest,         An hundredfold for the king's daughter. He's ta'en his leave at the goodliest,         Broken boats in the mill-water; Golden gifts for all the rest,         Sorrow of heart for the king's daughter. "Ye'll make a grave for my fair body,"         Running rain in the mill-water; "And ye'll streek my brother at the side of me,"         The pains of hell for the king's daughter.