| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| The Water Lady |
| | | Thomas Hood (1799–1845) |
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| ALAS, the moon should ever beam | |
| To show what man should never see! | |
| I saw a maiden on a stream, | |
| And fair was she! | |
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| I stayed awhile, to see her throw | 5 |
| Her tresses back, that all beset | |
| The fair horizon of her brow | |
| With clouds of jet. | |
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| I stayed a little while to view | |
| Her cheek, that wore in place of red | 10 |
| The bloom of water, tender blue, | |
| Daintily spread. | |
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| I stayed to watch, a little space, | |
| Her parted lips if she would sing; | |
| The waters clos’d above her face | 15 |
| With many a ring. | |
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| And still I stayed a little more: | |
| Alas, she never comes again! | |
| I throw my flowers from the shore, | |
| And watch in vain. | 20 |
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| I know my life will fade away, | |
| I know that I must vainly pine, | |
| For I am made of mortal clay, | |
| But she’s divine! | |
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