| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | The Shepherdess | | By Alice Meynell (1847–1922) |
| | | SHE walks—the lady of my delight— | |
| A shepherdess of sheep. | |
| Her flocks are thoughts. She keeps them white; | |
| She guards them from the steep; | |
| She feeds them on the fragrant height, | 5 |
| And folds them in for sleep. | |
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| She roams maternal hills and bright, | |
| Dark valleys safe and deep. | |
| Into that tender breast at night | |
| The chastest stars may peep. | 10 |
| She walks—the lady of my delight— | |
| A shepherdess of sheep. | |
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| She holds her little thoughts in sight, | |
| Though gay they run and leap. | |
| She is so circumspect and right; | 15 |
| She has her soul to keep. | |
| She walks—the lady of my delight— | |
| A shepherdess of sheep. | | | | |
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