A little lamb had Mary, sweet, With a fleece that shamed the driven snow. Not alone Mary went when she moved her feet (For a little lamb had Mary, sweet) And it tagged her ’round with a pensive bleat, And wherever she went it wanted to go―― A little lamb had Mary, sweet, With a fleece that shamed the driven snow. ―――― _As Mr. Browning Has It._ You knew her?――Mary the small, How of a summer――or, no, was it fall? The latter, I think――a lamb she received? You’d never have thought it――never believed, But the girl owned a lamb last fall. Its wool was subtly, silky white, Color of lucent obliteration of night―― Like the shimmering snow or――our Clothild’s arm!―― You’ve seen her arm――her right, I mean―― The other she scalded a-washing, I ween―― How white it is and soft and warm? Ah, there was soul’s heart-love, deep, true and tender, Wherever went Mary, the maiden so slender, There followed, his all-absorbed passion, inciting, That passionate lambkin――her soul’s heart delighting―― Ay, every place that Mary sought in That lamb was sure to soon be caught in. ―――― _As Longfellow Might have Done It._ Fair the daughter known as Mary, Fair and full of fun and laughter, Owned a lamb, a little he-goat, Owned him all herself and solely. White the lamb’s wool as the Gotchi―― The great Gotchi, driving snowstorm. Hither Mary went and thither, But went with her to all places, Sure as brook to run to river, Her pet lambkin following with her. ―――― _How Andrew Lang Sings It._ Rondeau. A wonderful lass was Marie, petite. And she looked full fair and passing sweet―― And, oh! she owned――but cannot you guess What pet _can_ a maiden so love and caress As a tiny lamb with a plaintive bleat And mud upon his dainty feet, And a gentle veally odour of meat? And a fleece to finger and kiss and press―― White as snow? Wherever she wandered――in lane or street As she sauntered on, there at her feet She would find that lambkin――bless The dear!――treading on her dainty dress, Her dainty dress, fresh and neat―― White as snow. ―――― _Mr. Algernon C. Swinburne’s Idea._ Villanelle. Dewy-eyed with shimmering hair, Maiden and lamb were a sight to see, For her pet was white as she was fair. And its lovely fleece was beyond compare, And dearly it loved its Mistress Marie, Dewy-eyed, with shimmering hair. Its warped wool was an inwove snare To tangle her fingers in, where they could be (For her pet was white as she was fair) Lost from sight, both so snow-white were, And the lambkin adored the maiden wee―― Dewy-eyed with shimmering hair.