<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">To an Old Lady Seen at a Guesthouse for Soldiers</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Quiet</span> thou didst stand at thine appointed place,</p><p class="line">There was no press to purchase -- younger grace</p><p class="line">Attracts the youth of valour. Thou didst not know,</p><p class="line">Like the old, kindly Martha, to and fro</p><p class="line">To haste. Yet one could say, "In thine I prize</p><p class="line">The strength of calm that held in Mary's eyes."</p><p class="line">And when they came, thy gracious smile so wrought</p><p class="line">They knew that they were given, not that they bought.</p><p class="line">Thou didst not tempt to vauntings, and pretence</p><p class="line">Was dumb before thy perfect woman's sense.</p><p class="line">Blest who have seen, for they shall ever see</p><p class="line">The radiance of thy benignity.</p></div><p class="byline">Alexander Robertson</p></body></html> · Great War