Lo! as a careful housewife runs to catch
One of her feather'd creatures broke away,
Sets down her babe and makes an swift dispatch
In pursuit of the thing she would have stay,
Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase,
Cries to catch her whose busy care is bent
To follow that which flies before her face,
Not prizing her poor infant's discontent;
So runn'st thou after that which flies from thee,
Whilst I thy babe chase thee afar behind;
But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me,
And play the mother's part, kiss me, be kind:
  So will I pray that thou mayst have thy 'Will,'
  If thou turn back, and my loud crying still.

看呀，像一个小心翼翼的主妇
跑着去追撵一只逃走的母鸡，
把孩子扔下，拚命快跑，要抓住
那个她急着要得回来的东西；
被扔下的孩子紧跟在她后头，
哭哭啼啼要赶上她，而她只管
望前一直追撵，一步也不停留，
不顾她那可怜的小孩的不满：
同样，你追那个逃避你的家伙，
而我（你的孩子）却在后头追你；
你若赶上了希望，请回头照顾我，
尽妈妈的本分，轻轻吻我，很和气。
　　只要你回头来抚慰我的悲啼，
　　我就会祷告神让你从心所欲。