| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | The Gifts Return’d | | By Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) |
| | | ‘YOU must give back,’ her mother said, | |
| To a poor sobbing little maid, | |
| ‘All the young man has given you, | |
| Hard as it now may seem to do.’ | |
| ‘’Tis done already, mother dear!’ | 5 |
| Said the sweet girl, ‘So, never fear.’ | |
| Mother. Are you quite certain? Come, recount | |
| (There was not much) the whole amount. | |
Girl. The locket: the kid gloves.
Mother. Go on. | |
| Girl. Of the kid gloves I found but one. | 10 |
| Mother. Never mind that. What else? Proceed. | |
You gave back all his trash?
Girl. Indeed. | |
| Mother. And was there nothing you would save? | |
| Girl. Everything I could give I gave. | |
Mother. To the last tittle?
Girl. Even to that. | 15 |
| Mother. Freely? | |
| Girl. My heart went pit-a-pat | |
| At giving up . . ah me! ah me! | |
| I cry so I can hardly see . . | |
| All the fond looks and words that past, | 20 |
| And all the kisses, to the last. | | | | |
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