All in the golden afternoon Full leisurely we glide; For both our oars,with little skill, By little arms are plied, While little hands make vain pretence Our wanderings to guide. Ah,cruel Three!In such an hour, Beneath such dreamy weather, To beg a tale of breath too weak To stir the tiniest feather! Yet what can one poor voice avail Against three tongues together? Imperious Prima flashes forth Her edict“to begin it”: In gentler tones Secunda hopes “There will be nonsense in it!!” While Tertia interrupts the tale Not more than once a minute. Anon,to sudden silence won, In fancy they pursue The dream-child moving through a land Of wonders wild and new, In friendly chat with bird or beast- And half believe it true.All in the golden afternoon Full leisurely we glide ; For both our oars, with little skill, By little arms are plied, While little hands make vain pretence Our wanderings to guide. Ah, cruel Three ! In such an hour, Beneath such dreamy weather, To beg a tale of breath too weak To stir the tiniest feather ! Yet what can one poor voice avail Against three tongues together ? Imperious Prima flashes forth Her edict “ to begin it ” : In gentler tones Secunda hopes “ There will be nonsense in it ! ” While Tertia interrupts the tale Not more than once a minute. Anon, to sudden silence won, In fancy they pursue The dream-child moving through a land Of wonders wild and new, In friendly chat with bird or beast— And half believe it true