Cousin Kate Christina Rossetti

A young woman tells us about a relationship she had.

She is a “cottage maiden” who works in the fields She is a “cottage maiden” who works in the fields. She tells us she was once “contented with my cottage mates “

She tells us she met a lord who “lured” her to his palace.

shameless” life with him. She lived a“shameful, shameless” life with him. She says he “wore me like a silken knot” “he changed me like a glove”

She tells us how the lord then left her for her for her “Cousin Kate” “So now I moan an unclean thing Who might have been a dove”

“O Lady Kate, my cousin Kate You grew more fair than I” She seems jealous of her cousin. “O Lady Kate, my cousin Kate You grew more fair than I”

She describes the lord as a predator who stalks women. “He watched your steps along the lane, Your work among the rye”

She seems angry and bitter that Kate has taken her place with the lord. “He lifted you from mean estate To sit with him on high”

She is upset that the lord married her cousin. “The neighbours call you good and pure, Call me an outcast thing”

She compares her life with her now wealthy cousin, she is jealous and bitter. “You sit in gold and sing” “I sit and howl in dust”

“O cousin Kate, my love was true, Your love was writ in sand” She is jealous and bitter – she claims she loved the lord but Kate married him for his money. “O cousin Kate, my love was true, Your love was writ in sand” “I would have spit in his face And not have taken his hand”

However, she is pleased that Kate cannot seem to get pregnant. “For all your clothes and wedding- ring I little doubt you fret”

She is very proud and protective of her child from the relationship. “My fair-haired son, my shame, my pride Cling closer, closer yet:”

She realises the Lord will be desperate to have a son to inherit his land and wealth. “Your father would give lands for one to wear his coronet.”