Whence shall she take a fitting mate?
⁠For Kate no common love will feel;
My woman-soldier, gallant Kate,
⁠As pure and true as blades of steel.

Kate saith "the world is void of might."
⁠Kate saith "the men are gilded flies."
⁠Kate snaps her fingers at my vows;
⁠Kate will not hear of lover's sighs.
I would I were an armèd knight,
⁠Farfamed for wellwon enterprise,
⁠And wearing on my swarthy brows
⁠The garland of new-wreathed emprise;
⁠For in a moment I would pierce
The blackest files of clanging fight,
And strongly strike to left and right,
⁠In dreaming of my lady's eyes.
⁠Oh! Kate loves well the bold and fierce;
⁠But none are bold enough for Kate,
⁠She cannot find a fitting mate.