1
She can knead the dough, ply the distaff, and sit by the lattice and watch and wait.
2
Ply the distaff, my maids-plythe distaff-before
3
Ply the distaff, my maids, ply the distaff no more;
4
She moves in august majesty, a sore-tried queen, and leaps in merry laughter as a care-free slave; pipes, sings and plies the distaff.