Answer:
- My hour of rest had fleeted by, And back came labor, bondage, care.
- Could I have lingered but an hour, It well had paid a week of toil;
Explanation:
Study island explanation:
In the poem, the poet imagines that she escapes the demands of daily life through nature. Therefore, "Could I have lingered but an hour, / It well had paid a week of toil;" is a correct answer as it addresses the theme of nature as open and freeing. Despite the ideas of freedom conveyed by these lines, the poet goes on to say that she must return to her tasks and chores. Therefore, "My hour of rest had fleeted by, / And back came labor, bondage, care" is a correct answer as it addresses the theme that as freeing as nature is, the duty of work cannot be fully escaped.