A Secret told－1
Ceases to be a Secret－then－
A Secret－kept－
That－can appal but One－
Better of it－continual be afraid－5
Than it－
And Whom you told it to－beside－
Ceases to be a Secret－then－
A Secret－kept－
That－can appal but One－
Better of it－continual be afraid－5
Than it－
And Whom you told it to－beside－
(F.643/J.381)
[1] A Secret:: secreta, a prayer or prayers said by the celebrant in a low voice after the Offertory and before the Preface (OED secret n. 2), about the money collected at that day.
[2] Ceases, Secret:: the celebrant knew the amount of money.
[3] A Secret kept:: the celebrant kept the collection amount as a secret. Two times leading "A Secret" hint at secreta.
[4] appal but One:: to dismay, terrify the celebrant, the only one who knew the amount.
[5] be afraid:: the donator feared others might know.
[6] Than it:: this open clause is suspicious, like a secret about someone's life.
[7] you:: the donator, who cannot tell anyone this secret.
Then the priest says in a low voice the prayers called the Secreta, which correspond to the collects of the day, and are different every day. He concludes by saying aloud, 'Per omnia saecula saeculorum,'－that is, 'world without end.' ─ The Baptist Magazine (1842)