Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/104

78 Confident came Veran to tell his passion, With paletot, in the Arlesian fashion, Long, light, and backward from his shoulders flowing; His gay-hued girdle like a lizard glowing, The while his head an oil-skin cap protected, Wherefrom the dazzling sun-rays were reflected.

And first the youth to Master Ramoun drew. "Good-morrow to you, and good fortune too!" He said. "I come from the Camargan Rhone, As keeper Pèire's grandson I am known. Thou mindest him! For twenty years or more My grandsire's horses trod thy threshing-floor.

"Three dozen had the old man venerable, As thou, beyond a doubt, rememberest well. But would I, Master Ramoun, it were given To thee to see the increase of that leaven! Let ply the sickles! We the rest will do, For now have we an hundred lacking two!"

"And long, my son," the old man said, "pray I That you may see them feed and multiply. I knew your grandsire well for no brief time; But now on him and me the hoary rime Of age descends, and by the home lamp's ray We sit content, and no more visits pay."