Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/152

126 The fairies with their knights long since enchanted. Peace to the aisles by their fair presence haunted! And now the witch was ready. First of all, She lifted high her hands, then let them fall, While Vincen had like holy Lawrence lain Upon the porphyry table, mute with pain.

And mightily the spirit of the crone Appeared to work within her; and as grown She seemed, when, rising to her height anew, She plunged her ladle in the boiling stew That overflowed the caldron in the heat, While all the cats arose and ringed her feet,

And, with her left hand, unto Vincen's breast Applied the scalding drops with solemn zest, Gazing intently on him where he lay, Until the cruel hurt was charmed away; And all the while, "The Lord is born, is dead, Is risen, shall rise again," she murmurèd.

Last on the quivering flesh the cross she made Thrice with her toe-nail; as in forest glade A tigress fiercely claws her fallen prey. And now her speech maketh tumultuous way To where the dim gates of the future are. "Yea, he shall rise! I see him now afar