Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/273

Rh XI. The sea-breeze wilt thou, singer daring?
 * I can escape thee yet; for lo!

I 'll be the sun-ray, blinding, glaring,—
 * The fierce, hot ray that wastes the snow.

XII. O Magali! and wilt thou so?
 * Then, earthward faring,

I will an emerald lizard be,
 * And swallow thee.

XIII. And if thou turnest salamander,
 * Among the water-weeds to roam,

I 'll be the moon, in full-orbed splendor,
 * Lighting the ways of witch and gnome.

XIV. O Magali! wilt thou become
 * That planet tender?

Then will I the white halo be,
 * Enfolding thee!

XV. Yet though the halo hover o'er me,
 * I shall not feel thy folding arm.

I will turn virgin-rose before thee:
 * My thorns will keep me safe from harm.

XVI. O Magali! the rose's charm
 * Shall not secure thee;

For I the butterfly will be,
 * Aye kissing thee.