Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/38

12 Spake us words of good cheer. "My comrades, ye have done well! To the great king of Paris the tale of your valor I'll tell!"

XI. "Well said, Captain dear!" we replied: "Sure the king will hear you When you speak. But for as, his poor mariners, What will he do,— Who left our all gladly, our homes and our firesides," we said, "For his sake, and lo! now in those homes there is crying for bread?

XII. "Ah, Admiral, never forget When all bow before you. With a love like the love of your seamen None will adore you! Why, say but the word, and, ere homeward our footsteps we turn, Aloft on the tips of our fingers a king you are borne!"

XIII. A Martigau,$8$ mending his nets One eve, made this ditty. Our admiral bade us farewell, And sought the great city. Were they wroth with his glory up there at the court? Who can say? But we saw our beloved commander no more from that day!