Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/39

] A timely ending thus the minstrel made, Else the fast-coming tears his tale had stayed; But for the laborers,—they sat intent, Mute all, with parted lips, and forward bent As if enchanted. Even when he was done, For a brief space they seemed to hearken on.

"And such were aye the songs," said the old man, "Sung in the good old days when Martha span.$9$ Long-winded, maybe, and the tunes were queer. But, youngsters, what of that? They suit my ear. Your new French airs mayhap may finer be; But no one understands the words, you see!"

Whereon the men, somewhat as in a dream. From table rose, and to the running stream They led their patient mules, six yoke in all. The long vine-branches from a trellised wall Waved o'er them waiting, and, from time to time, Humming some fragment of the weaver's rhyme.

Mirèio tarried, but not quite alone. A social spirit had the little one, And she and Vincen chatted happily. 'Twas a fair sight, the two young heads to see Meeting and parting, coming still and going Like aster-flowers$10$ when merry winds are blowing.