Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/76

50 "The fiery eyes of passionate youth?" Here stopped The hag, and damsels four their cocoons dropped; "In June as in October," murmuring, "Her tongue hath evermore a barbèd sting, The ancient viper! What! the lads, say you? Let them come, then! We 'll see what they can do!"

But other merry ones retorted, "No! We want them not! Do we, Mirèio?" "Not we! Nor is it always cocooning, So I 'll a bottle from the cellar bring That you will find delicious." And she fled Toward the house because her cheeks grew red.

"Now, friends," said haughty Lauro, with decision, "This is my mind, though poor be my condition: I 'll smile on no one, even though my lover As king of fairy-land his realm should offer. A pleasure were it, could I see him lying, And seven long years before my footstool sighing."

"Ah!" said Clemenço, "should a king me woo, And say he loved me, without much ado I 'd grant the royal suit! And chiefly thus Were he a young king and a glorious. A king of men, in beauty, I 'd let come And freely lead me to his palace home!