Page:Pascoli - Paulo Ucello.djvu/21

 CHAPTER IX

How the Saint made Paulo aware that the birds he had painted were themselves real and living, and that they alone might be his.

ND as he went, on either hand he strewed Crumbs fallen, holy angels! from your board. As sower his seed, he cast them. Paulo stood

And watched in silent awe. The crumbs were stored Within his cowl, where he would dip anew And cast them on the hillside far abroad.

Straightway, amid the leaves, a rustling grew, A murmuring, as when strong libeccio blows; The pigeon stretched a languid neck; and through

The leafy trees a subdued twittering rose; Until the sad, sweet notes were heard that ease The stock-dove’s heart in Greccio’s still repose.

Then down from wood and field and orchard trees The birds came flocking: to his side they clung, About his head, his arms, his feet, his knees.

The quails came to him with their downy young, And to him upon white and stately wing The swans, in fleets, on the blue waters swung.

His image waned, till there remained nothing Of him save five gold stars upon the hills, And on the ear, like rustling of the spring,

Fell the crisp pecking of a thousand bills. 17