Page:Poems, now first collected, Stedman, 1897.djvu/87

 PROVENÇAL LOVERS

AUCASSIN AND NICOLETTE

the garden of Beaucaire

He met her by a secret stair,—

The night was centuries ago.

Said Aucassin, "My love, my pet,

These old confessors vex me so!

They threaten all the pains of hell

Unless I give you up, ma belle;"—

Said Aucassin to Nicolette.

To fill your place, ma très-douce mie?

To reach that spot I little care!

There all the droning priests are met;

All the old cripples, too, are there

That unto shrines and altars cling

To filch the Peter-pence we bring;"—

Said Aucassin to Nicolette.

67