The Pearl/Volume 18/The Novice

A pretty little novice in her convent woke at dawn, And looking from her lattice she spied upon the lawn, A handsome shepherd quite intent On playing with his instrument, his instrument so long!

She raised the window softly and watched him for a while, Delighted with his movements, then asked him with a smile: "Oh shepherd, pray, my wish consent, And say what is that instrument, that instrument so long?

You play with it so nicely, it gives me joy to see, So dear, I implore you, to teach the same to me; Oh, kind young shepherd, pray consent, I'll finger well your instrument, your instrument so long!"

He looked up to her lattice with pleasure in his eye, And cried: "Come down, fair maiden, for there you are too high, Far, far too high for the extent, That I can stretch my instrument, my instrument so long."

She tarried not a moment, but swiftly rushed below, And with the handsome shepherd she learned her lesson so That soon she played most excellent Fantasies on his instrument, his instrument so long!

The first sweet lesson over for her too fast, she then In winning tones addressed him: "I'd like to play again. Once more her fingers to work went, Which made him use his instrument, his instrument so long!

But strangers seemed approaching, the fair girl bid him fly, And cried: "Oh, don't forget me, whene'er you travel by, Oft, oft, come back, and we'll invent Fresh tunes for that dear instrument, that instrument so long!"