“Grow crimson as an autumn grape, because Vincen’s dear name so lightly uttered was. There’s mystery here! Mirèio, we are jealous! Lasted the picking long that day? Pray, tell us! When two friends meet, the hour is winged with pleasure; And, for a lover, one has always leisure!” “Oh, fie!” Mirèio said. “Enough of joking! Mind your work now, and be not so provoking! You would make swear the very saints! But I Promise you one and all, most faithfully, I’ll seek a convent while my years are tender, Sooner than e’er my maiden heart surrender!” Then brake the damsels into merry chorus: “Have we not pretty Magali before us? Who love and lovers held in such disdain That, to escape their torment, she was fain To Saint Blasi’s in Arles away to hie, And bury her sweet self from every eye.” “Come, Noro, you, whose voice is ever thrilling, Who charm us all, sing now, if you are willing, The song of Magali, the cunning fairy, Who love had shunned by all devices airy. A bird, a vine, a sunbeam she became, Yet fell herself, love’s victim all the same! “Queen of my soul!” sang Noro, and the rest Fell straightway to their work with twofold zest; And as, when one cicala doth begin Its high midsummer note, the rest fall in And swell the chorus, so the damsels here Sang the refrain with voices loud and clear:-- I. “Magali, queen of my soul, The dawn is near! Hark to my tambourine, Hide not thy bower within, Open and hear! II. “The sky is full of stars, And the wind soft; But, when thine eyes they see, The stars, O Magali, Will pale aloft!” III. “Idle as summer breeze The tune thou playest! I’ll vanish in the sea, A silver eel will be, Ere thou me stayest.” IV. “If thou become an eel, And so forsake me, I will turn fisher too And fish the water blue Until I take thee!” V. “In vain with net or line Thou me implorest: I’ll be a bird that day, And wing my trackless way Into the forest!” VI. “If thou become a bird, And so dost dare me, I will a fowler be, And follow cunningly Until I snare thee!” VII. “When thou thy cruel snare Settest full surely, I will a flower become, And in my prairie home Hide me securely!” VIII. “If thou become a flower, Before thou thinkest I’ll be a streamlet clear, And all the water bear That thou, love, drinkest!” IX. “When thou, a stream, dost feed The flower yonder, I will turn cloud straightway, And to America Away I’ll wander.” X. “Though thou to India Fly from thy lover, Still I will follow thee: I the sea-breeze will be To waft thee over!” XI.