Adventure stories; Fools and jesters -- Fiction; France -- History -- Medieval period, 987-1515 -- Fiction; Love stories
Of one that is so fair and bright
_Velut maris stella_,
Brighter than the day is light,
_Parens et puella_:
I cry to thee, thou see to me,
Lady, pray thy Son for me,
_Tam pia_,
That I may come to thee
_Maria_.
All this world was forlorn
_Eva peccatrice_,
Till our Lord was here born
_De te genetrice_.
With _ave_ it went away
Darkling night, and comes the day
_Salutis_;
The well springeth out of thee,
_Virtutis_.
Lady, flower of each thing,
_Rosa sine spina_,
Thou bear’st Jesus, Heaven’s King,
_Gratia divina_:
Of all thou bear’st the prize,
Lady, queen of paradise
_Electa_:
Maid mild, Mother _es
Effecta_.
“There,” she cried triumphant, as she ended, most innocently pleased
with the performance, “I said it would sound well.”
“Liquid silver notes from a throat of gold,” said Peregrine, verily
astonished. “An’ I had not other matters on hand, you and I might well
roam the world together, and men would truly hearken to us, or they are
greater dullards than even I judge them.”
She looked at him with longing eyes. His words held open a vista of
bliss before her. But she shook her head sadly.
“It cannot be. I have work to do,” she said sorrowful.
“For that matter so indeed have I,” quoth Peregrine. “What manner of
work is thine?”
“I mind my father’s goats,” she responded. “What work is yours?”
“I seek some one,” said Peregrine grimly.
“Some one you have lost?”
“Some one I have never found,” was the answer.
“Oh,” responded the child perplexed. Then shyly, “I must be about my
work. I thank you, sir. God speed you with your seeking.” Waiting for no
response she nodded to him, turned off into the pinewood.
Peregrine went slowly on his way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account