That morn, ere many a star was set, -And now, her strength, her courage spent, She comes along the path she went. And now the village gleams at last ; The woods, the golden meadows passed, Where, when Toulouse, thy splendour shone, So saying, thro' the fragrant shade While Manchon round and round her played: And, as that silent glen they leave, Where by the spring the pitchers stand, Where glow-worms light their little lamps at eve, And fairies revel as in fairy-land, (When Lubin calls, and Blanche steals round, Her finger on her lip, to see; And many an acorn-cup is found Under the greenwood tree) The housewife's prayer, the grandam's blessing! Girls that adjust their locks of jet, And look and look and linger yet, The lovely bride caressing; Babes that had learnt to lisp her name, But what felt D'Arcy, when at length All, all the while-an awful distance keeping; And one, his little hand in hers, Then Jacqueline the silence broke. While D'Arcy as before looked on, "His praises from your lips I heard, And, if in aught his Sire has erred, She, whom in joy, in grief you nursed; On her you thought-but to be kind! When looked she up, but you inclined ? Oh are they gone from yours? Two kneeling at your feet behold; One-one how young;-nor yet the other old. Oh spurn them not-nor look so cold If Jacqueline be cast away, Her bridal be her dying day. -Well, well might she believe in you! She listened, and she found it true." He shook his aged locks of snow; When she implored, and old Le Roc consented. For still I love him as my own. And now, in my hands, yours with his unite; A father's blessing on your heads alight! Nor let the least be sent away. All hearts shall sing 'Adieu to sorrow!' Had Louis* then before the gate dismounted, Sung, while he supped, her chansonnette) *Louis the Fourteenth. Alluding to a popular story related of Henry the Fourth of France similar to ours "The King and Miller of Mansfield." |