Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/106

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80
MIRÈIO.
[Canto IV.

"Slowly, so thou hast often said to me,
Folk learn to love and live in harmony.
For one must know, and also must be known;
And even then, my father, all 's not done!"
Here the dark shadow on her brow was lit
By some bright thought that e'en transfigured it.

So the drenched flowers, when morning rains are o'er,
Lift up their heavy heads, and smile once more.
Mirèio's mother held her daughter's view.
Then blandly rose the keeper, "Adieu,
Master," he said: "who in Camargue hath dwelt
Knows the mosquito-sting as soon as felt."

Also that summer came to Lotus Place
One from Petite Camargue,6 called Ourrias.
Breaker and brander of wild cattle, he;
And black and furious all the cattle be
Over those briny pastures wild who run,
Maddened by flood and fog and scalding sun.

Alone this Ourrias had them all in charge
Summer and winter, where they roamed at large.
And so, among the cattle born and grown,
Their build, their cruel heart, became his own;
His the wild eye, dark color, dogged look.
How often, throwing off his coat, he took