Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/253

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And anxiously. "Bear the sick child," they say,
"Into the upper chapel, nor delay;
And let her touch the dear Saints' relics thus
Within their reliquaries marvellous;
Or kiss, at least, with dying lips!" And there
Two women raised, and bore her up the stair.

In this fair church, altars and chapels three,
Built one upon the other, you may see,
Of solid stone. In that beneath the ground
The dusky gypsies kneel, with awe profound,
Before Saint Sarah. One is over it
That hath God's altar. And one higher yet,

On pillars borne,—last of the sanctuaries,—
The small, funereal chapel of the Maries,
With heavenward vault. And here long years have lain
Rich legacy,—whence falleth grace like rain!—
The ever-blessed relics. Four great keys
Enlock the cypress chests that shelter these.

Once are they opened in each hundred years;
And happy, happy shall he be who nears
And sees and touches them! Upon the wave
Bright star and weather fair his bark shall have,
His trees be with abundant fruitage graced,
His faithful soul eternal blessing taste!