Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/99

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And when to pasture with his dogs hies he,
And leathern gaiters buttoned to the knee,
His forehead to an ample wisdom grown
And air serene might be King David's own,
When in his youth he led, as the tale tells,
The flocks at ere beside his father's wells.

This was the chief toward Lotus Farm who drew,
And presently Mirèio's self who knew
Flitting about the doorway. His heart bounded.
"Good Heaven!" he cried, "her praises they have sounded
Nowise too loudly! Ne'er saw I such grace
Or high or low, in life or pictured face!"

Only that face to see, his flock forsaking,
Alari had come. Yet now his heart was quaking
When, standing in the presence of the maid,
"Would you so gracious be, fair one," he said,
"As to point out the way these hills to cross?
For else find I myself at utter loss."

"Oh, yes!" replied the girl, ingenuously,
"Thou takest the straight road, and comest thereby
Into Pèiro-malo desert. Then
Follow the winding path till thou attain
A portico¹ with an old tomb anear:
Two statues of great generals it doth bear.