Clambered up the sloping mountains
There to capture Satanella.
But she with a new-born laughter
Flitted sidewise to evade them,
Like the bird in ancient fable
Tempted on the ancient shepherd
With his shining golden feathers.
Higher, higher, she kept climbing
From one mountain to another
From one wall she scaled another,
With an ever rising laughter,
Like a butterfly escaping
When a meddling boy he teases.
With her constant flight grew angered
More and more the pack of soldiers,
Till at last they overtook her
As a doe with chase exhausted.
But refusing to be captured
She broke forth from her pursuers
And ran down the sloping hillside
Till she reached the wall of ruins,
From where, having lost the pathway
With a daring jump she landed
At the bishop's feet beneath her.
Frightened by her wild appearance
Bishop almost dropped the monstrance
43
