Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/105

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"But, Master Ramoun," cried the youthful lover,
"All that I want thou dost not yet discover!
Far down at Sambu, in my island home,
When the Crau folk for loads of litter come,
And we help cord them down, it happens so
We talk sometimes about the girls of Crau.

"And thy Mirèio they have all portrayed
So charmingly, that, if thou wilt," he said,
"And if thou like me, I would gladly be
Thy son-in-law!" "God grant me this to see!"
Said Ramoun. "The brave scion of my friend
To me and mine can only honor lend."

Then did he feld his hands and them upraise
In saint-like gratitude. "And yet," he says,
"The child must like you too, O Veranet!⁵
The only one will alway be a pet!
Meanwhile, in earnest of the dower I 'll give her,
The blessing of the saints be yours for ever!"

Forthwith summoned Ramoun his little daughter,
And told her of the friend who thus had sought her.
Pale, trembling, and afraid, "O father dear!"
She said, "is not thy wisdom halting here?
For I am but a child: thou dost forget.
Surely thou wouldst not send me from thee yet!