TRANSLATIONS. THE BLIND GIRL OF CASTEL CUILLÈ FROM THE GASCON OF JASMIN. ONLY the Lowland tongue of Scotland might Let me attempt it with an English quill; I. Ar the foot of the mountain height When the apple, the plum, and the almond tree This is the song one might perceive On a Wednesday morn of Saint Joseph's Eve: "The roads should blossom, the roads should bloom, So fair a bride shall leave her home! Should blossom and bloom with garlands gay, So fair a bride shall pass to-day!" This old Te Deum, rustic rites attending, Of rosy village girls, clean as the eye, Each one with her attendant swain, The narrow sweep "The roads should blossom, the roads should bloom, So fair a bride shall leave her home! Should blossom and bloom with garlands gay, So fair a bride shall pass to-day!” It is Baptiste, and his affianced maiden, The sky was blue; without one cloud of gloom, When one beholds the dusky hedges blossom, To sounds of joyous melodies, That touch with tenderness the trembling bosom, Gayly frolicking, Caressing, With fingers pressing, Till in the veriest Madness of mirth, as they dance, They retreat and advance, Trying whose laugh shall be loudest and merriest; While the bride, with roguish eyes, Sporting with them, now escapes and cries: This year shall be!" And all pursue with eager haste, Meanwhile, whence comes it that among Is it Saint Joseph would say to us all, What lovers! they give not a single caress! These are grand people, one would say. What ails Baptiste? what grief doth him oppress? It is, that, half way up the hill, And you must know, one year ago, But alas! the summer's blight, All at the father's stern command was changed; Returned but three short days ago, The golden chain they round him throw, To marry Angela, and yet Is thinking ever of Margaret. Then suddenly a maiden cried, 66 'Anna, Theresa, Mary, Kate! Here comes the cripple Jane!" And by a fountain's side It is that Jane, the cripple Jane, But for this once the village seer And from beneath her eyebrows thin and white Aimed at the bridegroom in waistcoat blue, Changing color, as well he might, "Thoughtless Angela, beware! Lest, when thou weddest this false bridegroom, And she was silent; and the maidens fair What are two drops of turbid rain? Of verdurous valleys, They sang the refrain: "The roads should blossom, the roads should bloom, So fair a bride shall leave her home! Should blossom and bloom with garlands gay, So fair a bride shall pass to-day!" II. And by suffering worn and weary, But beautiful as some fair angel yet, Thus lamented Margaret, In her cottage lone and dreary: : "He has arrived! arrived at last! Yet Jane has named him not these three days past; Arrived! yet keeps aloof so far! And knows that of my night he is the star! |