Part 45 (1/2)
”No shepherd in this world can be The child of wretchedness like me: One would not think it, but I know No feeling but continued woe; For Sorrow came into my fold, And there her dwelling loves to hold.
”It seem'd the joy of Fate, New pleasures to provide, And, 'midst my happy state, A lamb was all my pride.
The sun conceal'd his light, Whene'er she came in sight.
”I never dreamt of gold, I lived content and free; The treasure of my fold, Seem'd but to live for me.
Alas! those hours that bless, Not long would time allow, My joys, my happiness, Are changed to sorrow now!
”She loved my pipe to hear, And midst the flock would pause, And with a smile, so dear, Would give me soft applause: And with her music sweet My notes she would repeat.
”How many jealous swains Would look, and sigh, and long: Not one a word could gain, She only heard my song; But now that lamb has stray'd I see her form no more; My ev'ry hope betray'd, My fate let all deplore!
My sleep, my rest, is gone, And I am all undone!”
DESPOURRINS.
”Moun Diu! quine souffrance-- M'as tu causat!”
”Of what contentment Those eyes bereft me-- And ah! how coldly Thou since hast left me: Yet didst thou whisper Thy heart was mine,-- Oh! they were traitors Those eyes of thine!
For 'tis thy pleasure That I repine.
”Alas! how often I sigh'd in vain, And loved so dearly To purchase pain: And all my guerdon To be betray'd, And only absence My safety made, To muse on fondness So ill repaid.
”But let me warn thee While time is yet, Thy heart may soften And learn regret: Should others teach thee New thoughts to prove, And all thy coldness Be quell'd by love, Thou mayst glean sorrow For future years,-- Beware--false maiden!
Beware of tears!”
DESPOURRINS.
”Per acere castagnere.”
BENEATH a chesnut shade A shepherd, drown'd in tears, By her he loved betray'd, Thus sung his grief and fears: ”Why dost thou smile,” he said, ”As all my woes increase?
When will my truth be paid, And all thy coldness cease?”
The fair one listen'd not,-- And feign'd she had not seen; But sought a distant spot, The furze and heath between, But, as she proudly went, Thorns, in her path that lay, Her little feet have rent, And stopp'd her on her way.
She paused, in sudden pain, Her pride aside she laid, And, in soft tone, was fain To ask her lover's aid; She bade, in piteous mood, He would the thorns remove, And take from grat.i.tude The kiss denied to love.
That grateful kiss she must Bestow--tho' she deplore it; And he had been unjust Not--doubly--to restore it.
DESPOURRINS.
”Roussignoulet qui cantes.”[53]
[Footnote 53: This song singularly resembles Burns' charming ”Banks and braes” in its opening, though it is greatly inferior as a whole.]
OH! nightingale that sing'st so sweet, Perch'd on the boughs elate, How softly does thy music greet Thy tender list'ning mate.
While I, alas! from joy removed, With heart oppress'd, must go, And, leaving her so fondly loved, Depart in hopeless woe.