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Brother Fabian's Manuscript

And Other Poems: By Sebastian Evans

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197

INSTEAD OF A TRANSLATION FROM BERANGER.

Butterfly-racing, boys; butterfly-chasing, boys,
Down by the milldam, boys,—off and away!
Hats off, and follow him, fluttering, flickering,
Under the chestnuts and over the hay!
There in the clover now!—Throw your hat over now!
Catch him, and keep him, and home with your prize!
Ha, where's the captive, boys?—Fluttering, flickering,
Far, far away in the blue summer skies!
Fair one, O task me not!—Dear one, O ask me not!
Free let him flutter o'er brook-land and lynn!
What if I caught him you,—what if I brought him you,
Named on a label, and spiked on a pin?