The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti Edited with Preface and Notes by William M. Rossetti: Revised and Enlarged Edition |
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JOHN OF TOURS
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 | The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti |  |
JOHN OF TOURS
OLD FRENCH
John of Tours is back with peace,
But he comes home ill at ease.
But he comes home ill at ease.
“Good-morrow, mother.” “Good-morrow, son;
Your wife has borne you a little one.”
Your wife has borne you a little one.”
“Go now, mother, go before,
Make me a bed upon the floor;
Make me a bed upon the floor;
“Very low your foot must fall,
That my wife hear not at all.”
That my wife hear not at all.”
As it neared the midnight toll,
John of Tours gave up his soul.
John of Tours gave up his soul.
“Tell me now, my mother my dear,
What's the crying that I hear?”
What's the crying that I hear?”
“Daughter, it's the children wake,
Crying with their teeth that ache.”
Crying with their teeth that ache.”
“Tell me though, my mother my dear,
What's the knocking that I hear?”
What's the knocking that I hear?”
“Daughter, it's the carpenter
Mending planks upon the stair.”
Mending planks upon the stair.”
“Tell me too, my mother my dear,
What's the singing that I hear?”
What's the singing that I hear?”
543
“Daughter, it's the priests in rows
Going round about our house.”
Going round about our house.”
“Tell me then, my mother my dear,
What's the dress that I should wear?”
What's the dress that I should wear?”
“Daughter, any reds or blues,
But the black is most in use.”
But the black is most in use.”
“Nay, but say, my mother my dear,
Why do you fall weeping here?”
Why do you fall weeping here?”
“Oh! the truth must be said,—
It's that John of Tours is dead.”
It's that John of Tours is dead.”
“Mother, let the sexton know
That the grave must be for two;
That the grave must be for two;
“Aye, and still have room to spare,
For you must shut the baby there.”
For you must shut the baby there.”
| The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti | |