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Translated by M. E. W. Sherwood
“HOW old I am! I ’m eighty years! | |
| I ’ve worked both hard and long, | |
| Yet patient as my life has been, | |
| One dearest sight I have not seen,— | |
| It almost seems a wrong; | 5 |
| A dream I had when life was new. | |
| Alas, our dreams! they come not true: | |
| I thought to see fair Carcassonne,— | |
| That lovely city,—Carcassonne! | |
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| “One sees it dimly from the height | 10 |
| Beyond the mountains blue, | |
| Fain would I walk five weary leagues,— | |
| I do not mind the road’s fatigues,— | |
| Through morn and evening’s dew. | |
| But bitter frosts would fall at night, | 15 |
| And on the grapes,—that yellow blight! | |
| I could not go to Carcassonne, | |
| I never went to Carcassonne. | |
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| “They say it is as gay all times | |
| As holidays at home! | 20 |
| The gentles ride in gay attire, | |
| And in the sun each gilded spire | |
| Shoots up like those of Rome! | |
| The Bishop the procession leads, | |
| The generals curb their prancing steeds. | 25 |
| Alas! I know not Carcassonne,— | |
| Alas! I saw not Carcassonne! | |
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| “Our Vicar ’s right! he preaches loud, | |
| And bids us to beware; | |
| He says, ‘O, guard the weakest part, | 30 |
| And most the traitor in the heart | |
| Against Ambition’s snare!’ | |
| Perhaps in autumn I can find | |
| Two sunny days with gentle wind, | |
| I then could go to Carcassonne, | 35 |
| I still could go to Carcassonne! | |
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| “My God and Father! pardon me | |
| If this my wish offends! | |
| One sees some hope, more high than he, | |
| In age, as in his infancy, | 40 |
| To which his heart ascends! | |
| My wife, my son, have seen Narbonne, | |
| My grandson went to Perpignan; | |
| But I have not seen Carcassonne,— | |
| But I have not seen Carcassonne.” | 45 |
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| Thus sighed a peasant bent with age, | |
| Half dreaming in his chair; | |
| I said, “My friend, come go with me | |
| To-morrow; then thine eyes shall see | |
| Those streets that seem so fair.” | 50 |
| That night there came for passing soul | |
| The church-bell’s low and solemn toll. | |
| He never saw gay Carcassonne. | |
| Who has not known a Carcassonne? | |
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