Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
France: Vols. IX–X. 1876–79.

Castèl-Cuillè

The Blind Girl of Castèl Cuillè

By Jacques Jasmin (1798–1864)

(See full text.)
Translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

AT the foot of the mountain height

Where is perched Castèl-Cuillè,

When the apple, the plum, and the almond tree

In the plain below were growing white,

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,

Seemed from the clouds descending;

When lo! a merry company

Of rosy village girls, clean as the eye,

Each one with her attendant swain,

Came to the cliff, all singing the same strain;

Resembling there, so near unto the sky,

Rejoicing angels, that kind Heaven has sent

For their delight and our encouragement.

Together blending,

And soon descending

The narrow sweep

Of the hillside steep,

They wind aslant

Towards Saint Amant,

Through leafy alleys

Of verdurous valleys

With merry sallies

Singing their chant:

“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!”