The Lay of Mount Petite Jean

Canto V: The Scheme of Adriane

Read in Landscape

And love abounds again in woods
In paths where maid and noble stood.
Their laughter filled the trees with song
That harkened forth to heavens throng

Rejoicing loud on judgment day
Welcoming souls that God did save.
Their days were bright and filled with glee
With joy that's seldom ever seen.

They roam the lands where first they met,
And hidden glades their love abets.
In place so fair that's long been home
To maid the lovers gently roam.

The troubled world was left behind,
And care can't pierce their heart of mind.
They steal away alone together
With hearts now bound with vows as tether.

To never leave the boon they're grant
Though hope may seem at times so scant.
Their faith in love both strong and great
Each bound to other's heart by fate.

And many days in bliss they bask
Not fearing all their worldly task,
Or things that earthly honor bids
The task that noble man was give.

Instead on other each does dwell
The sight of others face beheld
Unburdens all their many woes
In gentle place the pair abodes.

Alone with only love and thought
A gift that many pair have sought,
But failed to find like prince and maid
In countryside of France's glades.

A boon that's seldom give to man
No matter all his greatest plans...
But still the end of time encroaches fast
Their days of joy were small not meant to last.

And fear of pair's abet by thief that's time
As anxious thoughts do creep inside their mind
Recalling well the task that man is give
That thing by which her love by king was bid.

For soon the prince is honor bound to leave
A fact which causes peasant maid to grieve.
In fleeting days, he must yet gather things
That far across the ocean man will bring,

And leave her home returning down to dock
Where journey's plan by noble man be wrought.
To gather crew of men that dwell ashore,
And set himself to mighty sailing chore.

As King of France himself this man did ask,
And bid him work completing well this task.
For prince so soon would have to leave this place
That's grant to pair by strange and pleasing grace.

Appointed date does weigh on both their minds
As song and laughter dwindle down with time.
They're both afraid to speak of noble's quest
To leave his love, and wealth for nation wrest

From foreign land so far from maiden's care
The thought too sad for peasant girl to bear.
They sit in quiet not daring talk of feat
That swiftly draws yet closer every week.

And day then came for prince to leave her home
To gather crew and highest seas to roam,
And journey forth from maiden's down to port
For love and peace by sovereign will were thwart.

So noble saddled steed that prince had rode
When man had sought the servant's deep abode.
He gathered slow but sure the things he'll need
When down to port the noble man does speed.

The servant girl does weep at course of time
Not knowing whether peace again they'll find.
For peasant senses some portending doom
A dreadful fog on mind like grimmest gloom,

And fears should noble man depart from home
To journey far and oceans great to roam
That death of one is surest fate that's gave
So either man or maid will meet the grave.

And seeing stress that maid on shoulders bore
At prospect found of leaving France's shores
The noble man to comfort girl does seek
In hopes that ills of heart the prince may meet.