The Lay of Mount Petite Jean

Canto IX: Setting Sail and the First Days at Sea

Read in Landscape

Then quickly day did come to leave
For crew and ship to roam the seas,
and journey far on king's command
On out to great and distant land.

Their ship is stocked with all their needs
They're sure to want for sailing deed,
And all who serve do know their role
That foreign place that's prince's goal.

Their fam'lies come to send them well
On mighty trip they're bound to sail.
They gather close at dock to see
The men before they quickly leave.

Then captain spoke to bring the men
To name the ship before they send,
And leave the dock to land that's far
On voyage great and very hard.

And folks at bowel do gather quick
To christen mighty sailing ship.
On end of rope they bottle tie
To cast against the vessels side.

And cheers from crowd were loudly heard
By roar of mass the captain's spurred.
Yet soon the laughs and cries do sudden stop
As hope in all their hearts did quickly drop.

For bottle cast on hull did fail to break
Portending trip would face a dreadful fate.
And all did stand with a deep foreboding gait,
And wondered deep what doom this omen spake.

But maiden knowing will of men might turn,
And journey great they soon might fearful spurn.
Did step and take the bottle laying still,
And greater blow the maiden thrusting deals

The glass does break on hull but cuts her hand
Yet still it lifts their hearts as first was planned.
So soon a laugh does ripple through
The crowd along with all the crew.

No longer sense of dread did hold
Its sway on sailing men now bold,
And quickly captain christens ship
With name La Chair for length of trip.

Its lines were smooth and sails were prim
That swift through water ship might trim.
As fair as any ship that stood
In port that day though many good,

And mighty vessel filled their place.
It had a noble royal grace
The same as prince who'll soon command
Those sailors on the ship that stand.

Now long the talk on port does grow
As men do leave and up they go
On ramp to join the rest of crew
That slowly over hours grew. 

Before they board they hugged their kin
For soon by will of king they're send.
Perhaps so greatest wealth be made,
Or maybe only foreign grave.

But still they ready heart to go
To greatest prize or deepest woe.
So on they lurch to deck of ship
The place they'll dwell for rest of trip,

And turn to rail so kin they'll spy
On France's shores their folk do lie.
To gain a final parting sight
Before they face the ocean's plight.

On docks their families stood and waved
At men who deepest seas would brave,
And men returned the gestures found
To kin before to seas they're bound.

So many tears were shed on land
Though smiling still, they wept at plan
For men to leave their family homes,
And highest seas then set to roam.

And Chavet stood to side and gazed at crowd
There seeing all the masses writhing loud.
And desp'rate looked in search of peasant maid
In hopes her form amidst the masses lay.

But love's not found among the roaring mass,
And down dejected man his eyes does cast.
For certain prince now felt his love was spurn
As stomach lurches forth to twist and turn.

But maiden stowed her feeling deep inside
Though longing great in heart to run to side
Of prince and show him truth beneath the guise
Exposing secrets maid had tried to hide.