The Lay of Mount Petite Jean

Canto XIII: The Harrowing of Tortuga

Read in Landscape

Into the city maiden deftly stole
To find the prince what peasant held as goal.
With hasty step she walks and scans the crowd
That gather close and issue roar so loud.

Yet still she walks and through the masses pressed
To find her love now knowing act's for best.
For long she wandered vilest place with cause
Forgoing all that normal gave her pause.

Uncomely acts on either side abound
No righteous thing in all this place is found.
It's made for merely hiding vice in dark
So all who come to hidden lust may hark.

But maid to neither side would give her way,
Or far from mission Saint had ask would stray.
Though fear of place did grip the servant's heart
Still forward went the maid to savior's part.

So steady made the maiden's quickened breath
Though walking through a place that smelled like death.
Before her servant held a vision deep in mind
Of prince that serf was sent to place to find.

Focusing heart on finding prince in street
Still hoping quick that man the maid would meet.
For long she walked though hating place she's in
That serves for little more than din of sin.

Through wretched alleys filled with awful smells
Where many lechers nightly ever dwelled
She pushed yet forward looking over crowds
To try and find the noble great and proud,

But lo the ways she took did show no trail.
For all the paths she walks do quickly fail
To show a sign or mark for man she searched
So still yet onward the maiden hasty lurched.

For many hours the isle maiden roamed
In hopes that sins of love she sure atones.
Reviling much the sights she saw on street
With pity great for all the men she meets,

But never turned she back from task she's gave
Though finding love now felt like robbing grave.
For few in place did hold a life in eyes,
And maiden knew themselves they sure despised.

Her heart did beat at every sight she saw
That spoke of place that's lacking any laws.
Surprised by violent things that dwell in place,
And all the broken lives and promise faced.

But ever onward the maiden hasty pressed
Her will was stoked and made at God's behest.
To find the prince wherever man now stayed
So quick from danger man be hasty saved.

With bravest heart she fights her great despair
That prince some dread and horrid trial dared.
Thus losing life before the nobles found
In place where many sordid things abound.

But finally relieved the maiden fair does spy
The prince, alone by self the noble hides.
Here fearing things that rest of crew may say
If knowing prince so far from sins had stayed.

From wicked deeds he's snuck as though in wrong,
And owns no will or manner sure and strong.
So maiden drew herself on up and high
Approaching man that far from maiden lied.

With angry gait the maiden draws yet nigh
For will of prince the peasant sure defied.
There speaking peace thus telling strife he caused
Forgoing all that prince had set as laws.

"In face of death you bravely stood
To draw your sword for right and good,
And save your ship along with crew
By fighting thieves you deftly slew.

And many dangers noble faced
While bearing great unyielding grace.
To brave the wind and also waves
With steady heart that's very brave.

But threat of laughter turned aside your heart,
And bid the prince to play a cowards part!
Like wretched cur you creep to hide your shame
Though vile acts the noble fails to claim.