Gayly the old man sang to the vibrant sound of his fiddle, Tous les Bourgeois de Chartres, and Le Carillon de And anon with his wooden shoes beat time to the music. 415 Merrily, merrily whirled the wheels of the dizzying dances Under the orchard-trees and down the path to the meadows; Old folk and young together, and children mingled among them. 413. Tous les Bourgeois de Chartres was a song written by Ducauroi, maître de chapelle of Henri IV., the words of which are: Vous connaissez Cybèle, Qui sut fixer le Temps; On la disait fort belle, Même dans ses vieux ans. CHORUS. Cette divinité, quoique dejà grand' mère, Avait même certains attraits Fermes comme la Terre. Le Carillon de Dunkerque was a popular song to a tune played on the Dunkirk chimes. The words are: The music to which the old man sang these songs will be found in La Clé du Caveau, by Pierre Capelle, Nos. 564 and 739. Paris: A. Cotelle. 420 Fairest of all the maids was Evangeline, Benedict's daughter! Noblest of all the youths was Gabriel, son of the blacksmith! So passed the morning away. And lo! with a summons sonorous Sounded the bell from its tower, and over the Thronged ere long was the church with men. Waited the women. They stood by the graves, Garlands of autumn-leaves and evergreens fresh from the forest. 425 Then came the guard from the ships, and marching proudly among them Entered the sacred portal. With loud and disso nant clangor Echoed the sound of their brazen drums from ceiling and casement, Echoed a moment only, and slowly the ponderous portal Closed, and in silence the crowd awaited the will of the soldiers. 430 Then uprose their commander, and spake from the steps of the altar, Holding aloft in his hands, with its seals, the "You are convened this day,' 432. Colonel Winslow has preserved in his Diary the speech which he delivered to the assembled Acadians, and it is copied by Haliburton in his History of Nova Scotia, i. 166, 167. Clement and kind has he been; but how you have answered his kindness Let your own hearts reply! To my natural make and my temper 435 Painful the task is I do, which to you I know must be grievous. Yet must I bow and obey, and deliver the will of our monarch: Namely, that all your lands, and dwellings, and cattle of all kinds Forfeited be to the crown; and that you yourselves from this province Be transported to other lands. God grant you may dwell there 440 Ever as faithful subjects, a happy and peaceable people! Prisoners now I declare you, for such is his Majesty's pleasure!" As, when the air is serene in the sultry solstice of summer, Suddenly gathers a storm, and the deadly sling of the hailstones Beats down the farmer's corn in the field, and shatters his windows, 445 Hiding the sun, and strewing the ground with thatch from the house-roofs, Bellowing fly the herds, and seek to break their enclosures; So on the hearts of the people descended the words of the speaker. Silent a moment they stood in speechless wonder, and then rose Louder and ever louder a wail of sorrow and anger, 450 And, by one impulse moved, they madly rushed to the door-way. Vain was the hope of escape; and cries and fierce imprecations Rang through the house of prayer; and high o'er the heads of the others Rose, with his arms uplifted, the figure of Basil the blacksmith, As, on a stormy sea, a spar is tossed by the bil lows. 455 Flushed was his face and distorted with passion; and wildly he shouted, 460 "Down with the tyrants of England! we never have sworn them allegiance! Death to these foreign soldiers, who seize on our homes and our harvests!" More he fain would have said, but the merciless hand of a soldier Smote him upon the mouth, and dragged him down to the pavement. In the midst of the strife and tumult of angry Lo! the door of the chancel opened, and Father Entered, with serious mien, and ascended the Raising his reverend hand, with a gesture be awed into silence All that clamorous throng; and thus he spake to his people; 465 Deep were his tones and solemn; in accents measured and mournful Spake he, as, after the tocsin's alarum, distinctly the clock strikes. "What is this that ye do, my children? what madness has seized you? Forty years of my life have I labored among you, and taught you, Not in word alone, but indeed, to love one another! 470 Is this the fruit of my toils, of my vigils and prayers and privations? Have you so soon forgotten all lessons of love and forgiveness? This is the house of the Prince of Peace, and would you profane it Thus with violent deeds and hearts overflowing with hatred? Lo! where the crucified Christ from His cross is gazing upon you! 475 See! in those sorrowful eyes what meekness and holy compassion! Hark! how those lips still repeat the prayer, '0 Let us repeat that prayer in the hour when the Let us repeat it now, and say, 'O Father, forgive them!'"' Few were his words of rebuke, but deep in the hearts of his people 480 Sank they, and sobs of contrition succeeded the passionate outbreak, While they repeated his prayer, and said, "O Father, forgive them!" Then came the evening service. gleamed from the altar; The tapers Fervent and deep was the voice of the priest, and the people responded, Not with their lips alone, but their hearts; and the Ave Maria |