Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AT THE FOUNTAIN, by MARCABRU


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AT THE FOUNTAIN, by                    
First Line: A fount there is, doth overfling
Last Line: "but heaven is very far away."
Alternate Author Name(s): Marcabrun
Subject(s): Fountains


A FOUNT there is, doth overfling
Green turf and garden walks; in spring
A glory of white blossoming
Shines underneath its guardian tree;
And new-come birds old music sing;
And there, alone and sorrowing,
I found a maid I could not cheer,—

Of beauty meet to be adored,
The daughter of the caste's lord;
Methought the melody outpour'd
By all the birds unceasingly,
The season sweet, the verdant sward,
Might gladden her, and eke my word
Her grief dismiss, would she but hear.

Her tears into the fountain fell;
With sorry sighs her heart did swell;
"O Jesus, King Invisible!"
She cried,—"of thee is my distress!
Through thy deep wrong bereft dwell:
Earth's blest have bidden us farewell,
On thee at thine own shrine to wait.

"And my true Love is also gone,
The free, fair, gentle, valiant One;
So what can I but make my moan,
And how the sad desire suppress
That Louis' name were here unknown,
The prayers, the mandates, all undone

Whereby I am made desolate?
Soon as I heard this plaintive cry,
Moving the limpid wave anigh,
"Weep not, fair maid; so piteously,
Nor waste thy roses!" thus I cried,—
"Neither despair, for He is by
Who brought this leafy greenery,
And He will give thee joy one day."

"Seigneur! I well believe,"she said,—
"Of God I shall be comforted
In yonder world when I am dead;
And many a sinful soul beside;—
But now hath He prohibited
My chief delight. I bow my head,—
But heaven is very far away."





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