Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MOUSE IN SEARCH OF A WIFE, by MARIE DE FRANCE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MOUSE IN SEARCH OF A WIFE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Of old a little creature who
Last Line: Who lower falls on that account.'
Alternate Author Name(s): Shaftesbury, Marie, Abbess Of


OF old a little creature who
Is named a Mouse so haughty grew
That he could not amongst his kin,
His kith and family within,
A partner to his liking chuse;
Quoth he, 'All others I refuse;
Unless I find one to my taste,
My marriage must be highly placed.'
So to the Sun he starts to speak,
His daughter as a bride to seek,
For that he dwelt heaven's heights among,
And was in summer hot and strong.
He said, 'I can no higher go,
Therefore on me your child bestow';
But the Sun bade him journey on,
And he should find a mightier one.
'My light the cloud can hide and screen,
With her beneath I am not seen.'
So to the Cloud the Mouse doth start,
And says, 'Since thou the mightiest art,
Thy daughter to demand I come':
But the Cloud bade him further roam,
And with strong reasons doth aver
He'd find one mightier than her,
To wit the Wind: 'For you may see
That when it blows it scatters me.'
Said Mouse to him, 'I haste instead,
Thy daughter will I never wed';
So to the Wind he speeds away,
And how it happened 'gan to say,
That the Cloud thither bade him go;
And set himself to teach and show;
His nature such vast power has
That of all things he strongest was,
That all things else he put to flight,
And when he blew destroyed them quite;
Therefore he would his daughter take,
Nor any lower marriage make.
But the Wind answered him, 'You err;
The wife you seek for is not here.
There is one stronger far than I,
Who often causes me annoy;
And 'gainst me does so strong remain
That all my efforts are in vain;
It is, said he, that granite Tower,
That stands with such unshaken power
That I can weaken it no whit,
Nor with my blast demolish it;
And so it ever drives me back:
I wish no longer to attack.'
Then answered him the Mouse again:
'Therefore thy daughter I disdain;
A meaner wife I ne'er will woo
Than it becomes my rank to do;
My wife must hold chief dignity,
So will I to the Tower hie.'
He went and asked the child to wed,
The Tower looked at him and said:
'How much,' quoth she, 'you seek amiss,
You have not well considered this.
He who for strength has sent you here
Is only mocking you, 'tis clear;
You'll find one stronger far than I,
Who gains o'er me the victory.'
'Who is it?' cries the Mouse anew,
'Where find a stronger one than you?'
'Yes,' answered she, 'it is a mouse;
In me she dwells and makes her house
No mortar have I, made so strong,
But she can pierce my stones among;
Beneath, across, she digs her way,
And nothing can her stop or stay.'
Said Mouse, 'A pretty fable this;
You tell me a strange tale, I wis:
The Mouse, her kindred is my own--
How are my hopes of glory flown;
I, who to mount so high was fain,
Am fated to descend again,
And to my natural rank return.'
'Such,' said the Tower, 'the prize you earn;
Seek back your home, and there be taught
That you henceforward must for nought
Be led your nature to despise;
For many a one essays to rise,
And higher than his right to mount,
Who lower falls on that account.'





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