LAMB.
Back Shorn indeed! and to the quick, said I: and wast thou in my own land, where I have a cottage, I would take thee to it, and shelter thee: thou shouldst eat of my own bread and drink of my own cup;-- I would be kind to thy Sylvio;--in all thy weaknesses and wanderings I would seek after thee and bring thee back;--when the sun went down I would say my prayers: and when I had done thou shouldst play thy evening song upon thy pipe, nor would the incense of my sacrifice be worse accepted for entering heaven along with that of a broken heart!
Nature melted within me, as I utter'd this; and Maria observing, as I took out my handkerchief, that it was steep'd too much already to be of use, would needs go wash it in the stream.--And where will you dry it, Maria? said I.--I'll dry it in my bosom, said she: -- 'twill do me good.
And is your heart still so warm, Maria? said I.
I touch'd upon the string on which hung all her sorrows: --she look'd with wistful disorder for some time in my face; and then, without saying any thing, took her pipe and play'd her service to the Virgin.--The string I had touched ceased to vibrate;--in a moment or two Maria returned to herself,--let her pipe fall,--and rose up.
And where are you going, Maria? said I.--She said, to Moulines.-- Let us go, said I, together.--Maria put her arm within mine, and lengthening the string, to let the dog follow,--in that order we enter'd Moulines.
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