And think'st thou, then, that, plotting sly,
We shall steal yon ass that is feeding by?

Old Man! Old Man! far better pelf
Would be the blessed babe himself.

But first, kind Master! hand your groat,
And let us quench a thirsty throat.

SECOND GIPSY.

I see by that hand, I see full sure,

That thou art great and just and pure.

By that hand dost thou stand full clearly proved Great and pure and well-beloved.

Husband! wisely mastering sense

With a saint-like abstinence,

Thou to Providence didst bow;

And art thou not rewarded now?

STANZA XI.

A présent nous connoissons que tu es venu
Bien pauvre dans le monde. A présent nous

Connoissons que tu es venu sans argent. N'en
Parlons plus; car tu es venu tout nu.
Tu craignais,
A ce que nous voyons, le rencontre des Bohémiens.
Qu'as-tu à craindre, bel Enfant? Tu es Dieu -
Ecoute notre adieu.

STANZA XII.

Si trop de liberté nous a porté à te dire ton
Aventure; si trop de liberté nous a porté

A parler trop librement; nous te prions
Humblement à faire egalement notre bonne

Aventure; et de nous donner une qui dure éternelle

ment.

FIRST GIPSY.

But now, Sweet Babe! full well we wot

And didst thou fear, my darling Dear!

To see the scarecrow gipsy near?

Yet wherefore start? for God thou art!

Then hear our prayer-before we part.

CHORUS OF THE THREE GIPSIES.

If with too much liberty,

We have dared thine ear importune;

If with too much liberty,

We have dared to read thy fortune;

Humbly We pray to Thee,

Build thou for us a destiny;

And be it one, Immortal Son

Blessing us Eternally.

M

Marseilles, 1849.

EPILOGUE TO GIPSY CAROL.

DEVOTION.

WHERE shall Devotion find her fitting food?

'Twas asked; and it was answered, "Every where." Whate'er the region, bring but thou the mood, And, high or low, her nutriment is there.

Her's-road-side chapel; her's-cathedral roof;

Her's-Christ-Bambino; her's-Jehovah-King;

The holy reverence, which bends-aloof;

The love familiar, that delights to cling.