The Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. III | Page 4

they might be. The monastery of the
Observance at Ferrara belonged to the Franciscan order, reformed by
the Pope in 1363.--D. and L.

The Warden, who had known him in former days, at first thought he
was being laughed at or was dreaming, for there was none in all the
land that less resembled a Grey Friar than did this gentleman, seeing
that he was endowed with all the good and honourable qualities that
one would desire a gentleman to possess. Albeit, after hearing his
words and beholding the tears that flowed (from what cause he knew
not) down his face, the Warden compassionately took him in, and very
soon afterwards, finding him persevere in his desire, granted him the
cloth: whereof tidings were brought to the Marquis and Marchioness,
who thought it all so strange that they could scarcely believe it.
Pauline, wishing to show herself untrammelled by any passion, strove
as best she might to conceal her sorrow, in such wise that all said she
had right soon forgotten the deep affection of her faithful lover. And so
five or six months passed by without any sign on her part, but in the
meanwhile some monk had shown her a song which her lover had
made a short time after he had taken the cowl. The air was an Italian
one and pretty well known; as for the words, I have put them into our
own tongue as nearly as I can, and they are these:--
What word shall be Hers unto me, When I appear in convent guise
Before her eyes?
Ah! sweet maiden, Lone, heart-laden, Dumb because of days that were;
When the streaming Tears are gleaming 'Mid the streaming of thy hair,
Ah! with hopes of earth denied thee, Holiest thoughts will heavenward
guide thee To the hallowing cloister's door. What word shall be, &c.
What shall they say, Who wronged us, they Who have slain our heart's
desire, Seeing true love Doth flawless prove, Thus tried as gold in fire?
When they see my heart is single, Their remorseful tears shall mingle,
Each and other weeping sore. What word shall be, &c.
And should they come To will us home, How vain were all endeavour!
"Nay, side by side, "We here shall bide "Till soul from soul shall sever.
"Though of love your hate bereaves us "Yet the veil and cowl it leaves
us, "We shall wear till life be o'er." What word shall be, &c.

And should they move Our flesh to love Once more the mockers,
singing Of fruits and flowers In golden hours For mated hearts
upspringing; We shall say: "Our lives are given, Flower and fruit, to
God in Heaven, Who shall hold them evermore." What word shall be,
&c.
O victor Love! Whose might doth move My wearied footsteps hither,
Here grant me days Of prayer and praise, Grant faith that ne'er shall
wither; Love of each to either given, Hallowed by the grace of Heaven,
God shall bless for evermore. What word shall be, &c.
Avaunt Earth's weal! Its bands are steel To souls that yearn for Heaven;
Avaunt Earth's pride! Deep Hell shall hide Hearts that for fame have
striven. Far be lust of earthly pleasure, Purity, our priceless treasure,
Christ shall grant us of His store. What word shall be, &c.
Swift be thy feet, My own, my sweet, Thine own true lover follow;
Fear not the veil, The cloister's pall Keeps far Earth's spectres hollow.
Sinks the fire with fitful flashes, Soars the Phoenix from his ashes,
Love yields Life for evermore. What word shall be, &c.
Love, that no power Of dreariest hour, Could change, no scorn, no rage,
Now heavenly free From Earth shall be, In this, our hermitage. Winged
of love that upward, onward, Ageless, boundless, bears us sunward, To
the heavens our souls shall soar. What word shall be, &c.
On reading these verses through in a chapel where she was alone,
Pauline began to weep so bitterly that all the paper was wetted with her
tears. Had it not been for her fear of showing a deeper affection than
was seemly, she would certainly have withdrawn forthwith to some
hermitage, and never have looked upon a living being again; but her
native discretion moved her to dissemble for a little while longer. And
although she was now resolved to leave the world entirely, she feigned
the very opposite, and so altered her countenance, that in company she
was altogether unlike her real self. For five or six months did she carry
this secret purpose in her heart, making a greater show of mirth than
had ever been her wont.

But one day she went with her mistress to the Observance to hear high
mass, and when the priest, the deacon and the sub-deacon