24 THE MENDICANTS
Reading edition
“Domna, de totz bos aips complida”
—Raimbaut de Vaqueiras.
O Madam Destiny, omnipotent, Be not too obdurate to us who pray That this our transient grant of youth be spent In laughter as befits a holiday,— From which the evening summons us away, From which to-morrow wakens us to strife And toil and grief and wisdom,—and to-day Grudge us not life! O Madam Destiny, omnipotent, Why need our elders trouble us at play? We know that very soon we shall repent The idle follies of our holiday. And being old, shall be as wise as they: But now we are not wise, and lute and fife Plead sweetlier than axioms,—so to-day Grudge us not life! O Madam Destiny, omnipotent, You have given us youth—and must we cast away The cup undrained and our one coin unspent Because our elders’ beards and hearts are gray? They have forgotten that if we delay Death claps us on the shoulder, and with knife Or cord or fever, flouts the prayer we pray— Grudge us not life! Madam, recall that in the sun we play But for an hour, then have the worm for wife, The tomb for habitation,—and to-day Grudge us not life!