  A maiden in greenwood in month of sweet May, Arose and awoke at the dawn of the day: As she wended along, She heard fairie song— "Si doulce est la Margarite." There the Ladye the Flower and Ladye the Leaf, With knights and squires of fairie chief, Were met upon mead, For devoir and deed— Homage unto "La doulce Margarite." There the ladye in white and the ladye in green Sat on their thrones by the Fairie Queen, Whilst knights did their duty, And bowed down to beauty— "Si doulce est la Margarite,"— When the skies grew hot and the ladies pale, And the storm descended in lightning and hail, As they danced and sung, And the burden rung— "Sous la feuille, sous la feuille, meet." Our Ladye of Leaf asked her of the Flower And fairie Nymphs to shelter in bower: And they danced and sung, And the refrain rung— "Si doulce est la Margarite." All woe begone shivered the Ladye Flower, The Ladye Leaf glittered in gems from the shower: As they danced and sung, And the refrain rung— "Si doulce est la Margarite." And knights and squires then wended forth, East and west, and south, and north: To free forests and shores From giants and boars, And shelter in night and in storm; And every knight bore in chief on his shield The foyle en verte on an argent field: And they rode and they sung The huge oaks among:— "Sous la feuille, sous la feuille, dorme." The maiden then asked of the Fairie Queen To tell her the moral of what she had seen: Who answered and sung In her fairie tongue— "Si doulce est la Margarite." The knight that is wise will lead from bower The lasting Leaf—not the fading Flower: And when storms arise To turmoil life's skies— "Sous la feuille, sous la feuille, meet." |
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