ST. FRANCIS AND THE WOLF
And so, three years or more,
The wolf came morn and even,
Yea, long forgiven and shriven,
Fed at each townsman's door;
The wolf came morn and even,
Yea, long forgiven and shriven,
Fed at each townsman's door;
And grew more gray and old,
Withal so sad and mild,
Him feared no little child
Sitting in the sun's gold.
Withal so sad and mild,
Him feared no little child
Sitting in the sun's gold.
The women, soft of heart,
Trusted him and were kind;
Men grew of equal mind;
None longer stepped apart.
Trusted him and were kind;
Men grew of equal mind;
None longer stepped apart.
The very dogs, 'twas said,
Would greet him courteously,
And pass his portion by,
Though they went on unfed.
Would greet him courteously,
And pass his portion by,
Though they went on unfed.
But when three years were gone
He came no more, but died.
In a cave on the hillside;
You may count each whitening bone.
He came no more, but died.
In a cave on the hillside;
You may count each whitening bone.
And then it came to pass
All gently of him spake,
For Francis his dear sake,
Whose Brother Wolf this was.
All gently of him spake,
For Francis his dear sake,
Whose Brother Wolf this was.
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