276
A Ballad of a Nun
Her body seemed to warm the wind;
With bleeding feet o'er ice she ran:
"I leave the righteous God behind;
I go to worship sinful man."
With bleeding feet o'er ice she ran:
"I leave the righteous God behind;
I go to worship sinful man."
She reached the sounding city's gate;
No question did the warder ask:
He passed her in: "Welcome, wild mate!"
He thought her some fantastic mask.
No question did the warder ask:
He passed her in: "Welcome, wild mate!"
He thought her some fantastic mask.
Half-naked through the town she went;
Each footstep left a bloody mark;
Crowds followed her with looks intent;
Her bright eyes made the torches dark.
Each footstep left a bloody mark;
Crowds followed her with looks intent;
Her bright eyes made the torches dark.
Alone and watching in the street
There stood a grave youth nobly dressed;
To him she knelt and kissed his feet;
Her face her great desire confessed.
There stood a grave youth nobly dressed;
To him she knelt and kissed his feet;
Her face her great desire confessed.
Straight to his house the nun he led:
"Strange lady, what would you with me?"
"Your love, your love, sweet lord," she said;
"I bring you my virginity."
"Strange lady, what would you with me?"
"Your love, your love, sweet lord," she said;
"I bring you my virginity."
He healed her bosom with a kiss;
She gave him all her passion's hoard;
And sobbed and murmured ever, "This
Is life's great meaning, dear, my lord.
She gave him all her passion's hoard;
And sobbed and murmured ever, "This
Is life's great meaning, dear, my lord.
"I care
