At Cap Santé
At Cap Santé
Original Text
S. Frances Harrison, Pine, Rose and Fleur de Lis (Toronto: Hart, 1891): 49-50. Internet Archive.
2 And they told me, quick, and true, and straight.
3Jeannette has no need her age to hide.
6I should ask to-day how old is the bride,
7Would Lilian's friends the truth confide,
8 Or me would they fain execrate?
9Jeannette has no need her age to hide.
10Her eyes met mine as her hat I tied,
11 Frank eyes, that smil'd with an air sedate
12When I ask'd to-day--how old is the bride?
13Fourteen! Just think! Ye belles, aside!
14 Bid envy swift capitulate!
15Jeannette has no need her age to hide.
16Heigho! those calm dark eyes! I sigh'd,
17 When musing much on the holy estate,
18I ask'd to-day--how old is the bride?
19Jeannette has no need her age to hide.
20They'll keep it up for a week, they say,
21 The wedding, I mean, of Jules and Jeannette
22'Tis the proper thing at Cap Santé.
23The cousins will come from Nicolet,
25They'll keep it up for a week, they say.
26And dance and fiddle and sing away,
27 Marie-Anne, Max, Léon, Lisette,
28'Tis the proper thing at Cap Santé,
29And they come prepar'd for the merry fray,
30 They're fond of Jules, they adore Jeannette--
31They'll keep it up for a week, they say.
32Well! they're a hard-work'd lot though gay.
33 And doubtless earn what fun they get;
34'Tis the proper thing, at Cap Santé,
35But we--who would put it through in a day,
36 We dullards are by doubts beset.
37They'll keep it up for a week, they say,
38'Tis the proper thing at Cap Santé.
Notes
1] Cap Santé: old town ("Cape Health") on the north bank of the Saint Lawrence River just west of Quebec City. Back to Line
4] Pre-confederation Quebec, under the Civil Code of Lower Canada, set the minimumage for marriage as 12 for a female, and 14 for a male. Back to Line
5] The church is dated 1754-63. Back to Line
24] Batiscan: town on the St. Lawrence south-west of Cap Santé. Joliette: town further south-west, near Montreal. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2011
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