— 59—

ist, hat eine Frau bewiesen: Agnes Mary Francis Robinson, Engländerin von Geburt), in erster Ehe mit dem französischen Orientalisten James Darmesteter(† 1894), in zweiter(seit 1901) mit Emil Duclaux, Direktor des Pasteur-Instituts in Paris, vermählt. Ihre ersten Gedichte erschienen in englischer Sprache; später hat sie französische geschrieben, die von ihren neuen Landsleuten nicht weniger bewundert werden, wie die früheren in der alten Heimat. Die unten abgedruckte Dichtung ist wahrscheinlich zuerst in ihren„Songs, Ballads“(1888) ver- öffentlicht worden; ich habe mir diese Ausgabe nicht verschaffen

können. als„jüngst erschienen.“

Jedenfalls spricht Gaston Paris 1893 von dem Gedicht

Rudel and the Lady of Tripoli.) Part I.

There was in all the world of France No singer half so sweet:

The first note of his viol brought A crowd into the street.

And as he sat in Avignon With prices at their wine, In all that lusty company Was none so fresh and fine.

His kirtle's of the Arras-blue His cap of pearls and green, His golden curls fall tumbling round The bonniest face J' ve seen:

But hark! the lords are laughing loud And lusty in their mirth,

For each has pledged his own lady The fairest dame on earth.

„Now, hey, Rudel! You singer, Rudel! Say, who's the fairest lass?

Jll wager many a lady's eyes Have been your looking-glass!“

His lady’s portrait each has ta'en, And dashed it on the board.

Then lightly laugheth Geoffrey Rudel And counts the treasured hoard.

He lifts them up and lays them down With fingers nimble an deft;

He lifts them up and lays them down Till only one is left.

There's only a twist of silver About a parchment skin,

That's lain so close against a heart The colour's worn and thin.

There's only a twist of foreign wire There's only a faded face... What ails, what ails Geoffrey Rudel?

He has fallen from his place.

He's fallen plumb across the board Without a word or sigu,

The golden curls that hide his face Are dabbled in the wine.

He'’s fallen numb an dumb as death While all the princes stare— Then up one old Crusading knight Arose, and touched his hair:

¹) Geb. 1857 in Lenamington, Warwickshire. ²) The collected Poems, Lyrical and Narrative of A. Mar

F. Robinson(Madame Duclaux).

S. 294— 299.

ondon, T. Fister Unwin. 1902.