La pawvre femme

It snows, it snows! and there, before the church,
Look! an old woman at her prayers is kneeling,
In rags through which these biting breezes search,
Mutely for bread to passers-by appealing
Yes, to Notre Dame her way she's wont to find,
Groping through summer's sun and winter's snow;
Alas, alas! the poor old soul is blind:
Come, then, on her our alms let us bestow!

Know ye by chance what that old dame hath been,
She with pale hue and features thin and long?
Of some vast theatre the marvellous queen,
All Paris once was ravished with her song
The young, by her to tears or laughter moved,
Before her beauty would half-maddened grow;
Her charms the source of many a dream have proved:
Come, then, on her our alms let us bestow!

How many a time, when from the stage retreating,
With rapid feet her coursers homeward flew,
She heard the idolizing crowd repeating
Shouts of applause, that would her steps pursue
Prompt from her car to aid her in descending,
Pleasure's soft ways again to bid her know,
How many a rival at her door attending!
Come, then, on her our alms let us bestow!

When all the Arts wove crowns for her to wear,
How rich and stately her abode was made!
What crystals, bronzes, columns, glittered there —
Tributes that love to love had freely paid!
What faithful Muses at her feasts would rest —
Long as her wines would prosperously flow;
In every palace swallows build a nest!
Come, then, on her our alms let us bestow!

Fearful reverse! disease, in one sad day,
Robbed her of sight, and marred her voice's tone:
Lonely and poor, soon forced to beg her way,
This as her haunt for twenty years I've known.
No hand the needy better could have fed;
None with more gold more kindliness could show,
Than this same hand to us reluctant spread:
Come, then, on her our alms let us bestow!

O grief! O pity! doubly sharp the cold
On her numbed members mercilessly preys;
Her fingers scarce the rosary can hold,
At which, perchance, she smiled in earlier days
If, tender still beneath such load of cares,
With pious confidence her heart can glow —
To give her cause to think Heaven heeds her prayers —
Come, then, on her our alms let us bestow!