Ii. The Marine

(Poitevin)

The bold Marine comes back from war, So kind: The bold Marine comes back from war, So kind: With a raggety coat and a worn-out shoe. "Now, poor Marine, say, whence come you, All so kind?"

I travel back from the war, madame, So kind: I travel back from the war, madame, So kind: For a glass of wine and a bowl of whey, 'Tis I will sing you a ballad gay, All so kind.

The bold Marine he sips his whey, So kind: He sips and he sings his ballad gay, So kind: But the dame she turns toward the wall, To wipe her tears that fall and fall, All so kind.

What aileth you at my song, madame, So kind? I hope that I sing no wrong, madame, So kind?

Or grieves it you a beggar should dine On a bowl of whey and the good white wine, All so kind?

It ails me not at your ballad gay, So kind: It ails me not for the wine and whey, So kind:

But it ails me sore for the voice and eyes Of a good man long in Paradise.-- Ah, so kind!

You have fair children five, madame, So kind: You have fair children five, madame, So kind:

Your good man left you children three; Whence came these twain for company, All so kind?

"A letter came from the war, Marine, So kind: A letter came from the war, Marine, So kind: A while I wept for the good man dead, But another good man in a while I wed, All so kind."

The bold Marine he drained his glass, So kind: The bold Marine he drained his glass, So kind. He said not a word, though the tears they flowed, But back to his regiment took the road, All so kind.