The 'Pardon' at Guingamp

NOTRE Dame de Bon Secours,
See a little maid and poor
Humbly standing at thy door.
(Ave Maris Stella!)

We have traveled far to-day
In our cart all sweet with hay
At thy shrine to kneel and pray.
(Ora pro nobis!)

Scarce a stone upon the square
Could we see for people there,
And gay stalls were everywhere
Marketing enchantments!

Silver chains and tasseled pins,
A tinsel fish that twirls and spins,
Lace for coiffes, and ripe red cherries,
Quimper plates and fresh strawberries,
Shoes, and velvet-streamered hats
With silver buckles, and butter pats
Nestling cool beneath green leaves,
Silken shawls of lustrous weaves,
And little saints to place before
A house, enthroned above the door —
And Queen of Heaven, didst thou see
The brush piled high to blaze for thee?

We have sold our cock ‘Saint Pierre,’
And bought blue plates for ‘tite-mère,
And new sabots for mon père!
Now the dusk is closing down;
In thy blue and silver gown
Soon thou wilt ride through the town.
(Ave Maris Stella!)

Darkling gables will turn bright
With festoons of winking light,
While we march beneath the night
Singing holy canticles.
Now we light our tapers tall;
Tiny flame-points rise and fall;
Hushed, we wait Processional.
(Mé hou salude, Mari!)

Notre Dame de Bon Secours,
Bless us, toil-worn folk and poor —
May our harvests’ yield be sure!