The Beggar-Woman.

Written by Pierre-Jean de Béranger.

Where the snowflakes whirl over yonder flags

A woman kneels hand-outspread,

The ice-wind pierces her wretched rags

As she prays, — can it be for bread?

Those cathedral gates are her daily goal,

Let the weather be what it may,

And, saddest of all, she is blind, poor soul;

For pity’s sake turn not away!

For pity’s sake turn not away!

Know you what she was once, that woman there,

So haggard and broken-down?

At the opera none was a tithe so fair,

And her voice was the talk of the town;

Let her move them to laughter or melt to tears,

Their homage all flocked to pay;

Day and night she bewitched them, heart, eyes, and ears.

For pity’s sake turn not away!

For pity’s sake turn not away!

Before 1844.