PETER LOMBARD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 379, 23 July 1880, Page 9

PETER LOMBARD.

[From the It-iah Monthly.] High peers and ladies stand beside The simple rustic dame, And bid her don full rich attire To grace a nobler name. " Your son," quoth they, " so long unseen, Is prelate chief in Gaul, Yet yearns to see his mother's face Within the palace hall." "Ah 1 pray me not," she said with tears ; '• I ne'er was bravely drest." In vain she weeps, the lords are wroth, She hearkens to their 'hest. With precious robe of silk and gold Adorned she rides in state, 'Mid throng of great ones, noble, fair, Unto the palace gate. They mount the stair, they reach the hall, She hies her son to greet. " My Lords," the bishop frowning spake, " Such jesting is not meet ! I never knew that gorgeous dame, For I was poorly bred ; Would thou were here, 0 mother mine, But haply thou art dead." " Alas ! " she sighs, " I knew 'twould be," Th' encircling court admire — " I said he would not know me thus I'll doff this vain attire." With tottering steps she left the hall And doffed her silk and gold. Eeturned, the son his mother clasped As in the years of old ; And pressing both her hands in his, Acknowledged her his own, And set her proudly by his side Upon the prelate's throne. W. P.