Poetry for children

Chapter 36: LINES SUGGESTED BY A PICTURE OF TWO FEMALES BY LEONARDO DA VINCI

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About This Book

This collection assembles short, simple poems and dialogues written for young readers, many by Mary with contributions from Charles, presenting playful scenes of childhood, sibling banter, moral fables, religious reflections, and observations of nature and daily life. Pieces range from light verse about losing baby teeth, toys, and first sights of green fields to didactic fables and tender portraits of family affection, occasionally adapting biblical or anecdotal material. Language is plain and rhythmic, with occasional ballads and moral lessons aimed at cultivating kindness, cleanliness, courage, and sympathy while celebrating imagination and domestic intimacy.

LINES
SUGGESTED BY A PICTURE
OF TWO FEMALES BY
LEONARDO DA VINCI

XXXIV

The lady Blanche, regardless of all her lovers’ fears,

To the Ursuline convent hastens, and long the abbess hears.

“O Blanche, my child, repent ye of the courtly life ye lead.”

Blanche looked on a rosebud, and little seem’d to heed.

She looked on the rosebud, she looked round and thought

On all her heart had whisper’d, and all the Nun had taught.

“I am worshipped by lovers, and brightly shines my fame,

All Christendom resoundeth the noble Blanche’s name.

Nor shall I quickly wither like the rosebud from the tree,

My queen-like graces shining when my beauty’s gone from me.

But when the sculptured marble is raised o’er my head,

And the matchless Blanche lies lifeless among the noble dead,

This saintly lady abbess hath made me justly fear

It nothing will avail me that I was worshipp’d here.”