Away away in the countryside

Lived a young girl named Rose.

A natural beauty indeed,

she was eighteen, I suppose.

She worked hard in her little cornfield

For her mother was sick and pale,

But to no avail could she fulfill this year’s need,

For her field was crushed by hail.

Sick and tired of the hard work

She cried to her mother and said

“Can we move to the capital city?

And I will work there for bread.”

Off they went to the capital

But found no place to stay,

Then came a kind young man

Whose name was John De Bellay.

He was a man with the purest heart

As white and bright as pearls,

He loved his piano immensely

On which his fingers swirled.

And with his dulcet voice

He offered Rose a place,

A job to do and food to eat

And medicines, just in case.

Rose was overjoyed

And so was her mother,

To get such generous help

From the viscount’s own brother!

With all her will, she did her best

And began with a good start,

For the lord, whom she thought

Was a beautiful work of art.

One fine night a tune played

In the frosty hours of twilight,

Rose had gone towards it,

When no one was in sight.

In front of the young lord’s chamber

She stood in daze,

Listening to the sweet melody

And couldn’t help but praise.

Amidst her state of wonder

She did not realize,

That a storm

Was just about to arise.

Drunk Viscount Bellay

Approached like a howling squall,

He was gigantic

And oh, so tall!

He kicked the door open

And entered the room,

And all that while

Rose stood there in doom.

Then suddenly

She heard a shout,

It was the young lord

Who had cried out.

For his piano was in danger

And he lay there in pain,

The timid being did everything

But all his cries were in vain.

The young maid couldn’t stand the sight

Her lord was on the ground,

The viscount was walking ahead

With his hammer out.

A disaster awaited

There was no time to spare,

She ran before she knew

And shielded the piano.

Her eyes were shut

As she stood their horror stuck

Clueless of what was next

She trembled, but her luck

Was not on her side.

She stood there in fright,

And then the viscount

Banished her that night.

Rose begged and prayed

To hit her once

But not take her job

For her mother was sick for months.

She was dragged out

And screaming sounds

Had echoed in

The mansion of the viscount.

But nothing was done

She was thrown out,

She couldn’t help

But shout out loud.

She headed home

While her tears poured

But was stopped by

Her lord, whom she adored.

He said he was

Now in her dept

She did something

He didn’t expect

He said she was

The only one,

Who had cared

But now was shunned.

He wanted

To help her out,

And give her things

She was without.

Rose was pleased

But denied,

For she too was

“In your dept”, she replied.

His kind lord

Had helped her when

She had no one

On whom she could depend.

She refused,

He was adamant,

And in the end

she had to accept.

From that day on

He became her aid,

A great friend

Whom she motivates.

But that friendship

Seemed to move beyond

And took shape

Of a flourishing bond.

Now the sky seemed pink

And the air so sweet ,

And when together

They felt complete.

Was this love?

They didn’t know

But once they did

They let it grow.

Down her window ‘

He sang serenades,

A prohibited love

Between him and his maid.

But one dreaded day

The viscount discovered,

That his timid little brother

Had dared to be a lover.

He sent his troops

To hunt them down,

His futile brother

And his future spouse.

The couple had seen this coming

And pre-planned their escape,

But they didn’t know

How the events would take shape.

They ran around

Though tunnels underground

And in disguise

They left the town.

The kingdom too,

They must have left

Or would have met

With a tragic accident.  

But still away in the countryside

Their love story is sung,

About how the forbidden love

Had only just begun.