The Pearl

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pearl, by Sophie JewettThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: The PearlAuthor: Sophie JewettRelease Date: August 18, 2004 [EBook #13211]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEARL ***Produced by David Starner, Keith M. Eckrich, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreaders TeamTHE PEARLA MIDDLE ENGLISH POEMA MODERN VERSION IN THE METRE OF THE ORIGINALBYSOPHIE JEWETTASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LITERATURE IN WELLESLEY COLLEGE1908To KATHARINE LEE BATESTHE TRANSLATOR TO THE AUTHOR Poet of beauty, pardon me If touch of mine have tarnishèd Thy Pearl's pure luster, loved by thee; Or dimmed thy vision of the dead Alive in light and gaiety. Thy life is like a shadow fled; Thy place we know not nor degree, The stock that bore thee, school that bred; Yet shall thy fame be sung and said. Poet of wonder, pain, and peace, Hold high thy nameless, laurelled head Where Dante dwells with Beatrice.PREFACEAmong the treasures of the British Museum is a manuscript which contains four anonymous poems, apparently ofcommon authorship: "The Pearl," "Cleanness," "Patience," "Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight." From the language ofthe ...