Lyrics
‘Bright golden Moon, that now art near to thy setting, go thou and salute my lover, she that stole my love, and that kissed me, and said, “Never will I leave thee.”
And, lo, she has left me, like a field reaped and gleaned, like a church where no man comes to pray, like a city desolate.
Therefore I would curse her, and yet again my heart fails me for tenderness, my heart is vexed within me, my spirit is moved with anguish.
Nay, even so I will lay my curse on her, and let God do even as He will, with my pain and with my crying, with my flame, and mine imprecations.’
‘I will begin by telling thee first of thy perfections: thy body is as fair as an angel’s; no painter could design it.
And if any man be sad, he has but to look on thee, and despite himself he takes courage, the hapless one, and his heart is joyous.
Upon thy brows are shining the constellated Pleiades, thy breast is full of the flowers of May, thy breasts are lilies.
Thou hast the eyes of a princess, the glance of a queen, and but one fault hast thou, that thou deignest not to speak to me.’
‘Ah, light of mine eyes, what gift shall I send thee; what gift to the other world?
The apple rots, and the quince decayeth, and one by one they perish, the petals of the rose!
I send thee my tears bound in a napkin, and what though the napkin burns, if my tears reach thee at last!’
‘Do thou farewell, and turn thy steeds to Ocean, lady, and my pain I will endure, even as I have declared. Farewell, Selene beautiful; ye other stars that follow the wheels of Night.’
‘To flit towards these lips of thine, I fain would be a swallow,
To kiss thee once, to kiss thee twice, and then go flying homeward.’
{End}
