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I |
1 |
The time has come for me to sing; |
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I have been so asleep |
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That my song has not been heard afar; |
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But now I am awake, |
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5 |
And I shall regain my joy |
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In spite of the winter and the cold wind. |
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II |
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I should not run away from joy, |
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For I have never for a day been graced with it; |
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And it has surged deeply in my heart, |
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10 |
So that among people I sigh |
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For the great desire of love that I have; |
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I neither sleep nor wake, hear nor see. |
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III |
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If ever I stayed awake for love, |
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Or was a fool or betrayed because of it, |
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15 |
Or was crossed by a fickle woman, |
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Now I praise God and Saint John |
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Because I love with such a love |
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That never exchanged me for another. |
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IV |
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I do not believe that this one would cheat me, |
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20 |
Though I have not yet been graced by her; |
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Nor am I so foolish |
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As ever to seek or ask anything of her, |
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Small or large, this or that, |
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Bad or good, or anything. |
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V |
25 |
I know her to be so gracious and dignified, |
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And her deeds are of such high merit, |
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That here I consider myself rich, |
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And there [I shall be in] her command |
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Any night, day, month, or year, |
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30 |
For I am hers as I ought to be. |
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VI |
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The song is plain, and I perfect it |
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Without a vile, false, bastardized word; |
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And it has been worked over to the point |
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That I practise it with polished words; |
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35 |
And it still continues to improve |
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If there’s one to sing or perform it well. |
