I |
1 |
When the days are long in May |
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I love the sweet song of distant birds, |
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And when I have left that place |
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I remember a distant love: |
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5 |
I am burdened and bowed down with desire, |
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So that neither song nor hawthorn flower |
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Pleases me more than icy winter. |
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II |
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I consider true the Lord |
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By whom I shall see this distant love; |
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10 |
But for one good thing that happens to me |
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I get two misfortunes, for she is so distant; |
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Ah! how I wish I were a pilgrim there, |
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So that my staff and my cloak |
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Might be seen by her beautiful eyes! |
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III |
15 |
It will be a joy for me when I seek it, |
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For the love of God, that distant shelter; |
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And if it please her, I shall lodge |
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Near her, though I am from a distance; |
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Then the meeting will seem excellent, |
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20 |
When this distant lover is so near |
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That in lovely talk he will enjoy her company. |
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IV |
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Sad and happy I shall leave, |
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After I see this distant love; |
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But I do not know when I shall ever see her, |
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25 |
For our lands are too distant. |
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There are plenty of ports and roads, |
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Yet I cannot guess about the future . . . |
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But let things be as God pleases! |
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V |
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I shall never enjoy love |
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30 |
If I do not enjoy this distant love, |
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For I know none better or more noble |
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Anywhere, either near or far; |
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Her distinction is so true and fine |
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That there in the Saracens’ kingdom |
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35 |
I would be proclaimed a captive for her. |
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VI |
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God who made all that comes and goes, |
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And created this distant love, |
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Give me the strength, for I have the courage, |
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Soon to see the distant love, |
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40 |
Truly, in convenient places, |
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So that the room and the garden |
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May always seem a palace to me. |
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VII |
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Whoever calls me greedy and desirous |
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Of a distant love speaks the truth, |
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45 |
For no other enjoyment pleases me as much |
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As does the enjoyment of a distant love; |
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But what I want is so kept from me, |
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For so my godfather fixed my fate |
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That I should love and not be loved. |
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VIII |
50 |
But what I want is so kept from me; |
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Cursed be the godfather |
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Who fixed my fate so that I should not be loved! |