The Lover’s anguish
The Rose, my every member shakes
With rage, and all my being quakes
With longing once again to see
That treasure which is more to me
Than life—sweet end of all desire.
The memory of that one kiss doth fire
My blood, and sweeter far than balm
Its odours are, which sent a calm3950
Sweet swoon o’er all my heart, that knows
Peace only when ’tis near the Rose.
If e’er should fall on me the fate
To be cast out, all desolate,
Therefrom, much rather would I die
Than live in such drear misery.
O God of Love, what boots it then
That I, most love-lorn among men,
Should have enjoyed that dear delight,
With loving lips, with ardent sight,
When thus from me ’tis reft amain
With ruthless hand, no more to fain
My longing heart?
I then were doomed
To be with wretchedness consumed
E’en as aforetime—torn with woes,
Tortured with sighs and bitter throes,
And sleepless nights, and such a hell
Of pain as passeth words to tell.
Accursed be Evil-Tongue, through whom
I fall once more beneath the doom3970
Of hopeless love, the wretch for me
Hath purchased endless misery.
