War and Love/Prelude

For works with similar titles, see Prelude.

PART II

Love

"Amor si dolce mi sa fa sentire
Che, s'io allora non perdessi ardire,
Farei, parlando, innamorar la gente."
Dante.

PRELUDE

How could I love you more?
I would give up
Even that beauty I have loved too well
That I might love you better.
Alas, how poor the gifts that lovers give—
I can but give you of my flesh and strength,
I can but give you these few passing days
And passionate words that since our speech began
All lovers whisper in all ladies' ears.

I try to think of one lovely gift
No lover yet in all the world has found;
I think: If the cold somber gods
Where hot with love as I am
Could they not endow you with a star
And fix bright youth for ever in your limbs?
Could they not give you all things that I lack?

You should have loved a god; I am but dust.
Yet no god loves as loves this poor frail dust.