" Love me, oh, love me, Donna Lombarda!
Love only me, love only me! "

" I have a husband; how would'st thou have me
To love only thee, to love only thee? "

" Do him to death, Donna Lombarda,
Do him to death, and love only me. "

" How shall I slay him? after what fashion?
To love only thee, to love only thee. "

" There is a fashion, Donna Lombarda,
There is a fashion easy for thee.

" In thine own garden, Donna Lombarda,
Close to thy house lies a poisonous snake.

" Cut off its head, Donna Lombarda,
With mortar and pestle pound it and break.

" Thou shalt poison his cup, Donna Lombarda,
Even with this when he asks thee for wine;

" For thy husband will come hot from his hunting,
And beg thee for wine, and beg thee for wine. "
. . . . . . . . .

" I have so great thirst, Donna Lombarda,
Give me to drink, give me to drink.

" What hast thou done, Donna Lombarda?
The wine is beclouded, what dost thou think? "

" There came in the sea-wind last night at sunset;
It clouded the wine, it clouded the wine. "

" Drink with me then, Donna Lombarda,
Drink from the one cup, thy lips with mine! "

" Why should I drink, who come not from hunting?
Why should I drink, who am not athirst? "

" Nay, thou shalt drink, Donna Lombarda;
At the point of my dagger thou shalt drink first! "


With the first drop Donna Lombarda
Loses her color so rose-red and brave;

With the next drop Donna Lombarda
Calls her confessor to shrive her and save;

With the third drop Donna Lombarda
Calls for the sexton to dig her a grave.