That wild free song which will not wear a fetter,
Such as was mastered well by loving Shelley
(Pure poet, down-ridden in the world's hot mêlee ),
Or such as Shakespeare uttered, careless setter
In Orient gold of perfect amethysts,
Whom men must marvel at, while the great world exists.

We are led forth amid the mystic moan
Of music sad with love unutterable
To ascend the wide slow stair of carven stone,
So wide a troop of mounted knights were able
To climb it easily. When the door is thrown
Open, I see clad in a cloak of sable
A skeleton form with lurid light above,
Who says, " I am the Lover of thy Love ."

Now with the sound of that great knight's slow saying
I seem to pass back many centuries.
It is another world I am surveying
Than this of comforts and philosophies:
There is a passion-storm the nations swaying
Of Faith that shatters old idolatries,
And a sworn soldier of that Faith am I.
But, " Where is the Lady of my Love? " I cry.

Das Glück, das gestern mich geküsst

The joy that kissed me yesterday
Has disappeared already;
Long years ago I found it so:
True love is never steady.

Oft curiosity has drawn
Some lovely ladies toward me;
But when they looked deep in my heart
They left, and then abhorred me.

Some have grown pale before they went,
And some with laughter cleft me;
But only Kitty really cared —

Ich liebe solche weisse Glieder

I love this white and slender body,
These limbs that answer Love's caresses,
Passionate eyes, and forehead covered
With heavy waves of thick, black tresses.

You are the very one I've searched for
In many lands, in every weather.
You are my sort; you understand me;
As equals we can talk together.

In me you've found the man you care for.
And, for a while, you'll richly pay me

In welche soll ich mich verlieben

Which of them shall I fall in love with?
Both of them make my senses swirl.
The mother's still a lovely woman;
The daughter's an enchanting girl.

In those white arms and virgin beauties
My trembling heart is almost caught!
But thrilling too are genial glances
That understand each casual thought.

My heart resembles our gray brother,
Who stands, a jackass self-confessed,

In meinen Tagesträumen

In all my dreams by daylight
And nights that follow after,
My spirit throbs and rings with
Your long and lovely laughter.

Remember Montmorency?
The ass you dared not straddle?
And how, into the thistles,
You fell from that high saddle?

The donkey stood there browsing
Upon the thorns thereafter —
Always will I remember
Your long and lovely laughter.

Heller wird es schon im Osten

Comes a spark, the sun's first glimmer;
And the eastern sky's in motion.
Far and faint the mountain summits
Float upon a misty ocean.

Had I seven-league boots, I'd hasten
With the wind, as fast as telling;
Running on the tops of mountains
Till I reach my dear one's dwelling.

I would draw the curtains softly
From her bed, where she lies dreaming;
Softly I would kiss her forehead

Love thou art absolute, sole Lord
Of life and death — To prove the word,
Wee need to goe to none of all
Those thy old souldiers, stout and tall
Ripe and full growne, that could reach downe,
With strong armes their triumphant crowne:
Such as could with lusty breath,
Speake lowd unto the face of death
Their great Lords glorious name, to none
Of those whose large breasts built a throne
For love their Lord, glorious and great,
Weell see him take a private seat,
And make his mansion in the milde
And milky soule of a soft childe.

XI

Behold Her now by Loves and Graces drest!
Like the Great Wife of Jove in Venus Cest ;
Now She may ask whate're the God can grant,
If ought of Pow'r, or Glory, She can want;
But Heav'n has superseded all Her care,
And giv'n till it has left no use for Pray'r.
No wish for Times swift Coursers to run back,
To catch one flying minute past;
The coming hours, new pleasures hast;