COME therefore now, my gentle fere, | |
| Whom as my heart I hold full dear; | |
| Enter my little room, which is | |
| Adorned with quaintest rarities: | |
| There are the seats with cushions spread, | 5 |
| The roof with curtains overhead; | |
| The house with flowers of sweetest scent | |
| And scattered herbs is redolent: | |
| A table there is deftly dight | |
| With meats and drinks of rare delight; | 10 |
| There too the wine flows, sparkling, free; | |
| And all, my love, to pleasure thee. | |
| There sound enchanting symphonies; | |
| The clear high notes of flutes arise; | |
| A singing girl and artful boy | 15 |
| Are chanting for thee strains of joy; | |
| He touches with his quill the wire, | |
| She tunes her note unto the lyre: | |
| The servants carry to and fro | |
| Dishes and cups of ruddy glow; | 20 |
| But these delights, I will confess, | |
| Than pleasant converse charm me less; | |
| Nor is the feast so sweet to me | |
| As dear familiarity. | |
| Then come now, sister of my heart, | 25 |
| That dearer than all others art, | |
| Unto mine eyes thou shining sun, | |
| Soul of my soul, thou only one! | |
| I dwelt alone in the wild woods, | |
| And loved all secret solitudes; | 30 |
| Oft would I fly from tumults far, | |
| And shunned where crowds of people are. | |
| O dearest, do not longer stay! | |
| Seek we to live and love to-day! | |
| I cannot live without thee, sweet! | 35 |
| Time bids us now our love complete. | |
| Why should we then defer, my own, | |
| What must be done or late or soon? | |
| Do quickly what thou canst not shun! | |
| I have no hesitation. | 40 |
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