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Home  »  The Sonnets of Europe  »  Jacques Tahureau (1527–1555)

Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888.

Shadows of His Lady

Jacques Tahureau (1527–1555)

Translated by Andrew Lang

WITHIN the sand of what far river lies

The gold that gleams in tresses of my Love?

What highest circle of the Heavens above

Is jewelled with such stars as are her eyes?

And where is the rich sea whose coral vies

With her red lips, that cannot kiss enough?

What dawn-lit garden knew the rose, whereof

The fled soul lives in her cheeks’ rosy guise?

What Parian marble that is loveliest,

Can match the whiteness of her brow and breast?

When drew she breath from the Sabæan glade?

Oh happy rock and river, sky and sea,

Gardens, and glades Sabæan, all that be

The far-off splendid semblance of my maid!