| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | Long as I Still | | By Louise Labé (c. 1520–1566) |
| | Translated by Arthur Platt
LONG as I still can shed tears from mine eyes | |
| My bliss with thee regretting once again, | |
| And while my voice, though in a weaker strain, | |
| Can speak a little, checking sobs and sighs,— | |
| Long as my hand can tune the harmonies | 5 |
| Of my bold lute to sing thy graces fain, | |
| And while my spirit shall content remain, | |
| Thee understanding, nothing else to prize, | |
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| So long I do not yet desire to die; | |
| But when I feel mine eyes are growing dry, | 10 |
| Broken my voice, my hand devoid of skill, | |
| My spirit in this its dwelling-place of clay | |
| Able no more to shew I love thee still, | |
| I shall pray Death to blot my clearest day. | | | | |
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