Francesco Redi (1626–1697)

Translated by Edmund Gosse

LOVE, thou hast had thy will with me! oh! say,

What is there left for me to give thee more?

Love, thou hast had thy will with me to-day,

I can but give thee what thou hadst before!

Oh! hungry Love, shall I devote my tears

To quench this never-tiring old desire?

Behold! the sum of all my joys and fears

Lies hidden behind thy quivering wings of fire!

What wilt thou more? Oh! wilt thou that I die?

Behold my breast before thee strained and bare!

Stab me to death, or wind my coils of hair

Around my throat and slay me where I lie;

Crush me or kill me, tyrannous God and fair,

But with thy kisses stifle my last cry!