T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Ballata. Concerning a Shepherd-maid
By Guido Cavalcanti (1255?1300)(Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti) WITHIN a copse I met a shepherd-maid, | |
More fair, I said, than any star to see. | |
She came with waving tresses pale and bright, | |
With rosy cheer, and loving eyes of flame, | |
Guiding the lambs beneath her wand aright. | 5 |
Her naked feet still had the dews on them, | |
As, singing like a lover, so she came; | |
Joyful, and fashion’d for all ecstasy. | |
I greeted her at once, and question made | |
What escort had she through the woods in spring? | 10 |
But with soft accents she replied and said | |
That she was all alone there, wandering; | |
Moreover: “Do you know, when the birds sing, | |
My heart’s desire is for a mate,” said she. | |
While she was telling me this wish of hers, | 15 |
The birds were all in song throughout the wood. | |
“Even now then,” said my thought, “the time recurs, | |
With mine own longing to assuage her mood.” | |
And so, in her sweet favour’s name, I sued | |
That she would kiss there and embrace with me. | 20 |
She took my hand to her with amorous will, | |
And answered that she gave me all her heart, | |
And drew me where the leaf is fresh and still, | |
Where spring the wood-flowers in the shade apart. | |
And on that day, by Joy’s enchanted art, | 25 |
There Love in very presence seem’d to be. | |