T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Come Therefore Now, My Gentle Fere
Mediæval Latin Students Songs(From Wine, Women and Song. Translated by John Addington Symonds) |
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 |