T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Dieser Liebe toller Fasching
By Heinrich Heine (17971856)(Translated by Louis Untermeyer) |
THIS mad carnival of loving, | |
This wild orgy of the flesh, | |
Ends at last and we two, sobered, | |
Look at one another, yawning. | |
Emptied the inflaming cup | 5 |
That was filled with sensuous potions, | |
Foaming, almost running over— | |
Emptied is the flaming cup. | |
All the violins are silent | |
That impelled our feet to dancing, | 10 |
To the giddy dance of passion— | |
Silent are the violins. | |
All the lanterns now are darkened | |
That once poured their streaming brilliance | |
On the masquerades and mummurs— | 15 |
Darkened now are all the lanterns. | |
And to-morrow is Ash Wednesday, | |
And I put a cross of ashes | |
On your lovely brow, and tell you: | |
“Woman, you are dust. Remember!” | 20 |