T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Villanelle
By Philippe Desportes (1546–1606)(Translated by Wilfrid Thorley) ROSETTE, because I stayed away | |
| A little while, you wanton grew, | |
| And I who knew how you did sway, | |
| Thereon was fain no more of you. | |
| No more such fickle loveliness | 5 |
| Shall hold me captive in its net: | |
| We soon shall see, light shepherdess, | |
| Which shall be first to know regret. | |
| While in vain tears my life I lose | |
| And do bemoan my lonely fate, | 10 |
| You who do love by simple use, | |
| Have fond arms for another mate; | |
| No weather-vane more swiftly veers | |
| Before the wind than you, Rosette: | |
| We soon shall see whose love outwears— | 15 |
| Which shall be first to know regret. | |
| Where are your holy promises, | |
| And where are now your farewell woes? | |
| And could such sorrow-laden cries | |
| Come from a heart that gadding goes? | 20 |
| Pardie! but you’re a lying lass, | |
| And curst the man whose trust you get! | |
| We soon shall see, light shepherdess, | |
| Which shall be first to know regret. | |
| He who doth take the sweets were mine | 25 |
| Lacks wit to woo as well as I, | |
| And she I love is far more fine | |
| In beauty, love and loyalty. | |
| Hold closely then your new-found swain; | |
| This love of mine is firmly set, | 30 |
| And then we soon shall see, of twain, | |
| Which shall be first to know regret. | |