T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Whoso Love Limb to Limb
Anonymous(Twelfth Century French Song. Translated by Claude C. Abbott) |
ON Saturday at eve, the long week done | |
Gaiete and Oriour, blood-sisters, come | |
Small hand in hand, to bathe where waters run. | |
Whispering wind and branches meet, | |
Whoso love limb to limb sleep sweet. | 5 |
Young Gerairt wending from the tilting ring, | |
Spied Gaiete stood beside the fountain spring, | |
Took her between his arms, softly they cling. | |
Whispering wind and branches meet, | |
Whoso love limb to limb sleep sweet. | 10 |
“When you have drawn the water, Oriour, | |
Turn back again, you know the town, for sure: | |
With Gerairt I remain, none loves me more.” | |
Whispering wind and branches meet, | |
Whoso love limb to limb sleep sweet. | 15 |
Now Oriour is pale, and sad her eyes, | |
From them she goes a-weeping, and she sighs | |
When sister Gaie with her no longer hies. | |
Whispering wind and branches meet, | |
Whoso love limb to limb sleep sweet. | 20 |
Why was I born, weeps Oriour, woe’s me! | |
I left my sister in the deep valley. | |
Young Gerairt takes her to his own country. | |
Whispering wind and branches meet, | |
Whoso love limb to limb sleep sweet. | 25 |
Gerairt and Gaiete turned themselves away, | |
Right straight toward his city took their way: | |
No sooner come than there he married Gaie. | |
Whispering wind and branches meet, | |
Whoso love limb to limb sleep sweet. | 30 |
“Sweet lover mine, I cannot make believe. | |
With all my heart I love you, nor deceive | |
And you may kiss me over when you please, | |
Within your arms fain would I find mine ease. | |
God, how the name of love is sweet, | 35 |
Ne’er thought I to have dole of it.” | |
Her lover takes her in his arms’ reach, | |
In a fine bed they lay them, each to each: | |
Bele Yoland kisses him as clings a leech, | |
And they lie bedded as their bodies teach. | 40 |
God, how the name of love is sweet: | |
Ne’er thought I to have dole of it. | |