1. By the right of those who have no equal in my eyes, I swear
And by those whose love I have no share without, I swear

2. And those whose love I feigned for others' sake
While truly loving them alone, my only want

3. Shall I pretend to spurn the love I'm blamed for? Nay, I own it
Though chiding and ill health concur to disavow

4. Not all who safeguard, revering, their lover's name
Are with pure passion in that love to blame

5. God keep a folk I never quit but their thoughts and dreams descend
And when I picture them each day I think that they have come

6. I think though they don't know my state that they have left, God, if they only knew my case they would show mercy
They hit their mark and left this body bereft of life

7. Mine to bewail them while my heart is theirs to claim
They shot my heart though the hunted game is sacrosanct to them

8. Knowing that passion is forbidden fruit, an inviolate realm
O absent ones whose beauty has not waned

9. O travelers, though far, not far beyond my reach or ken
You slept, of me you never dreamed in your repose

10. While wakeful, you I dreamed of, rapt in sweet fantasm
By the troth of faith I hoped was binding on us both

11. And the companionship I foolishly presumed was kind
No joy in life for me since your fair aspect vanished

12. No blessing comes till after your return, no boon
By your light my night was day, now the day's own light is darkness without you

13. For the virtues and graces you embody I loved you
High souls do not break troths when bound by them

14. The noble keep their vows, trust well their plighted word
No wrong I did to earn estrangement at your hands

15. But to forgive wrongdoing is to act with gracious charm
Time granted me the bliss to be with you awhile

16. Then turned against it, afterwards regretting the gift
If access to you is barred, to whom shall I complain

17. Of time's injustices, for time is both judge and foe?
Once I could conquer the turns of fortune, with you by my side

18. Now fortune's turns take vengeance, armed against me
How much, when you departed, my tears flowed

19. Now still they flow, while my heart smolders and burns
Why do not these copious tears quench the fires within?

20. Their torrents cannot drown the flame, cannot curb my yearning
I stood forth to make excuse for you before the slanderers

21. Though what they alleged found credence among other men
They said: so long enthralled has he been by their love!

22. God knows you have my heart, you are my obsession