1. They warned you against temptation - warnings enough -
And you tasted of reckless youth - your fill thereof;

2. Long was your night-journey lost in passion's maze;
You rose ungrateful for the grace of yesterday.

3. Grieve not o'er what befell one eve and morningtide,
But tell me, if you grieve, what can your grief provide?

4. Why chide the turns of Fate, when in their orbit lies
The test that shows me who still loves me, who denies?

5. By my life, my soul is molten for his love
Whose love has brought my own hands my destruction.

6. Indeed, you lived heedless of this till love taught you
The difference 'twixt your aberration and guidance.

7. I shunned love and it brought me only misery,
While you chase every hue of love that beckons you.

8. Leave off, my heart, the ways of love you knew before,
Can you not see that your beloved has forsaken you?

9. My soul attained through him the vertigo of love-
Through him my eyes attained the dazzlement thereof.

10. O you who vanished from me, though you are my soul,
How can I bear this severing from my soul?

11. Beloved mine, how could you leave me after all?
Do you not know that I have none but you?

12. I see you have deserted me for many a long day,
Though you never accustomed me to such before.

13. I knew you bore impatience from me ill,
That you rebelled whene'er I said, "Adore!"

14. How those traits have altered now, and who is this
Has turned you from me to a different task?

15. No, by God! You have no excuse that can avail,
For men may all be excused - all but you!

16. You did not choose to part from me; no, but Fate's hand
Dealt you a blow that smote and laid you low.

17. Fate judged that we should part, no say had you or I;
Had you but tarried till my state was such

18. That all mankind as one would ransom you!
Grievous it is to turn my eye, and miss

19. Your face in its accustomed place, and grope
To find your straight and slender form, your lip,

20. Your dark eyes and your brilliance gone from you.
Though to your love I sealed my heart's interior,

21. Upon its tabled page your name is still unaltered.
Too soon Death's hand reached out to harvest you,

22. Before you could enjoy the fruit of your own spring.
Why should I sorrow if your body wastes,

23. If, after beauty's flourish, it is robbed of bloom?
Deem me not true if I profess devotion,

24. When I have no share in your adversity.
You died; I did not die of grief for you, betraying

25. My vow of love to you, however love called me.
How deep my shame, if they should say, "A lover!"

26. When I brought no profit to you in your trouble.
With me I see how many for your loss weep long,

27. But none weeps as one weeps for their own weeping's sake.
O you whose far and lonely journey now draws nigh,

28. Say, when will you come back to greet those who bid you stay?
God give you from me all good that may befall,

29. And I know that from me He gave you only good thereby.
O tomb of him I love! Would I might bear,

30. Were it but once, your soil upon my eyelids!
May showers water you unceasingly, but if not,

31. My streaming tears have watered you no end.
Still does my salutation hover, with the breeze,

32. About the particles that were your mortal dress.