Sol 5.6

  1. Do you think he remembers, of his own accord, the client

    who belongs to him—or does prudence compel him to remember?

  2. Time has indeed prolonged my waiting, and the seek—

    —er of gray hair may well prolong his waiting.

  3. Harsh time has stripped away my patience;

    the heart could not command its own endurance.

  4. Whenever I said, “The fulfillment of my affair is at hand,”

    Time interposed its excuses before it.

  5. At times the pilgrimage distracts my patrons, drawing them away—

    —from me; at other times, the campaign distracts them.

  6. So to God I complain of what I suffer:

    troubles too vast for words to encompass.

  7. When departure drew near, I was not merely lost; I grew—

    —more lost still, for anxiety kindles its fire.

  8. My ceasing to pursue the courtiers

    is sheer helplessness; my heart has made its resolve clear.

  9. So I sought the mighty patron, that he might re—

    —pair my sorrowing heart’s brokenness.

  10. My bewilderment ended, and in my af—

    —fair I left the choice to his noble judgment.

  11. So favor me, at a time like this, with a deed—

    I look to none but him for the power to accomplish it.

Sol 5.6