Classic Poem

I take and carefully attire myself
In my garments black as the jewels of the moor;
Like the birds of the offing I look at my breast,
I find these are not good,
And cast them off on the waves of the beach.
I take and carefully attire myself
In my garments green as a kingfisher;
Like the birds of the offing I look at my breast,
I find these too are not good,
And cast them off on the waves of the beach.
I take and carefully attire myself
In my raiment dyed in the sap of the dye-tree,
The pounded madder sought in the mountain fields;
Like the birds of the offing I look at my breast,
I find they are good.
My dear younger sister, Thine Augustness!
Though thou say thou wilt not weep,
If, like the flocking birds, I fly and depart,
If, like the led birds, I am led and depart,
Thou wilt hang down thy head
Like a single eulalia upon the mountain;
Thy weeping shall indeed rise
As the mist of the morning shower,
Thine Augustness, my spouse young like young herbs!