Classic Poem

Three days she has not come to me,
And my life is in her power,
And my delight.
Lady mine, who thus prevents thee?
How can I live but one hour
From thy sight?

Since thy anger will not cease
And such war it is thy pleasure
I should have,
Since lost is all my peace
Take me, Death, to seek this treasure
In the grave.

For to me when Love first won me,
He said: — Condemned art thou
Soon to die. —
Thus he passed sentence upon me,
But my life prolongeth now
Cruelly.

God of Love, is't not thy will
My life from me to receive
On this day,
Even the life that thou dost kill,
And my soul that sorrows grieve
Bear away?

And thou, garden, my desire
Is to see thee spoiled and torn
And desolate lie,
Fence and gate all burnt with fire,
Since now thou art forlorn
Even as I.

Why then comes thy goddess not,
To see how all her garden
I destroy?
And for love of her its lot
It bears gladly, nor seeks pardon
From such joy!