Silentium Amoris

Silentium Amoris

　　As often-times the too resplendent sun

　　Hurries the pallid¹ and reluctant moon

　　Back to her sombre cave， ere she hath won

　　A single ballad² from the nightingale，

　　So doth thy Beauty make my lips to fail，

　　And all my sweetest singing out of tune³.

　　And as at dawn across the level mead⁴

　　On wings impetuous some wind will come，

　　And with its too harsh kisses break the reed

　　Which was its only instrument of song，

　　So my too stormy passions work me wrong，

　　And for excess of Love my Love is dumb.

　　But surely unto Thee mine eyes did show

　　Why I am silent， and my lute⁵ unstrung；

　　Else it were better we should part， and go，

　　Thou to some lips of sweeter melody，

　　And I to nurse the barren memory

　　Of unkissed kisses， and songs never sung.