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that the place danced to the rhythm; after which she played a lively measure and sang the following verses:
I have a friend, whose form is mirrored in mine eye, And deep within my breast, his name doth buried lie.
Whenas I call him back to mind, I am all heart, And when on him I gaze, all eyes indeed am I.
“Forswear the love of him,” my censor says; and I, “That which is not to be, how shall it be?” reply.
“Go forth from me,” quoth I, “and leave me, censor mine: Feign not that eath and light, that’s grievous to aby.”
At this their master was moved to mirth and drinking off his cup, gave the damsels to drink, after which he said to the brunette, “O light of the brasier[1] and delight of souls, let us hear thy lovely voice, wherewith all that hearken are ravished.” So she took the lute and trilled upon it, till the place was moved to mirth; then, taking all hearts with her graceful bendings, she sang the following verses:
As thy face liveth, none but thee I’ll love nor cherish e’er, Till death, nor ever to thy love will I be false, I swear.
O full moon, shrouded, as it were a veil, with loveliness, All lovely ones on earth that be beneath thy banners fare.
Thou, that in pleasantness and grace excellest all the fair, May God, the Lord of heaven and earth, be with thee everywhere!
The man was pleased and drank off his cup; after which he filled again and taking the goblet in his hand, beckoned to the plump girl and bade her sing and play. So she took the lute and striking a grief-dispelling measure, sang as follows:
If but thy consent be assured, O thou who art all my desire, Be all the folk angered ’gainst me; I set not a whit by their ire.
And if thou but show me thy face, thy brilliant and beautiful face, I reck not if all the kings of the earth from my vision retire.
Thy favour, O thou unto whom all beauty must needs be referred, Of the goods and the sweets of the world is all that I seek and require.
- ↑ i.e. O thou, whose glance is as the light of the glowing embers.
