LES AMOURS DE CASSANDRE: CLXXXVI IT WAS HOT, AND SLEEP ...
Pierre de Ronsardtr. A.S.Kline
Il faisoyt chault, et le somme coulant
Se distilloyt dans mon ame songearde,
Quand l'incertain d'une idole gaillarde,
Fut doulcement mon dormir affolant.

Panchant soubz moy son bel ivoyre blanc,
Et mitirant sa langue fretillarde,
Me baisotoyt d'une lévre mignarde,
Bouche sur bouche et le flanc sus le flanc.

Que de coral, que de liz, que de roses,
Ce me sembloyt, à pleines mains descloses,
Tastay-je lors entre deux manimentz?

Mon dieu mon dieu, de quelle doulce aleine,
De quelle odeur estoyt sa bouche pleine,
De quelz rubiz, et de quelz diamantz!
It was hot, and sleep, gently flowing,
Was trickling through my dreaming soul,
When the vague form of a vibrant ghost
Arrived to disturb my dreaming, softly

Leaning down to me, pure ivory teeth,
And offering me her flickering tongue,
Her lips were kissing me, sweet and long,
Mouth on mouth, thigh on thigh beneath.

What coral, what lilies, and what roses,
In seeming, my open hand discloses,
Now, with twin caresses stroking her.

Faith, oh my faith, what fragrant breath,
What sweet odour from her mouth’s excess,
What rubies and what diamonds were there.


Trans. Copyright © A.S.Kline 2004


VB34 next
VB34 index
French index