| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | Avant qu’ Amour | | By Pierre de Ronsard (1524–1585) |
| | Translated by Cosmo Monkhouse
BEFORE that Love of drowsy Chaos rent | |
| The breast, and freed the light therein concealed, | |
| With land unshaped, and waters unrevealed, | |
| The very heaven was in confusion blent;— | |
| Even so my mind, of all things indolent, | 5 |
| In the gross substance of my body sealed, | |
| Lay all unformed, unwhole, till through my shield | |
| Love from thine eyes his piercing arrows sent. | |
| My nature now by Love made perfect is, | |
| My heart is freed from all impurities, | 10 |
| And Life to them and Power is given by Love. | |
| Through my cold blood his subtle spirit stole, | |
| And rapt aloft by him, with him I move | |
| For ever joined in body, mind, and soul. | | | | |
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