C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Raimon de Miraval (1190–1200): Fair Summer-Time

Translation of Harriet Waters Preston

FAIR summer-time doth me delight,

And song of birds delights no less;

Meadows delight in their green dress,

Delight the trees in verdure bright;

And far, far more delights thy graciousness,

Lady, and I to do thy will, delight.

Yet be not this delight my final boon,

Or I of my desire shall perish soon!

For that desire most exquisite

Of all desires, I live in stress—

Desire of thy rich comeliness;

Oh, come, and my desire requite!

Though doubling that desire by each caress,

Is my desire not single in thy sight?

Let me not then, desiring sink undone;

To love’s high joys, desire be rather prone!

No alien joy will I invite,

But joy in thee, to all excess:

Joy in thy grace, nor e’en confess

Whatso might do my joy despite.

So deep my joy, my lady, no distress

That joy shall master; for thy beauty’s light

Such joy hath shed, for each day it hath shone,

Joyless I cannot be while I live on.