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

Alba—Guiraut de Borneil (1175–1230): All-Glorious King!

Translation of Harriet Waters Preston

ALL-GLORIOUS KING! True light of all below!

Thou who canst all! If it may please thee so,

The comrade of my soul from danger screen;

Whom all the darkling hours I have not seen,

And now the dawn is near.

Dear comrade, wakest thou, or sleepest yet?

Oh, sleep no more, but rouse thee, nor forget

The herald signal in the brightening east,

The star of day that I behold increased—

For now the dawn is near.

Dear comrade, hark my summons, I implore!

The little birds are waking,—sleep no more!

Through all the wood they clamor for the day;

Let not yon jealous foe thy steps waylay,

For now the dawn is near.

Dear comrade, rouse thee! Throw thy window wide!

See writ in heaven the harm that may betide:

A trusty guardian in thy comrade own,

Or else, alas, the woe will be thine own;

For now the dawn is near.

Dear comrade, since at nightfall we did part,

Slept have I none, but prayed with fervent heart

The son of holy Mary to restore

My loyal fellow to my side once more:

And now the day is near.

Dear comrade, yonder by the frowning keep,

Didst thou not warn me never once to sleep?

Now have I watched all night. Thou doest me wrong

Thus to disdain the singer and the song;

For now the dawn is near.

*****

Sweet comrade mine, I am so rich in bliss,

Naught reck I of the morns to follow this!

I clasp the loveliest one of mother born,

And care no longer, in my happy scorn,

If dawn or foe draw near!