Classic Poem

When the days are long in May
I love the sweet song of distant birds,
And when I have left that place
I remember a distant love:
I am burdened and bowed down with desire,
So that neither song nor hawthorn flower
Pleases me more than icy winter.

I consider true the Lord
By whom I shall see this distant love;
But for one good thing that happens to me
I get two misfortunes, for she is so distant;
Ah! how I wish I were a pilgrim there,
So that my staff and my cloak
Might be seen by her beautiful eyes!

It will be a joy for me when I seek it,
For the love of God, that distant shelter;
And if it please her, I shall lodge
Near her, though I am from a distance;
Then the meeting will seem excellent,
When this distant lover is so near
That in lovely talk he will enjoy her company.

Sad and happy I shall leave,
After I see this distant love;
But I do not know when I shall ever see her,
For our lands are too distant.
There are plenty of ports and roads,
Yet I cannot guess about the future...
But let things be as God pleases!

I shall never enjoy love
If I do not enjoy this distant love,
For I know none better or more noble
Anywhere, either near or far;
Her distinction is so true and fine
That there in the Saracens' kingdom
I would be proclaimed a captive for her.

God who made all that comes and goes,
And created this distant love,
Give me the strength, for I have the courage,
Soon to see the distant love,
Truly, in convenient places,
So that the room and the garden
May always seem a palace to me.

Whoever calls me greedy and desirous
Of a distant love speaks the truth,
For no other enjoyment pleases me as much
As does the enjoyment of a distant love;
But what I want is so kept from me,
For so my godfather fixed my fate
That I should love and not be loved.

But what I want is so kept from me;
Cursed be the godfather
Who fixed my fate so that I should not be loved!