I hate the man who o'er the wine-brimmed bowl
Sings ever of war and conquest; he delights
Me most who wit with lyric gifts unites,
And to love's charms divine gives up his soul.

Hard by the river's shelving banks
I left the broken, scattered ranks;
And having cast away my burnished shield,
I fled apace from the red battle-field.

Come ho! sweet page, pray fetch for me
A flagon of my favourite wine,
And let it mixed with water be.
(I will be moderate, I opine)
For I am fain once more to prove
The nectarous joys of wine and love.

The god of love I sing
Who garlands bears of many-coloured flowers;
Hearts ever conquering,
Mightiest of masters, subtle power of powers,
Thou rul'st the gods and all
Mortals thy wiles enthrall.

When Love beholds my beard that flows
White as the ocean's snowy spray,
He flies me swift as the eagle's flight
On rustling wings of golden light,
And seems to murmur as he goes,
“Old fellow, you have had your day.”

I will sing my song when the sun shall set, when silence alone shall wearily rock all to sleep .
I'll weave my dreams when my sadness dissolves — — Quietly, quietly, when the night hardly breathes .
When everything shall be asleep, I alone will be awake. No one shall find out what I dream, what I sing .

The white, slender swans are swimming, swimming toward the shore. There they calmly moult and their feathers fly away .
Towards evening when the water is warm and red from the bloody glow, they become more weary and indolent; they doze — they are already asleep .
Their beaks are tucked under their wings. Who knows, who understands their dream! They awake for a moment and float on in slumber .
And at a late hour, when a wild bird loudly shrieks, the swans sleep no longer — terror overwhelms them .

I have all my aunts here in America. I earn enough for bread and theatre in America. Have already seen the Niagara Falls, and already seen the tallest building in the world, the owner of which is a dealer in five cent articles, and quite often I buy of him. I have already walked across the largest bridge in the world; worn shoes and cravats bought at John Wanamaker's, who owns the biggest store in the world and who is, woe betide me, not a Jew. I own a watch that made the dollar famous.

O bear me hence, Love, toward the sky
Wrapt in a sun-gilt purple cloud,
And stay me with thy pinions bright.
Thou hast fired my soul to seek delight
In Paphian pleasures, but the proud
White Lesbian nymph for whom I sigh
From my white tresses mocking turns,
And for a younger lover burns.

" I confess to Thee ... " Lord God, be not angry — see what has become of Thy child among strangers. . . . Burdensome years, many lands, I no longer remember the morning prayer .
" I confess to Thee ... " I have forgotten. And all for the sake of a clean bed, rest and food. Endlessly I have suffered, until my prayer has somehow changed .
" I confess to Thee ... " Come to meet me. I went to search for Thee on crooked roads. I am young as yet and inexperienced — easily strangers could lure me .