Living

Love-Doubts

by The Goliards (Wandering Scholars) c. 1100–1250

Translated by John Addington Symonds (1884) · From Wine, Women, and Song (1884)

Living

With so sweet a promise given
All my bosom burneth;
Hope uplifts my heart to heaven,
Yet the doubt returneth,
Lest perchance that hope should be
Crushed and shattered suddenly.

On one girl my fancy so,
On one star, reposes;
Her sweet lips with honey flow
And the scent of roses:
In her smile I laugh, and fire
Fills me with her love's desire.

Love in measure over-much
Strikes man's soul with anguish;
Anxious love's too eager touch
Makes man fret and languish:
Thus in doubt and grief I pine;
Pain more sure was none than mine.

Burning in love's fiery flood,
Lo, my life is wasted!
Such the fever of my blood
That I scarce have tasted
Mortal bread and wine, but sup
Like a god love's nectar-cup.

MLA

The Goliards (Wandering Scholars). “Love-Doubts.” Translated by John Addington Symonds. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/goliards/18/.

Chicago

The Goliards (Wandering Scholars). “Love-Doubts.” Translated by John Addington Symonds. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/goliards/18/.

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