Chapter 122: The Visions of the Night

1211.
It came and brought to me, that nightly vision rare,
A message from my love, — what feast shall I prepare?

1212.
If my dark, carp-like eye will close in sleep, as I implore,
The tale of my long-suffering life I'll tell my loved one o'er.

1213.
Him, who in waking hour no kindness shows,
In dreams I see: and so my lifetime goes!

1214.
Some pleasure I enjoy when him who loves not me
In waking hours, the vision searches out and makes me see.

1215.
As what I then beheld in waking hour was sweet,
So pleasant dreams in hour of sleep my spirit greet.

1216.
And if there were no waking hour, my love
In dreams would never from my side remove.

1217.
The cruel one, in waking hour, who all ungracious seems,
Why should he thus torment my soul in nightly dreams?

1218.
And when I sleep he holds my form embraced;
And when I wake to fill my heart makes haste!

1219.
In dreams who ne'er their lover's form perceive,
For those in waking hours who show no love will grieve.

1220.
They say, that he in waking hours has left me lone;
In dreams they surely see him not, — these people of the town!