To my heart. On the Wooing of Kanle.
Whether moved by love of beauty,
By the beauty of her rumor,
Or by craft of cunning Yaldis,
Neras went to tryst appointed,
Under grove of silver beeches
When the night but softly whispered
Long ago when folk of Treians
Still the western isle keeping
Had not fallen into darkness;
Yet their doom was soon upon them.
Kanle also, reading missive,
Burned with joy at thought of Neras,
Read the praise he gave her beauty
(Knowing not the words were Yaldis'),
Filled her heart with love for Neras.
Two things war within my members,
War against the will within me,
Will to love the One who made me:
One is cunning, set against me
By the evils in the waters,
By the shadow of the long hills,
By all things which marred creation
When first the world was stained and broken.
These with flashing eyes, and hungry
Jaws that seek the souls of mankind
Other loves do lay before me,
Other loves inflamed within me,
Rousing passions, my blood heating,
Teaching me to seek the pleasures,
Seek the pleasures cruelly offered
By the ones who lurk in darkness.
One is true-born love, misguided.
Love, that pale and lissome child,
Malfaloth, the erring hunter,
Most resembles. He engenders
Love in those who walk beneath him
When he shows his shining aspect
Bright, unhidden by the shadows.
So the father, so the child.
Love is born to idly wander
Till its vision some good spirit
Clears, and shows the paths of Heaven,
Shows it how to climb the Heavens,
Come again to find its first home.
Youthful love, enflamed with passion,
Oft is lost among the darkness,
Darkness clouds the true perception.
So she waited under beeches,
Veiled her face with misty mantle.
Star-born Kanle, bright eyes shining,
Waited for her youthful lover.
Neras came there, Kanle wooing,
Singing words of honeyed sweetness.
Kanle blushing listened softly,
Listened to the song he sang her,
Soft inclined unto his pleading,
'Til with hands that softly trembled
Took his hand unto her bosom.
Neras boldening sang to woo her:
"Happy dream that, senses touching,
Touches hand and fires my courage
To sing of Star-born lovely Kanle.
If a dream and dreaming only,
Let me never wake to sunlight--
Ever dream, and Kanle's bright eyes
Be my sun and moon forever."
The eyes of my heart for love are waiting.
Who will come and lift my mantle?
Heart’s true love is ever waiting,
Pleading in the stony silence.
Youthful passions speak more swiftly,
Speak with honeyed words of wooing.
Kanle blushing listened softly,
There she gave her heart unto him,
There she bowed her head and smiled.
There beneath the verdant bower,
There among the slender beeches,
Tall Neras and star-eyed Kanle
Plight their troth and sing their love-song.
Be still my heart, be chaste and careful.
Not all songs of love will lead you,
Not all loves will lead you truly.
Yet remain in Hagnor’s garden,
Waiting in the maiden silence.
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