SILENTIUM AMORIS

As often-times the too resplendent sun

   Hurries the pallid and reluctant moon

Back to her sombre cave, ere she hath won

   A single ballad from the nightingale,

   So doth thy Beauty make my lips to fail,

And all my sweetest singing out of tune.

And as at dawn across the level mead

   On wings impetuous some wind will come,

And with its too harsh kisses break the reed

   Which was its only instrument of song,

   So my too stormy passions work me wrong,

And for excess of Love my Love is dumb.

But surely unto Thee mine eyes did show

   Why I am silent, and my lute unstrung;

Else it were better we should part, and go,

   Thou to some lips of sweeter melody,

   And I to nurse the barren memory

Of unkissed kisses, and songs never sung.