But thou, O thou,
hast risen from the deep!
All mortals mourn and weep
To see thee, seeing that
all love must die
Beside thy beauty,
see thee and despair !
Deadly
as thou art fair,
I
cry
for
all
mankind — they
are
slain,
even
as I!
\Tannliduser pauses,
bends eagerly towards
Venus.
She smiling luxuriously,
he continues.
Who Cometh
wanton, with long arms outspread ?
Who cometh with lascivious lips aflame
?
Whose
eyes invite me to the naked bed
Stark open to the sun, dear pride of shame?
Whose
face draws close and near,
Filling
the soul with fear.
Till nameless
shudders course in every limb ?
Whose breath is quick and fierce
?
Whose teeth
are keen to pierce
The
arms
that
clasp
her ?
Whose
the
eyes
that
swim
For dear and delicate delight?
And whose
The lips that halt and
choose
The very centre of my mouth,
and meet
In
one
supreme
and
conquering
kiss,
and
cleave
Unto the wound they leave,
60