The Visit (1788)

 

Today I wanted to surprise my dearest,

But her door was locked and would not open.

Well, I have the key here in my pocket,

Open up the precious portal, softly.

 

But I did not find her in the hallway,

Did not find her in her Stube. either;

Finally, the bedroom door – and softly

I open it, to find her on the sofa,

Fully clad, and sleeping, very graceful.

 

She had dropped into a doze while working:

Something she had knitted with her needles

Lay between the tender hands she'd folded;

And I sat myself down there beside her;

Should I wake her up, or not, I wondered.

 

Fondly, for a time, I contemplated

The lovely peace reposing on her eyelids;

Calm fidelity on her lips was dwelling,

Quite at home, and on her cheeks a sweetness,

And the innocence a kind heart harbours

Rose and fell in the motion of her bosom.

Each and every limb outspread and pleasant

By the gods' sweet balsam had been melted.

 

Full of joy I sat, my contemplation

Trammelled all my eagerness to wake her,

More and more with secret cords restraining.

 

O my love, I thought, cannot this slumber,

Revelation of the least false feature,

Can it do no harm, discover nothing

Adverse to your lover's fond opinion?

 

Now your eyes are shut, which, being open,

Of their own accord alone bewitch me;

Lips that are so sweet, they make no motion,

Either to speak or haply to be kissing;

Melted are your arms, these magic bracelets

Which at other times you put around me;

And your hand is stilled, of sweetest fondlings

Ever the provoker and companion.

 

If my thoughts about you were mistaken,

And the ways I love you self-deception,

Now and only now I'll know, for Amor

Stands without his blindfold here beside me.

 

Long I sat there so, my heart with pleasure

Glad with her merits, joyous at my loving;

I liked her so, asleep, I would not venture

Any move that might cause her to waken.

 

Quietly I set two pomegranates

And two roses on her little table;

Softly, softly on my way I tiptoed.

 

My good lady, when her eyes shall open,

She'll espy these presents with their colours;

All the doors were locked, so she will wonder

How this friendly gift was placed beside her.

 

If tonight I see again my angel,

O how glad she'll be, reward me doubly

For this offering of my love so tender.

 

 

Translated by Christopher Middleton