Pagina 75 van 83

No more noisy, loud words from me-such is my master's will.

Henceforth I deal in whispers. The speech of my heart will be

carried on in murmurings of a song.

Men hasten to the King's market. All the buyers and sellers are

there. But I have my untimely leave in the middle of the day, in

the thick of work.

Let then the flowers come out in my garden, though it is not

their time; and let the midday bees strike up their lazy hum.

Full many an hour have I spent in the strife of the good and the

evil, but now it is the pleasure of my playmate of the empty days

to draw my heart on to him; and I know not why is this sudden

call to what useless inconsequence!

90.

On the day when death will knock at thy door what wilt thou offer

to him?

Oh, I will set before my guest the full vessel of my life-I will

never let him go with empty hands.