Monday, 23 December 2024

Basium 3

Johannes Secundus (1511-1536), 'Basium 3'

Da mihi suaviolum, dicebam, blanda puella,
      Libasti labris mox mea labra tuis.
Inde, velut presso qui territus angue resultat,
      Ora repente meo vellis ab ore procul.
Non hoc suaviolum dare, Lux mea, sed dare tantum
      Est desiderium flebile suavioli.

‘Give me soft kisses, sweet girl’, I said,
      Soon she lashed my lips with hers.
Then as one startled by stepping on a snake
      Suddenly she plucks her mouth from mine.
My love, it is not a tender kiss she gives me,
      But only the tearful desire for a tender kiss.
Jean Second, Ĺ’uvres complètes, 5 vols (Paris: H. Champion, 2005-), I [Basiorum liber et odarum liber] (2005), p. 130. My translation. I published a few translations of Secondus' poems years ago, but for whatever reason, not this one.