CUERVO - Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

IN A GONDOLA
Bold Castelfranco's Magdalen
You'd find retreated from the ken
Of that robed counsel-keeping Ser­
As if the Tizian thinks of her,
And is not, rather, gravely bent
On seeing for himself what toys
Are these, his progeny invent,
What litter now the board employs
Whereon he signed a document
That got him murdered I Each enjoys
Hs night so well, you cannot break
The sport up, so, indeed must make
More stay with me, for others' sake.
She speaks.
To-morrow, if a harp-string, say,
Is used to tie the jasmine back
That overfloods my room with sweets,
Contrive your Zorzi somehow meets
My Zanze: in the ribbon's black,
The Three are watching; keep away.
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Your gondola-let Zorzi wreathe
A mesh of water-weeds about
Its prow, as if he unaware
Had struck some quay or bridge-foot stair-;
That I may throw a paper out
As you and he go underneath.
There's Zanze's vigilant taper; safe are we I
Only one minute more to-night with me?
Resume your past self of a month ago I
Be you the bashful gallant, I will be
The lady with the colder breast than snow:
Now·bow you, as becomes, nor touch my hand
More than I touch yours when I step to land,
And say, "All thanks, Sioral"-
Heart to heart,
And lips to lips! Yet once more, ere we part,
Clasp me, and make me thine, as mine thou art I
[He is surprised, and stabbed.
It was ordained to be so, Sweet,-and best
Comes now, beneath thine eyes, and on thy breast.
©Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia
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