The song of the dagger

The dagger at my belt it dances

Whene'er I dance;

But when I drink the foaming wine-cup,

Then it grows sad;

For it is thirsty too, the dagger,

It thirsts for blood!

"Give, give me drink," it saith, "O Master,

For if I wear no stain of crimson,

The sunshine is ashamed to glitter

Upon my blade.

Then give, that I too may be drunken

With the warm blood that flows from wounds.

The maids will find thy kisses sweeter

When thou hast quenched my thirst,

And I shall dance, when thou art dancing,

More gaily at thy belt."

Did I but heed my dagger, now at night-time,

I should go find thee, love.

Beneath thy shift I should seek out so deftly

The spot where beats thy heart,

And pour the blood's red warmth out for my dagger,

Because thy kiss, O love, thou has denied me,

And because I for that thy kiss have thirsted,

Even as the dagger thirsteth for thy blood.

Then will the sunshine sparkle and be merry,

Seeing thy red young blood,

Yea, and the merry sunbeams, they shall dry it,

Together with my tears.

My tears and thy blood shall flow together,

Mingling like rivers twain;

And though thy blood by hot, yet can it never

Be burning as my tears.

Nay, but thy blood will wonder when it feeleth

How burning are my tears.

The dagger at my belt it dances

Whene'er I dance;

But when I drink the foaming wine-cup,

Then it grows sad;

For it is thirsty too, the dagger,

It thirsts for blood!