Madrigal

She whom I love is fairer

than Flora or Pomona

and I know, for I have sung so,

that her mouth is an autumn evening

and her glance a summer night.

Her godmother was Astarte,

her patron saint the Madonna,

for she is as fair as she is good,

she whom I love!

She listens, laughs and pardons,

only listening out of charity:

she listens, but her pride

listens, not to me or to any other,

and nothing yet has tempted

the one I love!