God be with thee, my beloved

I.

God be with thee, my beloved, -- God be with thee!

Else alone thou goest forth,

Thy face unto the north,

Moor and pleasance all around thee and beneath thee,

Looking equal in one snow;

While I who try to reach thee,

Vainly follow, vainly follow,

With the farewell and the hollo,

And cannot reach thee so.

Alas, I can but teach thee.

God be with thee, my beloved, -- God be with thee.

II.

Can I teach thee, my beloved, -- can I teach thee?

If I said, 'Go left or right,'

The counsel would be light,

The wisdom, poor of all that could enrich thee.

My right would show like left;

My raising would depress thee,

My choice of light would blind thee,

Of way, would leave behind thee.

Of end, would leave bereft,

Alas, I can but bless thee!

May God teach thee, my beloved, -- may God teach thee.

III.

Can I bless thee, my beloved, -- can I bless thee?

What blessing word can I,

From mine own tears, keep dry?

What flowers grow in my field wherewith to dress thee?

My good reverts to ill;

My calmnesses would move thee,

My softnesses would prick thee,

My bindings up would break thee,

My crownings, curse and kill.

Alas, I can but love thee!

May God bless thee, my beloved, -- May God bless thee.

IV.

Can I love thee, my beloved, -- can I love thee?

And is this like love, to stand

With no help in my hand,

When strong as death I fain would watch above thee?

My love-kiss can deny

No tear that falls beneath it;

Mine oath of love can swear thee

From no ill that comes near thee, --

And thou diest while I breathe it,

And I -- I can but die!

May God love thee, my beloved, -- may God love thee.