Wait, wait, wild boatman

Richard Farber

Wait, wait, wild boatman,

soon I'll follow you to the harbor;

from two maidens I am taking my leave,

from Europe and from Her.

Stream of blood, run from my eyes,

stream of blood, burst from my body,

so that with this hot blood

I can write down my agonies.

Ah, my dear, why just today

do you shudder to see my blood?

You've seen me pale, my heart bleeding,

standing before you for many years!

Do you know that old song

about the serpent in Paradise

who, by wickedly giving an apple,

threw our ancestors into misery?

Apples have caused every ill!

Eve brought death through them,

Eris caused the flames of Troy;

and you brought both, flame and death.