I
Were I to speak with the tongues of angels and of men,
I could not adequately express my glorious victory,
which, despite the envy of my uninitiated rivals,
rightly places me above all other Christians.

II
So, my tongue, tell of the causes and their effect
but keep my mistress's name shrouded
so that what is kept secret and hidden from people
is not broadcast among the general populace.

III
I was standing in a pleasant, flowering grove,
pondering the following: "What am I going to do?
I fear that in loving the world's choicest flower,
I am sowing seeds in sand; see, I am already despairing.

IV
If my despair is justified, no one should be surprised,
for some old crone is preventing my rose
from loving anyone and from being loved;
may Pluto see fit to carry her off-- that's my prayer!"

V
As I pondered all the above in my mind, wishing
that a thunderbolt might carry off the old woman,
hear now what I saw, as I lingered there, reflecting
on joyous affairs later abandoned.

VI
I saw a flower in bloom, I saw the choicest of flowers.
I saw the rose of May, fairer than all others.
I saw a gleaming star that outshone all the rest,
that made me spend my days putting my trust in Love.

VII
So when I saw what I had always longed for,
I was filled with indescribable joy
and getting up I hurried swiftly toward her
and on bended knee greeted her with these words:

VIII
"Hail, precious gem, loveliest of women!
Hail, glorious maiden, most renowned of them all!
Hail, light of lights! Hail, rose of the world!
My Blanchefleur, my Helen, my noble-hearted Venus!"

IX
Then the Morning Star in answer to me said:
"May he who rules both realms, the earthly and divine,
who puts violets in the grass and roses on thorns,
be your salvation, your glory and your balm!"

X
I said to her: "Sweet mistress, my heart tells me
what my mind reports- that it will be saved by you,
for I learned from someone that, as the saying goes,
the one who strikes the blow best heals the wound."

XI
"You say that it was a weapon of mine
that hurt you? I deny it! Still, put your reproach aside
and show me now your wound and tell me its cause
so that I then can heal you with a gentle remedy."

XII
"Why should I uncover wounds that are clear to see?
Five summers have gone; the sixth approaches fast
since I saw you joyfully celebrating on some feast day.
You were both a mirror and a window for us all.

XIII
As soon as I saw you, my admiration for you began.
I said: 'There's a woman worthy of veneration!
She outstrips all others --a peerless maiden --
radiant in overall appearance and radiant in her looks!'

XIV
Your looks were bright and charming,
shining and serene like a sunlit sky.
That's why I often said, 'My God, my God --
is she Helen or is she the goddess Venus?'

XV
Your golden locks hung marvellously,
your throat gleamed like a bank of snow,
your breast was slender and affirmed to all
that its fragrance surpassed all perfumes.

XVI
Stars radiated in your happy face;
your teeth rivalled ivory in their hue.
The twinned beauty of your limbs exceeds my telling,
No wonder these qualities cast a spell on everyone.

XVII
Your resplendent beauty enthralled me then
and worked a change on my mind, soul, and heart.
My spirit hoped to speak to you there and then
but opportunity never turned my hope into reality.

XVIII
So my heart is well and truly wounded.
See how seriously Venus abuses me!
Who is ever troubled by anything as much as the man
who hopes for something and is cheated of his hopes?

XIX
I have always carried an arrow buried in my heart.
It has made me sigh thousands and thousands of times,
saying, 'Creator of all, how have I sinned against you?'
I have borne the burdens of all the world's lovers.

XX
Food, drink, and sleep -- they all passed out of my life.
I can find no cure for my misfortunes.
Do not allow me, Christ, to die like this, but rather see
fit to provide a poor wretch the help he deserves.

XXI
These and more are the troubles I have suffered
and no solace lends comfort to my sorrows,
except that again and again in the dark of night
I am with you in imagined dream encounters.

XXII
So, my Rose, now that you see how I have been
wounded, the number and the magnitude of the
agonies I have endured because of you, bring me back
to health now, if you will and make me whole again and restored to life.

XXIII
If you do this, I will pride myself on you,
I will flourish and rise up like a cedar of Lebanon.
But if- though I do not fear it-I am deceived in you,
I will be wrecked and my life will hang in the balance."

XXIV
My shining rose said: "You have had much to endure
nor is what you have revealed entirely unknown to me.
But you have never dreamed what I suffered for you.
What I have endured is more than your account.

XXV
But I will refrain entirely from recounting it all,
for I wish to exact such amends from you
as will provide joy and healing
and apply a balm sweeter than honey.

XVI
So tell me, young man, what you have in mind.
Do you want money to enrich yourself
or to adorn yourself with a precious gem?
If it can be done, I will give you whatever you ask for."

XVII
"It is not a gem or money I ask for but rather that
which provides greater sustenance than anything else
and an easy solution to an impasse
and bestows shining joy on those who are sad."

XVIII
"Whatever it is you want I cannot guess
but I am eager to consent to your request.
So, don't hold back, whatever I have, ask about it
and if you can find anything you desire, take it!"

XXIX
In short, I threw my arms around her neck,
gave her a thousand kisses, and received a thousand
and I kept repeating again and again:
"This, this is definitely what I have yearned for."

XXX
Who does not know everything that followed?
Pain and sighs were banished.
We were introduced to the joys of paradise
and all manner of delights were put at our disposal.

XXXI
Now we experienced a hundredfold the joy of embracing,
now my lady's desires grew apace along with
mine, now I carried off the lovers' prize, now accordingly
my name was exalted.

XXXII
So let every lover keep me in mind and not give up
right away though his experiences are bitter.
The day will dawn for him
when he will eventually win glory for all his pain.

XXXIII
From bitter experiences happy times are born;
the greatest goals are not achieved without effort.
Those who seek sweet honey are often stung;
so let those embittered by love hope for better days.

(Traill, Carmina Burana)