Heaven Will Not Let Me, Lady, Take My Pleasure

Poem by Pierre De Ronsard Collection First Book of LovesThemes LovePeriod 16th century

Heaven will not let me, Lady, take my pleasure
In that sweet good my duty owes to you;
Nor do I wish it, and it pleases me
Only to suffer in your service.

Since it pleases you that I should languish for you,
I am happy, and I cannot receive
Greater honor than, in dying, to see myself
Make of my heart a sacrifice before your eyes.

So if my hand, against my will, sometimes
Oversteps the laws of chaste love,
Seeking in your breast what sets me aflame,

Punish it with the lightning of your eyes,
And burn it: for I far prefer
To live without a hand, than have my hand displease you.

Pierre de Ronsard

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