If You Would Have Me Die, Poem by Rémy Belleau

Poem by Rémy Belleau Period 16th century

If you would have me die between your arms, my love,
Unfasten the scarlet of your lovely fur-lined gown,
Then kiss me and press me and let us entwine
As, around the young elms, the ivy bends.

Unclasp this collar, my love, that I may fondle
The little twin mound of your whitening breast:
Then kiss me and press me, and hold me in such a way
That shared pleasure may intoxicate us, my life.

One goes seeking death on the flanks of a wall
In skirmish, in guard, in assault, in battle
To buy a name that is called honor.

But I, I want to die on your lips, mistress,
That is my glory, my joy, my treasure, my wealth,
For I have lodged my life in your mouth, my heart.

Rémy Belleau

Translation generated by Poésies 123 with assistance from the deepseek-chat artificial-intelligence model.

Text published on Poésies 123: https://www.poesies123.com/en/poem-if-you-would-have-me-die-remy-belleau/