You Displease Me, Though You Be Beautiful

Poem by Jean-Antoine De Baïf Collection Loves of MélinePeriod 16th century

You displease me, though you be beautiful,
You displease me, believe me, I confess it,
And, though you displease me, without ceasing
I am forced to love you nonetheless.

Your sweet glance, your more than human voice,
Your divine bearing, your graces, my Goddess,
Make me love you, but this love leaves me
By the pride with which you must murder me.

Thus the god who martyrs my soul,
In your love, now drives me away, now draws me near,
Showing rigor and perfect beauty:

The one inflames me, and the other turns me to ice,
Thus the good grace draws me to you,
Soon a great cruelty drives me away.

Jean-Antoine de Baïf

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