“If it’s true, murderer, that you called, and that I leapt
out of my grave, I’ll seize my sword once more and stand
at your right side to burn that famous town once more!
I’ve learned much in my first life! Now in my new life,
I’ll know, friend, how to wield the sword, how to twist brains 210
and mount the people firmly, that dumb surly ox;
my soul still flames, nor will earth ever put it out!”
He roared, and in his hand still held his shattered sword,
and a fat worm still hung from his dark eyebrow’s ledge.
Captain Sole turned with grace and hailed him like a king: 215
“Well met, O fearless lord! I see they press you hard!
Take heart, brave youth, I’ll don my armor and dash out;
if you’ve a thousand foes, I’ll scorn them; if three thousand,
I’ll turn for a brief lightning flash and slay them all!”
But surly Hardihood glared at the old codger 220
who naked, heavily painted, bowed and waved his hands;
then he wrung wrathfully his poisonous lips and scowled:
“Scat, you old fool! What shame to see old age so drunk!”
With a rude hand he thrust aside the tottering captain,
and the poor wretch turned stone and burst in loud lament: 225
“I fight for his own good, talk to him from my heart,
bow down to earth before him, yet he shames me, God!”
He wailed, but when the voice called out his name once more,
he gathered strength and sped toward the far cry with speed.
Hardihood frowned with wrath until the fat worm fell: 230
“God and my soul! That drunkard’s taking the same road!
Archer, what shame! Haven’t your years brought you some sense?
Whatever cheap wind-driven trash still blows your way
you pick up and entrust with oars and shame your ship!
If only now I had no need of you, I’d turn back quick!” 235
The air smelled of sweet musk, and velvet slippers raised
red tulips on the greening earth and grass on stones
as two bright laughing women with their naked bosoms
ran flying down the roads and cut through azure air.
The old one held thick pomegranates to her breast, 240
dew-washed and bursting, gleaming crimson in the sun,
that with reflection reddened her pale sleepless face:
“I know he loves this fruit, and what great joy it’ll bring,
so I’ve once more gleaned all my orchard for his sake;
ah, dear Love, give me wings that I may come in time!” 245
The young one stooped and strove to shake off cobwebbed films
and sticky loam from her grass-filled mud-splattered throat;
she flung her black death-kerchief off, and down her back
there fell cascading her still-fragrant raven locks,
and her most sweet yet saddened voice rose through the air: 250
“Dame Goody, ah, if only this were not a dream
of walking earth in the warm sun and fluttering breeze!
If only life’s erotic drunkenness would burst
once more, and our maids paint us in our garden close
and the young merchants beat upon our doors once more 255
to bring us gifts of perfume, ivory, gold and plumes.
Dame Goody, I’m afraid we’ll wake, our joys will vanish.”
But the obliging Dame, mistress of all love’s arts,
now pitied the young maid, caressed her shoulder, smiled,
and her hoarse voice rose kindly from new-painted lips: 260
“By the sweet dread I felt when I first slept with men,
I swear a great oath, Margaro—we’re truly walking,
this is in truth the old cool wind, the gallant sun,
and here I hold cool pomegranates tightly clasped!
This is no phantom of our minds, so don’t be sad, 265
but listen how my warm throat bursts with sweetest joy!
Our great Beloved called and we leapt from our graves
and now rush swiftly to adore his bloody feet;
then with his blessing we’ll return to bloomless groves
once more and bare our bosoms to console the world 270
like cool springs in mid-road for passers-by to drink,”
Margaro smiled, then stopped, and once more shook the loam
from her yoked painted eyebrows and her pallid thighs,
and old Dame Goody thought of life, and her heart brimmed,
her teeth in her shrunk gums once more like jasmine gleamed, 275
her hanging udders once more slowly rose and swelled.
They passed through a dark wood where varied birds soared past,
trees bloomed, swayed silently and cast their colored flowers,
and two robust and lordly cocks with lifted crest
stopped in the fields to admire the two lustrous maids. 280
Dame Goody laughed, rejoicing in the golden cocks
as though they were rich merchants with their precious wares:
“Ah, lovers seldom seen, come, welcome to our doors,
your wallets on your chests, your red caps on your heads!
I hold musk in my hands to feed you with, my lads.” 285
The proud cocks gazed with admiration, swelled their chests,
their stiffened combs grew scarlet, they crowed loud and long
as though to summon the late sun at break of day.
Thus the two women swiftly passed with heads held high
and old age slowly fell from them like fetid moss 290
until they looked like sweet new honey or old wine.
Dame Goody laughed and winked, then cried to her old friend:
“How many kinds of men passed through my bed, my dear!
Now that I walk in dawn and my flesh blooms once more
and my breasts once more climb my bosom like small rabbits, 295
all in my arms revive and fondle all my limbs.
Margaro, seven different kinds of men have loved me,
seven most different waves have washed through my cool body!
Those robust animals, whose blood boils in their thighs,
caught sight of the red lantern by my door, then laughed, 300
kicked in the door, rushed in my yard, and smashed my bed.
On eves of holidays, rich landlords zoned their keys
about their waists, then knocked upon my door at dawn;
they stood within my courtyard, held their lust in leash,
and for long hours bargained slowly in a low voice, 305
for they had learned, you see, to spend, but to gain more,
to sow their seed, but harvest a rich croft of sons,
for merchants, though they sell mud, want pure gold returned.
Others, who could not bear their shrews or household cares,
tapped softly on my door caressingly at night, 310
hoping they might forget their sad lives in my arms,
and I’d console them as a mother does her child
and in their wine cast with compassion Lethe’s herb
till all their souls poured out like honey through my thighs.
Some crawled with fear and lust, weeping for me to open, 315
for all at once they felt life wane and death come soon,
they saw their strong loins shrinking, their teeth falling fast,
that armless, deaf and blind, they’d pass through earth and die
without their hearts once soaring for a lightning flash.
‘Let’s go to lovely Goody, lads, to ease our hearts.’ 320
They held gifts in their hands and perfumes round their waists,
got drunk, though with no wine, fed well, though with no food,
and though they’d not yet touched my cooling
breasts, were freed!
They stood outside my door and their minds shook like reeds:
‘Before we’re swallowed by dark earth, let the door open!’ 325
At times I looked out through my grille and shook with fear:
young gallants knocked with glittering armor, hair unshorn,
and all my scented house resounded with hard blows,
my faithful dog growled fiercely, my canaries trembled,
and I dashed swiftly, donned my armor, decked myself, 330
rose water on my breasts, black paint on eyes and brows,
a curved mole on my ear, a small mole on my cheek,
then dashed down to the court, threw back the musk-drenched bolts:
‘Thrice welcome to the balsam archons, the rose dragons,
welcome to the fierce males who come to slay my heart!’ 335
And when I watched them leave as day broke much too soon,
I sighed and leant against my casement, pale and wan.
Dear God, I still can’t glut myself with this sweet world!
When in the evening pools grew dim and the stars blossomed,
when maids returned from wells and nightingales rang out, 340
when night had not yet grown jet-black but swayed with blue,
then beardless lustful youths from shade to shadow slid
and their raw youthful bodies trembled, their throats choked—
they dared for the first time to fall in a maid’s arms.
With trembling knees, they knocked upon my door in stealth, 345
and I cast off my pumps, slipped off my copper rings
to make no jangling sound as I drew back the bolt,
or fright the youths with clanging bells, for they had fled
often to hear me come arrayed in my full armor.
At other times earth’s sweetest heartless gallants came, 350
twisting their thorny beards, their hands upon their hips,
and beat upon my door and laughed with rousing shouts;
they did not come like beasts to sleep and kiss with greed,
nor like fat landlords to glean sons for fruit, then leave,
nor did they come soon to recall and soon forget, 355
nor did they shake like virgin boys or weep at dawn—
no, these strode armored through my courtyard silently,
the stairs creaked as I huddled in my pillows, pale,
nor do I know if joy or pain tore through my loins,
yet I praised God because he gave me breasts and womb. 360
Aye, Margaro, I’ve studied love in this world well,
there’s much on earth I’ve suffered, yet I don’t repent,
and now that life’s come back, I’ll take the same road twice!”
Dame Goody talked and ran with longing on light soil,
her pomegranates burst in her love-glutted arms, 365
and Margaro once more bound up her raven hair
in her death-kerchief, slowly covered up her breasts,
and the world’s vertigo seemed like the frailest dream;
young men and old who passed upon her tented bed
seemed like shy shadows, shameless, happy, brave or sad, 370
and life rolled gently on like distant and deep waves;
Death, too, rolled gently like deep waves within her head
and the maid laughed, because she knew the secret well.
Ah, when would she fall at the ascetic’s feet and cry:
“Your mighty word has made me fruitful, swelled my life 375
like the good apple tree that bends with too much fruit,
but a wind blew, O master, the firm apples fell,
rolled on the earth and rotted, but I still don’t care,
I know that life’s a lightning flash which I’ve gleaned well. 379
As you advised, all in my arms merged into One. 380
How I rejoiced in and caressed that One, dear God,
for I knew the great secret—even that One is empty air!”
The black-eyed maidens finally ceased, drowned in their dream,
their red heels glittered and then dwindled down the earth
as from some trees a pure-white elephant thrust through, 385
old and benign, with golden trappings and moon-charms,
on whom slim Rocky sat, holding a crimson spear
and fondling cockily his black and glistening beard.
Deeply he breathed the fragrant air and sang with joy:
“Ahoy, a warm breeze blows, the shriveled logs have bloomed, 390
pale seeds revive, burst in the earth, mount toward the sun!
Forward, my lads, the wheel’s turned right side up again,
our nostrils fill once more with scent, our loins with blood,
and the hawk-heart has come and perched within our breasts.
Boys, I must sing a couplet now or I shall burst: 395
‘Life, I can bear your pain no more, I’ll turn to ghost,
I’ll slip one night through your small keyhole and snatch you off!’”
Thus sang the handsome youth, although he made no sound;
behind him, on the elephant’s spreading rump, clasped tight,
sat two Egyptian maidens in a glittering joy, 400
who once—do you remember, lads?—when the sun reigned,
after the supper’s sweetness in their humble hut,
sang with their zithers of a virgin’s aching pain.
Sitting astride now on the snow-white elephant
with the brave handsome youth they’d longed for one warm night, 405
they laughed, for passion found its outlet in their dream.
With painted fingernails they held their zithers still,
two pomegranate blooms thrust through their breasts like wounds,
earth quivered like a cobweb decked with men and flowers,
and the birds shrilled like children in exotic nights. 410
As the two sisters listened, they shook rapturously,
and as they sniffed strong Rocky’s smell, their nostrils flared:
“O gallant youth, your black locks smell of frankincense,
your voice is hoarse and your thin body clacks like bones;
come, turn your face, my dear, and smile on us awhile.” 415
Then the youth turned his waxen face toward the young maids
and lumps of loam still straggled down his curly beard;
he smiled, and the maids shrank with fright at his green lips
as his strong moldy breath poured on their breathless throats.
“O stalwart youth, we’re frightened, for the fat worms fall 420
from your pale swollen lips and from your rotting throat;
hear what the birds are chanting us with human voice:
This is no elephant, but only the whistling wind
with a dead man and two live maids astride its back!’”
The young man laughed, and his white teeth fell to the ground: 425
“They’re only birds, my dears, poor stupid birds! Don’t listen!
I keep world-famous youth clutched tightly in my teeth.
Take heart; don’t fear, my loves; clasp me with all your might!”
Then the maids laughed, took heart, spread out their longing arms
and tightly clasped the dead youth till their nipples rose 430
like the hard beaks of birds that drink after long thirst:
“O my belovèd, your breath no longer smells of mold, 432
your hairy armpits brim with sweat and drip with musk;
do you recall sweet apple trees that bloomed far off
in our sad heavy song, within our father’s house? 435
Our apple trees now swell again and burst with bloom,
a warm breeze blows and two firm fruits fall in our laps;
oho, we like your apples and we love your shade—
rein in your elephant, my dear, and let’s lie clasped!” 439
because his master’s voice blared like a heavy conch
or like a black ram’s bell that summoned all his flock.
Raising his crimson spear, he gently pricked and spurred
his wise white elephant and longed with all his heart
to fall in Hades soon, clasped in his master’s arms. 445
Although the girls’ caresses had enflamed his heart
and earth’s sweet breath had mounted in his muddy nostrils,
he feared to turn and frighten them, but softly said:
“Aye, maids, do you recall how one warm night you sat
cross-legged on rush-reed mats and with your zithers sang 450
till the low house-post shook like a tree and cast its flower?
Long years have passed, kingdoms have drowned and stars have fallen,
but in my mind that deathless post still stands and blooms;
aye, maidens, take your zithers and console me now
for in your song a flowering apple tree conversed.” 455
The youngest maiden laughed, her reddened fingernails
moved in the dusk, struck at the rusted chords, and then
she raised her throat and her voice leapt and cooled the world:
“A bird soared through the sky with fragrant lustrous wings
and a young maid stood by her door with quivering breasts . . .” 460
But then her song choked in her throat, for bells rang out,
the brave youth yelled with joy, leapt lightly to the ground
and dashed into the shaded trees with open arms:
“Granite, the earth can give me now no greater joy!
Dear God, has a dream struck, or do I clasp you tight?” 465
His friend with long white hair and flapping gaudy plumes
gleamed in the shadows like a great Egyptian king;
behind him trudged long caravans of elephants,
and camels crawled in the warm evening like blue smoke;
aromas filled the air with musk, gold cages gleamed, 470
canaries sang, and hoarse-voiced parrots shrilled and cawed;
in fresh reed-baskets melons and grape-clusters glowed,
and slaves with flowing hair and jangling copper rings
rose laughing on gold saddle-cloths like wedding guests
who brought rich regal gifts to ease the archer’s heart. 475
“Rocky, I clasp you in my arms, but my brain reels;
alas, life cannot ever give such great joy, friend—
I fear we’ve met in Tartarus or the streets of dream.”
Thus tightly clasped, the two friends swiftly, lightly passed
with their long manly strides, their bodies’ slender sway, 480
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