Eve’s descent


On plain a bench my subject                                                            I
Where blue a heaven upon him rest
But clouded by the grave lament
This man’s hope bereft

What troubles you, and grieves you so                                            II
That under bluest heaven’s breast
No more sun than on darkest day
Your plains do beset

Oh happy day, this day did start                                                       III
As Morpheus wished the night good day
And my slumber did soon depart
On this day of May

The nightingale did make me wake                                                   IV
And made my spirits sear the sky
For on this lovely day of May
In Eve’s arms I’d lie

She’d sent for me the day before                                                      V
A message with such del’cate scent
That flowers envied, withered pale
That for me was meant

We’ll meet, it said, to my delight                                                        VI
And give the morrow to Amour
Play and do to others envy
What we both adore

So on this lovely day of May                                                               VII
I dreamt of what was heaven sent
And what soon mortal hands would hold
No one ever felt

I tried to eat, but swallowed not                                                        VIII
For excitement was far too great
What good will do these earthly goods
Upon heaven’s gate

And thus pure I entered daylight                                                         IX
Many a lark did guide me way
Surely soon I’d enter her hall
On this day of May

Yet ravens too did fly and shriek                                                          X
One, then two, then many did so
Came shrieking down, you, please make haste
And faster I’d go

So running I came down to where                                                       XI
We two lovers agreed to meet
But on this lovely day of May
No life I did greet

What horror then did blind my sight                                                     XII
There she lay, my beautiful Eve
Poisoned at heaven’s gate she lied
Sleeping her last sleep

No sooner then her husband turned                                                    XIII
Accusing me of her descent
In jealousy of could not have
Poison her I’d sent

A mockery and such charade                                                                XIV
‘t was you who’ve done this loathsome deed
I screamed and for the love of all
Her was whom I need

Yet no one came to my defence                                                            XV
They’d seen they said that I had brought
When running down, Eve’s early death
Was what they all thought

So they all looked and turned my way                                                  XVI
No more than this had to be said
He’s guilty, no man will deny
They screamed and I fled

Thus heavy-hearted and condemned                                                    XVII
I now await their swift return
Their minds made-up to make me pay
Tomorrow I’ll burn

And so on plain a bench I sit                                                                 XVIII
Where blue a heaven upon me rests
But clouded by the grave lament
All my hopes bereft