Complete poetical works of John Hay / [by John Hay] ; with an introd. by Clarence L. Hay [electronic text]

AMOR MYSTICUS

FROM THE SPANISH OF SOR MARCELA DE CARPIO

LET them say to my Lover That here I lie! The thing of His pleasure, His slave am I.

Say that I seek Him Only for love, And welcome are tortures My passion to prove.

Love giving gifts Is suspicious and cold; I have all, my Belovèd, When Thee I hold.

Hope and devotion The good may gain;

I am but worthy Of passion and pain.

So noble a Lord None serves in vain, For the pay of my love Is my love's sweet pain.

I love Thee, to love Thee,— No more I desire; By faith is nourished My love's strong fire.

I kiss Thy hands When I feel their blows; In the place of caresses Thou givest me woes.

But in Thy chastising Is joy and peace. O Master and Love, Let Thy blows not cease.

Thy beauty, Belovèd, With scorn is rife, But I know that Thou lovest me Better than life.

And because Thou lovest me, Lover of mine, Death can but make me Utterly Thine.

I die with longing Thy face to see; Oh! sweet is the anguish Of death to me!