TESTO DEL LIED

"Canticle I (My beloved is mine)"
di Francis Quarles (1592-1644)

Ev'n like two little bank divided brooks
That wash the pebbles with their wanton streams,
And having ranged and searched a thousand nooks
Meet both at length at silver breasted Thames
Where in a greater current they conjoin,
So I my best beloved's am,
So he is mine!
Ev'n so we met and after long pursuit
Ev'n so we joined. We both became entire.
No need for either to renew a suit
For I was flax, and he was flames of fire.
Our firm united souls did more than twine.
So I my best beloved's am,
So he is mine.
If all those glittering monarchs, that command
The servile quarters of this earthly ball
Should tender in exchange their shares of land
I would not change my fortunes for them all;
Their wealth is but a counter to my coin:
The world's but theirs;
But my beloved's mine.
Nor time, nor place, nor chance, nor death
Can bow my least desires unto the least remove.
He's firmly mine by oath, I his by vow.
He's mine by faith and I am his by love,
He's mine by water, I am his by wine:
Thus I my best beloved's am,
Thus he is mine.
He is my altar, I his holy place,
I am his guest and he my living food.
I'm his by penitence, he mine by grace,
I'm his by purchase, he is mine by blood.
He's my supporting elm and I his vine:
Thus I my best beloved's am,
Thus he is mine.
He gives me wealth: I give him all my vows:
I give him songs, he gives me length of days.
With wreaths of grace he crowns my longing brows
And I his temples with a crown of praise,
Which he accepts: an everlasting sign
That I my best beloved's am,
That he is mine.