NON SUM QUALIS ERAM BONAE SUB REGNO CYNARAE
by: Ernest Dowson
- AST night,
ah, yesternight, betwixt her lips and mine
- There fell thy shadow, Cynara! thy breath was shed
- Upon my soul between the kisses and the wine;
- And I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
- Yea, I was desolate and bow'd by head:
- I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.
-
- All night upon mine heart I felt her warm heart beat,
- Night-long within mine arms in love and sleep she lay;
- Surely the kisses of her bought red mouth were sweet;
- But I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
- When I awoke and found the dawn was gray:
- I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fasion.
-
- I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind,
- Flung roses, roses, riotously with the throng,
- Dancing, to put thy pale lost lilies out of mind;
- But I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
- Yea, all the time, because the dance was long:
- I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.
-
- I cried for madder music and for stronger wine,
- But when the feast is finish'd and the lamps expire,
- Then falls thy shadow, Cynara! the night is thine;
- And I am desolate and sick of an old passion,
- Yea, hungry for the lips of my desire:
- I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.
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