III.10Eyes consumed with Grief
They showed me him, and then my endless pain
I saw: why then should weeping eyes complain?
As this incurable malady has been caused by my eyes which showed (him) to me, why should they now weep for (him).
How glancing eyes, that rash unweeting looked that day,
With sorrow measureless are wasting now away!
The dyed eyes that (then) looked without foresight, why should they now endure sorrow, without feeling sharply (their own fault).
The eyes that threw such eager glances round erewhile
Are weeping now. Such folly surely claims a smile!
They themselves looked eagerly (on him) and now they weep. Is not this to be laughed at ?
Those eyes have wept till all the fount of tears is dry,
That brought upon me pain that knows no remedy.
These painted eyes have caused me a lasting mortal disease; and now they can weep no more, the tears having dried up.
The eye that wrought me more than sea could hold of woes,
Is suffering pangs that banish all repose.
Mine eyes have caused me a lust that is greater than the sea and (they themselves) endure the torture of sleeplessness.
Oho! how sweet a thing to see! the eye
That wrought this pain, in the same gulf doth lie.
The eyes that have given me this disease have themselves been seized with this (suffering). Oh! I am much delighted.
Aching, aching, let those exhaust their stream,
That melting, melting, that day gazed on him.
The eyes that became tender and gazed intently on him, may they suffer so much as to dry up the fountain of their tears.
Who loved me once, onloving now doth here remain;
Not seeing him, my eye no rest can gain.
He is indeed here who loved me with his lips but not with his heart but mine eyes suffer from not seeing him.
When he comes not, all slumber flies; no sleep when he is there;
Thus every way my eyes have troubles hard to bear.
When he is away they do not sleep; when he is present they do not sleep; in either case, mine eyes endure unbearable agony.
It is not hard for all the town the knowledge to obtain,
When eyes, as mine, like beaten tambours, make the mystery plain.
It is not difficult for the people of this place to understand the secret of those whose eyes, like mine, are as it were beaten drums.