Μεταμέλεια εν μέρει, εν μέλει, εν μέλιτι

Non Sum Qualis Eram Bonae sub Regno Cynarae
(I am not as I was under the reign of the good Cynara - Horace, Odes, I.iv)

by Ernest Dowson (1867-1900)

Last 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 bowed my 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 you, Cynara! in my fashion.

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 finished 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.

Το ποίημα διαβάζει η Shelley Winters στο φιλμ του George Cukor "The Chapman Report" (1962).
Το έχουν επίσης διαβάσει πολλοί καλοί ηθοποιοί σε διάφορες ηχογραφημένες ανθολογίες. Ξεχωρίζει η ανάγνωση του Richard Burton. Ακούστε τον:

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA