Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

58 JEHUDAH HALEVI

32

THE DAUGHTER OF THE DAWN

Look if the daughter of the dawn hath rent
The blackness of her armour,
At the sound of the maiden's songs,
At the sound of the song of her doves.

Amos 7.16. What word shall I drop on the house of Isaac—
The branch that is like to the root?¹
On the brow of the days it is graven
That he inheriteth dominion;
A man seeketh to ascend to the clouds
If he should seek to acquire it.

Whether it please or anger them,
Say unto them who would get it:
Turn—for the heritage of dominion
Ex. 21.4. Belongeth to her masters.

Perfumes from far off lands
Have ridden on the wings of the wind;
The scent of purest spices
From the graceful doe they have stolen,
Ps. 55,15. For her sake taking sweet counsel together,
For the times of love draw nigh.

Come down, her belovèd—why tarriest thou
To feed amid her gardens?
Cant. 6,2. Turn aside to the couch of love,
To gather her lilies.

¹ The son that is like the sire.