The Heart
Oh! round-headed little heart,
unobtrusive [but] relentless action,
was there ever a chunk [that caused] more anguish
4 than you, weaving-house of poetry?
Pilgrim, bred in the bosom,
white-headed meat of longing,
passionate and importunate round maid,
8 pile of clear bright thoughts.
It is still, peaceful manner,
[then] the little egg shape fills up.
This (breast's seat,
12 mighty name, flow of poetry,
wild roar) turns a very wanton and miserable man
into a bold courteous lover.
Let the wine-consuming company consider
16 mead drink, however good it was:
this will make a man prodigally generous,
unstinting gift-giving like a flowing torrent,
dirty pilgrim, blunt dead cock,
20 a cold helmet sticking out of the arse cloth,
and excessively brave on roads,
hard face, he will not be there
without either getting hurt
24 (I'd sneak past), or swiftly inflicting a wound.
The second is to pronounce out loud on a whim
shame on a man's beard.
The third, no one will know:
28 the conniving of a man who desires
to have some pale modest maid
in clandestine fornication, fine deed.
That is the root of the diseases,
32 name of a proud pursuit, that's mine.
No man or beast under the heavens
ever had more trouble, by God, than me
wooing, approaching love,
36 despite everyone's disapproval, one girl,
object of people's admiration, dazzling sheen,
slender tender bright one, everyone knows who,
splendidly radiant, like the face of the fair moon,
40 Morfudd of the lovely cheeks, indeed,
colour of light when the sun shines bright
on a hillside, radiant gay features,
gentle aristocrat, bounteous wine-dispensing girl,
44 sunshine and star of love.