Rondeau Redoublé
Rondeau Redoublé
Original Text
Selections from the Poetry of John Payne, ed. Tracy and Lucy Robinson (New York: Bodley head, 1906): 47-52. Internet Archive
1My day and night are in my lady's hand;
2 I have none other sunrise than her sight:
3For me her favour glorifies the land,
4 Her anger darkens all the cheerful light.
5 Her face is fairer than the hawthorn white,
6When all a-flower in May the hedge-rows stand:
7 Whilst she is kind, I know of none affright:
8My day and night are in my lady's hand.
9All heaven in her glorious eyes is spanned:
10 Her smile is softer than the summer night,
11Gladder than daybreak on the Faery strand:
12 I have none other sunrise than her sight.
13 Her silver speech is like the singing flight
14Of runnels rippling o'er the jewelled sand;
15 Her kiss a dream of delicate delight;
16For me her favour glorifies the land.
17What if the winter slay the summer bland!
18 The gold sun in her hair burns ever bright:
19If she be sad, straightway all joy is banned:
20 Her anger darkens all the cheerful light.
21 Come weal or woe, I am my lady's knight
22And in her service every ill withstand:
23 Love is my lord, in all the world's despite,
24And holdeth in the hollow of his hand
25 My day and night.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
Data entry: Sharine Leung
RPO Edition
2012
Rhyme
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