Pastoral and Alba in Asia Minor (bilingual dactylic hexameter)

Potens Byzantii Europae trans Bosporum MXCVII  
Asia Minor multaque ferox quassus fretus in superi    
   
          Byzantine and Europe’s might crossed the Bosporus, 1097,    
          all Asia Minor waits, defiant, trembling, trusting in Heaven.    
     
Missus est fortis eques Urbini excursor procul arma    
trans sudum montes sola pastor vidit in Nicomedia    
   
          Sent alone, brave knight of Urbino, scouting, was far from the army,    
          as he rode o’er tanned hills, shepherdess, lonely spied he in Kocaeli.    
     
Iurgo tu miles cur venis hic expeditorum militum    
nescis Seljuk gladii magnus Dei dabunt tu magnum malum    
     
          “Knight of war,” bravely she scolded him, “why come you o’er my hills war-girthed?    
          Don’t you know Seljuk swords and the great will of God will give you great hurt?”    
     
De gladii non timeo dixit nobilis eques peregre    
nescio puella pastor num Deus facit hic nos salve    
     
          “As to swords, I fear not,” cheerfully replied the courtly knight errant,    
          “nor do I, shepherdess, know whether God meant us to meet here pleasant!”    
     
Rubor rosei digiti trans os virgine videbatur dux    
erat hic occurrens ex Deo certe non erat magnus vex    
     
          A rosy fingered blush crossed the maid’s face, for he seemed kind and handsome,    
          could meeting here be the will of God? Surely not, he was most irksome.    
     
Dixit tua arma nece vult potens eques Occidentis    
etiam me sola virgine pastor de oves scio is    
     
          “I know your army seeks to destroy my people, fell knight of the West,    
          even I, a lonely shepherdess guarding her flock of sheep know this.”    
     
Pastor oves tota sola nuda eques ait stomachose    
etiam me potens eques Italiae scit clementiae    
     
          “Guarding her flock of sheep, all alone, defenseless,” mused the knight darkly,    
          “even I, fell knight of Italy know of compassion and mercy.”     
     
Vere virgine vafre dixit in increditus et expes    
exstas eques ad me non nocere vis probare si audes    
     
          “Really?” said maiden sly, in sincere disbelief, and also despair,    
          “show me sir you mean no harm to me, prove to me, if indeed you dare.”    
     
Orientis virgine velox es forte perfidus dico    
tamen iuro os ac manus tu salus per sanctii ac Deo    
     
          “Eastern maid, quick you are, and maybe, treacherous, dangerous,” he said,    
          “nevertheless I swear to keep you safe from harm by the saints and God.”    
     
Ultra iuras eques ridet dum stat in sua collis silva    
exues armis descendes dabo pastus et arbor umbra    
     
          “And are these all you swear by, courtly knight,” laughed she, standing her hill glade,    
          “remove your armour and dismount and I will share my food and tree shade.”    
     
Sua vox ut zephyrus eques larvatus erat fidet eas    
sub umbra exuet armis descendet sedent concorditas    
     
          Zephr like was her voice and her laugh, and the knight, bemused, did trust her,    
          under glade, dismounted and disarmed, sat and shared her food and shade there.    
     
Coloratilis erat in lana tunica candentiae    
cypri rufus manus pes fusca pulchra oculae capillae    
     
          Eastern tanned was the maid, her plain white wool kaftan shone in the noon glare,    
          red henna traced her hands and her feet, dark and fine her eyes and her hair.    
     
De re eques lorica cutis capilli oculi albus    
mox panem et caseum paravit renovat eques gratus    
     
          Of the knight, armour bright, his skin fair, light brown hair, his eyes blue were clear,    
          they then ate bread and cheese she prepared, it refreshed him and he thanked her.    
     
Peccatum est fugax dixit sed video vinum averta    
scire nusquam vinum habeo placet possum vinum tempta    
     
          “It is sin,” said she shy, “but I spy, full wineskin tied to your saddle,    
          know that I never have tasted wine, please let you, me try a little?”    
     
Merum Italiae pastor virgine sed tempta id certe    
in stupor vidit sua arcessere id inter suus res    
     
          “Strong wine of Italy, shepherdess, but try it sure you are welcome,”    
          entranced he watched her rise, retrieve it, from ‘twixt his armour and weapons.    
     
Vere eques fidens es virgine ridet dum arcessivit    
haberam clara gladii necare te mea gens placebit    
     
          “Verily, you are a trusting knight!” laughed the maid, fetching the wineskin,    
          “I could have taken up your bright sword, run you though, pleasing to my kin.”    
     
Nusquam confidebo noluisti ait eques meri bibet    
vertere vota mea dolo videris virgine savis    
     
          “Nay, I did trust you would not do so,” mused the knight, drinking the strong wine,    
          “cast you off my vow for treachery? You seem not so evil, maid fine.”    
     
O atque non bona sum nunc nec ait virgine meri bibet    
sua vox ut zephyrus audem loquebantur usque ad noctis    
     
          “O! I am not so good now, neither,” mused the maid, drinking the strong wine,    
          zephyr like was her voice and her laugh, as they talked through to the night time.    
     
Vir bonus sum ait eques virgine debes sci te cupio    
me cupido tamen non possum do nupta sum in Urbino    
     
          “As I am a true man,” the knight said, “maid, know my desire for you,    
          mine though it is not to give for I have a good wife in Urbino.”    
     
Virgine bona sum respondit communico te adfectus    
hic et nunc ex tuus uxor procul un nox tempto furarus    
     
          “As I am a true maid,” replied the shepherdess, “I share your feeling,    
          now and here from your wife far away one night I’m tempted of stealing.”    
     
Ludere volo sed peccatum est homo triste exclamat    
volo sed nuptialem vota conteram non possum negat    
     
          “I should like to tarry, but it is a sin,” the man sadly then cried,    
          “like to but to do so break I my wedding vow, cannot be denied.”    
     
Etiam me sola virgine pastor scio is ait bonus    
et sol egressus nox longus frigus nigrus stellatus solus    
     
          “Even I, lonely young shepherdess know well this,” she told him kindly,    
          “and yet the sun is gone, night is long, cold and dark, starry, and lonely.”    
     
Quin virgine eques ridet non credo nos salve fors erat    
nunc scio pastor nos in gratae silvae esse Deus fecit    
     
          “Really maid!” laughed the knight, “I cannot believe our meeting here pure chance,    
          know I now, shepherdess, that He did, God meant us meet in this pleasaunce.”    
     
Tunc virgine iunctis manibus ridet id nescio eques    
cupido de se oculos cordes lux scitur per amantes    
     
          At this the maiden laughed, “I know not that, knight,” but put her hand with his,    
          desire lit their eyes, filled their hearts, all who have been lovers know this.    
     
Tamquam nox nobis abdat ex Dei is dixit dum amplectunt    
tua lana strata in terram nos animarum turpe sunt    
     
          “As if this dark can hide us from God,” he said as he and she embraced,    
          “so would your wool blankets on the ground, our mortal souls put in disgrace.”    
     
O mea pulcher fidens eques participes strata mane    
cypri vides spondeor sed participo illarum laete    
     
          “O! Handsome, kind, trusting knight, share my wool blankets, on the ground, tarry!    
          Look at my henna! I’m arranged and betrothed, yet I share them gladly!”    
     
Virgine bella recte scissa sum inter bonum et malum    
iugalis vota violamus per nostrum primum savium    
     
          “My fine young maiden I am rightly torn between right and wrong in this,    
          as you break vow with your betrothed I do with my wife by our first kiss!”    
     
Savia rosa labiae plena desiderio erant    
savia in obscuro animi cum amore ardebant    
     
          Kissing stopped her rosy lips and filled each further with strong desire,    
          kissing and hidden in the dark their hearts and minds blazed with love’s fire.    
     
Mox eques recubabat dixit O Deus cur hic portas me      
locum invenire virgine bella quam bene temptat me    
     
          At length the knight lay back and he sighed, “O! God, why here did you bring me?    
          Right to this spot to meet this maiden beautiful, who sore does tempt me.”    
     
Fidei equei delector quem mea gens certe necent    
mea vita vota nunc amittunt quoque tamen me manent    
     
          “I’m as attracted to you, trusting knight, who my people shall sure kill,    
          my life and vows are now forfeit as well, yet I stay by mine own will.”    
     
Sufficit eques dixit quod pervicax prudens et pulchra es    
etiam me fortis Occidentis eques laete amo te    
     
          “Very well!” the knight said, “As you are willful and wise, sweet, and lovely,    
          even I, fell knight of the West must admit I am smitten, gladly.”    
     
Utpote resist non poterant natura delectat de se    
mane eis inveniebat otium somnum consone    
     
          Being they neither could resist the natural charms of the other,    
          early morn did find them together, in embrace, asleep, at leisure.    
     
Nunc ex oriens aurora rosei digiti erat lente    
tunc surgit cum miror eum juxta ipsa coepit flere    
     
          Now rosy fingered dawn was creeping slowly from the east in the sky,    
          and she then awoke with wonder at him next her and began to cry.    
     
Oves balatos solantur in eius pulcha poma silva    
eques quare Deus dat mihi gliscere amica mea    
     
          Sheep flock bleats comforted her, in her beautiful hill glade of fruit trees,    
          “knight why did God send you to me to kindle my desire for thee?”    
     
In principio nos occurrunt scivi nobilis eratis    
mea sola dolor tu cades procul uxori et patris    
     
          “In the first moment we met I knew you were true in both word and deed,    
          my only regret is you will be killed far from your wife and homeland.”    
     
Mox eques surgit prope eam is eorum manus mulsus    
facul dico era tu et mea uxor nos esse amans    
     
          Very soon the knight stirred, turned to her, with his hand, touched her hand gently,    
          “easily I can say, fair lady, you and my wife could be friendly.”    
     
Vos video firma pulchra savis impudens estis clare    
vos cupitis me ut ego cupio vos cum totus cor me    
     
          “I see you both are so strong and fair, kind and nice, and naughty, clearly,    
          you two both desire me as I desire both of you, dearly.”    
     
Doleo solus anima salit uls bini vix sunt vitae    
non dolete ea respondit quod habemus nostrae sponsae    
     
          “I only regret that love matches more than pairs scarce occur in life.”    
          “Don’t regret,” she replied, “I still have my betrothed, as you have your wife.”    
     
Scio solus quo sumus amor dilectus est non communis    
scintillae amoris optant nobis hoc habeo conclusis    
     
          “I only know that where ever one goes love is precious not common,    
          Love’s spark picks you not the other way round, and this is my conclusion.”    
     
Etiam me Occidentis eques scio amor sic est rixa    
scio tamen nunc te amo ut verissume amo uxor    
     
          “Even I, knight of the West know such love as we share can cause much strife,    
          know though this moment I love you as truthfully as I love my wife.”    
     
Non scies eques ridebat saeve tunc dixit sed colam te    
savis memoriae nunc vae pugnabis mea gens et pere    
     
          “Hardly you know this, knight!” fiercely laughed then she, “yet you I’ll cherish,    
          as a fine memory, now alas! You’ll fight my people and perish.”    
     
Valde credo hoc erras fortis eques stomachose dixit    
nos arma vincemus viae peregrinorum aperient    
     
          “Really you are quite wrong about this!” the fell knight darkly did maintain,    
          “I and my comrades will prevail, open the pilgrim’s path again.”    
     
Eques belli virgine pastor in ira viderunt ad se    
mox clare viderunt absurdum erat ult amabant dulce    
     
          Knight of war, shepherdess, suddenly wroth stared at each other, briefly,    
          at once saw clearly how absurd their plight, hugged, kissed, one last time, sweetly.    
     
Aurora rosei digiti surgit ut focum faciunt    
assarum pomarum ex arboribus in calices ientant    
     
          Bright rosy fingered dawn now rose with haste as they kindled some hot coals,    
          and they broke their fast on roast apples, from the trees, dished in their wine bowls.    
     
Auferat tum eques equitare fecit tristis ast mitis    
sol fervens levans in caelum inluminans flebili finis    
    Nunc mane recedunt tristes cordes memini deliciis.    
     
          Yonder then the knight rode away with sadness, yet also composure,    
          as the sun bright and warm rode skywards o’er tanned hills, lit tearful closure.    
              Now day starts; each departs; heavy hearts; remember; forever; treasure.    
     
(March 2018)