William Blake

O Jardim do Amor

 

                                O Jardim do Amor fui visitar,
                                E vi então o que jamais notara:
                                Lá bem no meio estava uma Capela,
                                Onde eu no prado correra e brincara.

                                E os portões desta Capela não abriam,
                                E "Não farás" sobre a porta escrito estava;
                                E voltei-me então para o Jardim do Amor
                                Lá onde toda a doce flor se dava;

                                E os túmulos enchiam todo o campo,
                                E eram esteias funerárias as flores;
                                E Padres de preto, em seu passeio secreto,
                                Atando com pavores minhas alegrias & amores.


                                                                                                                  William Blake, in "Canções da Experiência"
                                                                                                                   Tradução de Hélio Osvaldo Alves

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Garden of Love

                                 I went to the Garden of Love,
                                 And saw what I never had seen;
                                 A Chapel was built in the midst,
                                 Where I used to play on the green.

                                 And the gates of this Chapel were shut
                                 And "Thou shalt not," writ over the door;
                                 So I turned to the Garden of Love
                                 That so many sweet flowers bore.

                                 And I saw it was filled with graves,
                                 And tombstones where flowers should be;
                                 And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds,
                                 And binding with briars my joys and desires.