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Jan Andrzej Morsztyn
Jan Andrzej Morsztyn - ON HIS YOUNG LADY
ON HIS YOUNG LADY
White is the polished Carrara alabaster,
White is the milk sent from sheepfolds in a pannier,
White is the swan, with its white feathers covered,
White is the pearl, with frequent stringing not tampered,
White is the snow, that freshly fell, still untrodden,
White is the lily bloom in its freshness chosen,
But whiter still the face and neck of my lady
Than alabaster, milk, swan, pearl, snow, and lily.
Translated by Michael J. Mikoś