The shaking of silk, the glitter of rubies,
The dazzling shimmer of gold brocade;
And the night is still and the full moon is shining
In glory over the emperor's proud city.

And the shadows fall so dark and large
Upon the smooth marble of the streets --
She comes, the Empress -- she approaches, Teodora,
In the full moon's shimmering, trembling glow.

Now Teodora approaches my garden in the night,
When the roses of the east are as red as blood,
And the falling water softly splashes in the fountain,
And the moonlight gleams around the statue of Astarots.

She comes with secret steps that whisper so softly,
So softly on the sand of the paths,
She approaches with quivering limbs,
Trembling with the fire of insatiable lust.

Theodora, I long to kiss your lips that command
And kiss and smile at the same time;
Empress, I long to kiss your mocking, cold
And thirstingly hot, deceptive mouth ...

I long to drink in your eyes that force and devour,
I long to caress your fiery, scented hair.
Theodora, I long to believe your lies,
I long to forget the ruin that follows you!