No more noisy, loud words from me - 
such is my master's will. 
Henceforth I deal in whispers. 
The speech of my heart 
will be carried on in murmurings of a song.

Men hasten to the King's market. 
All the buyers and sellers are there. 
But I have my untimely leave in the middle of the day, in the thick of work.

Let then the flowers come out in my garden, 
though it is not their time; 
and let the midday bees strike up their lazy hum.

Full many an hour have I spent in the strife of the good and the evil, 
but now it is the pleasure of my playmate of the empty days 
to draw my heart on to him; 
and I know not why is this sudden call 
to what useless inconsequence!