I.
God be with thee, my beloved, -- God be with thee!
     Else alone thou goest forth,
     Thy face unto the north,
Moor and pleasance all around thee and beneath thee,
     Looking equal in one snow;
     While I who try to reach thee,
     Vainly follow, vainly follow,
     With the farewell and the hollo,
     And cannot reach thee so.
     Alas, I can but teach thee.
God be with thee, my beloved, -- God be with thee.

II.
Can I teach thee, my beloved, -- can I teach thee?
     If I said, 'Go left or right,'
     The counsel would be light,
The wisdom, poor of all that could enrich thee.
     My right would show like left;
     My raising would depress thee,
     My choice of light would blind thee,
     Of way, would leave behind thee.
     Of end, would leave bereft,
     Alas, I can but bless thee!
May God teach thee, my beloved, -- may God teach thee.

III.
Can I bless thee, my beloved, -- can I bless thee?
     What blessing word can I,
     From mine own tears, keep dry?
What flowers grow in my field wherewith to dress thee?
     My good reverts to ill;
     My calmnesses would move thee,
     My softnesses would prick thee,
     My bindings up would break thee,
     My crownings, curse and kill.
     Alas, I can but love thee!
May God bless thee, my beloved, -- May God bless thee.

IV.
Can I love thee, my beloved, -- can I love thee?
     And is this like love, to stand
     With no help in my hand,
When strong as death I fain would watch above thee?
     My love-kiss can deny
     No tear that falls beneath it;
     Mine oath of love can swear thee
     From no ill that comes near thee, --
     And thou diest while I breathe it,
     And I -- I can but die!
May God love thee, my beloved, -- may God love thee.