Esterhazy

 W.BLAKE

I ASKED A THIEF    CHIESI A UN LADRO

I aked a thief to steal me a peach:

He turned up his eyes.

I ask'd a lithe lady to lie her down:

Holy and meek, she cries.

As soon as I went

An Angel came:

He wink'd at the thief,

And smil'd at the dame;

And without one word said

Had a peach from the tree,

And still as a maid

Enjoy'd the lady.

Chiesi a un ladro di rubarmi una pesca:

Rivolse altrove gli occhi.

Chiesi a una snella dama di giacere:

Virtuosa e santa, un grido cacciò.

Appena me ne andai

Ecco venire un Angelo :

Ammiccò al ladro

E sorrise alla dama;

E senza dir parola

Ebbe la pesca dall'albero

E zitto come un servo

La dama si godette.