Fairer is my Beloved than the heavens in their glory,
than the brilliant radiance at dawn,
enlightening the world with increasing splendour,
dazzling the eyes of all creatures under sky,
and sparkling on dewdrops lingering on blade and leaf ~
Fairer is my Beloved than the sunlight bright at noontime,
blazing with golden brilliance in the gem-blue sky
when all the world is alive with light and colour,
with birds dancing on the wind
and singing joyous among woven tree-branches:
sparrows and blue jays,
waxwings and warblers,
thrushes and whippoorwills,
wrens and doves cooing,
flush-breasted robins,
blackbirds with shining wings,
bright cardinals come darting,
hummingbirds flit about perfumed blooms nectar to seek,
along with bees and butterflies, fair companions in gardens fragrant ~
More lovely than flowers in their colourful array is my Beloved,
more than primroses and bluebells, cowslips and irises,
cornflowers, foxgloves, and daffodils nodding,
more than daisies and buttercups, violets and lilies,
roses and carnations, phlox-fair and larkspurs ~
Fairer still is my Beloved than the sun that marching westward
paints the billowy clouds rose-orange
and glows richly on the far horizon
until slipping away to sleep ~
Fairer is my Beloved than twilight,
the sacred time of half-light blessedness,
when the world is hushed and enchanted,
and fireflies are seen flickering among tree-groves
while crickets and toad-folk begin their night-songs
with singing-insects in choir,
who call and answer until morning ~
My Beloved is more lovely than the stars glimmering in even-tide,
twinkling in their fixed orders and shapes,
Orion with his shining belt, fair Andromeda,
Ursa vast, Cassiopeia seated all lovely,
Boötes the Herdsman with Arcturus in tow,
the enchanting Pleiades, Argo and all the starry company of Night-sky
shining like silver raindrops frozen and sparkling in the dark air
illumining and enchanting all the evening.
Fairer still is my Beloved than bright Evenstar wandering the heavens,
a flickering flame, blue-white and brilliant ~
My Beloved is more lovely than the Moon with its silver sheen,
sailing the night-sea of star and cloud,
slowly waxing and waning with each night-falling
from fair crescent hanging, to full-moon bright
like a resplendent night-sun,
and at times low on the horizon, the moon rides the flame of setting sun,
to loom large and golden over earth-realm ~
Fairer is my Beloved than the Moon when seen by day
shines silver in the blue skies sailing
with the golden-star in the morning ~
More beauteous is my Beloved than orchards on the hillside,
with branches heavy with savory fruits,
luscious apples and pears, peaches and plums
swelling and glistening in the warm summer sun,
fruit lovely to the eye and sweet to the taste,
orchard-trees with leaves all glittering in the sunlight
waving and swinging in the breezes ~
My Beloved is more lovely than tended vineyards lush,
with leaves green and grape-clusters ripe on the vine ~
Fairer still is my Beloved than the rain
falling from the heavens upon forest and grass
splashing upon clear springs and pools,
with myriad circlets of rippling silver,
making music fair with voices bright
delighting trees with gleaming touch,
leaving sparkling diamonds upon leaf and blade,
and a rainbow stretching from earth to sky,
with colours enchanting after daylight rain ~
More lovely is my Beloved than the flickering lightning in the night-sky,
and the thunder mighty cracking and rumbling,
clapping and pealing among the rain-drops glorious,
the mighty gusts of wind in the trees rushing ~
My Beloved is fairer than the white-clouds looming high in the sky
slowly and gracefully flowing from shape to shape,
forming realms of bliss, lofty and glorious,
crowned with golden light, and framed with blue-sky,
and at dusk blushing in the red farewell glow of the sun ~
Fairer than the ocean-realms is my Beloved,
than waves glittering capped with white foam
rolling and crashing upon the shore,
upon sands gleaming and shining bright
like dust of pearls and diamonds fair ~
More lovely is my Beloved than the shells of diverse shapes
cast upon white beaches by the roaring waves,
white conches, spindles, lightning whelks and lace murexes,
scallops and delicate jewel boxes, wentletraps, and ceriths,
while white sea-birds and gulls wheel and cry
in the unending song of the surf,
among the sea-spray of crashing waves,
sailing high on the wind with the great-herons and pelicans,
over quiet piping shore-birds pacing the sand ~
Fairer is my Beloved than coral pink and blue under jacinth-gem waters
among myriad kindred of fishes with flashing colours
silver-sheen flicker, waving tassels of red and green,
starfish and jellyfish, seahorses galloping, manta-rays,
schools of silver sea-minnows darting,
all fish-folk swimming merrily,
dolphins leaping in joyful play,
whales graceful in motion, singing as they go ~
Fairer is my Beloved than the ocean-deeps, ever in motion,
full of teeming life of beauty high and strange,
the lobsters and blue-crabs, angler-fish,
pufferfish and eels, squids and octopus-mighty,
clams and oysters, content in their salt-sea waters,
all multitudes of sea-life in glorious array,
while sea-weeds and grasses wave in the waters deep ~
Fairer is my Beloved than woodlands serene,
trees tossing their branches to and fro, leaves whispering,
flowering trees, fragrant in the shady eaves
vines of berries bright
blackberry bramble, raspberries, blueberries
aged trees tall and grand
alder and oak, thorn and fir,
mulberry, rowan, dogwood, white-pine
beech, sycamore, hickory, poplar
cedar, spruce, black-cherry, hemlock
slender white birches, evergreen fragrant, magnolia stately,
willow-tree with wands waving, maple-red rich in autumn splendor
tree-moss hanging, ivy creeping over stone and root,
pines with cones and nettles, oaks with acorns falling,
heraldic shapes of leaves in splendour arrayed,
rough darkly bark behind shaking emerald-leaves,
bird and squirrel-folk occupying the branches
filling the forest with merry song, chirp and chatter,
fox and deer, rabbit and bear and all woodland creatures,
make their abode in the tree-realm,
among the leaves and logs, streams and stones,
under a canopy of woven branches,
with golden sun glinting from above ~
Fairer is my Beloved than the mountains high,
glowing in the brilliant sun, majestic in splendour,
highlands bedecked with raiment befitting
green-trees on the heights, crowned at night with stars of heaven,
eagles to their eyries soaring, small-birds on the wind chirping
falcon perched over all surmising,
mountain-goats and horned sheep up climbing ~
More lovely is my Beloved than lakes clear and smooth,
reflecting tree and mountain, sun and sky,
and at night glittering with light of moon and star,
in crystal mirror, quivering in soft breezes,
lake-fish jump and splash, rippling all the surface,
turtles timid sun-bask on log and stone ~
Fairer is my Beloved than rivers running,
clear and clean in mountain-valleys
dancing and laughing over many stones,
splashing and sparkling in daylight sun,
salmon and trout and diverse fishes swiftly swimming,
making merry glimmering under crystal currents,
leaves dropped from over-hanging branches their way make,
floating free down happy streams,
ever and anon, woodland creatures pause
under tree and sky, their drink to take
from waters flowing beneath the sun,
deer and moose, raccoon and bear,
otter and beaver, fox and wolf
and all the animal-folk of sylvan realms,
roam through forest and glade ~
Fairer than meadows golden is My Beloved,
than watered fields of grain and crop,
land sown with wheat and oats, straw and hay
glowing in autumn light, tossing like golden seas ~
Fairer is my Beloved than snow
falling soft on winter nights,
settling gently on limb and branch,
the waking world finds wonder-white,
and winter-sparkle on forest and field,
a hushed realm enchanted and gleaming,
all the ground with white blanketed,
evergreens dressed in winter-garb,
hoar-frost on hedgerows and grasses,
bare-branches bent heavy with icicles
glistening in the bright sun, frozen crystals lovely,
ice-flakes on fallen leaves,
green-holly leaves with red berries
dropped on white snow-ground,
mistletoe found growing grey-green on oak branches,
the sleeping world dreams winter-dreams ~
Fairer is my Beloved than music and song
sweet melodies delightfully woven
in harmony enchanting, in uplifting notes,
upon instruments of minstrelsy,
upon harps and lutes, viols and sundry strings,
flutes, pipes, horns, trumpets
chimes hanging in branches,
bells tolling in the distance,
fair voices of children, of maidens in chorus
arias and motets of hymn and verse
frolicking melody of lilt and dance
round in circle, with colours bright
fair faces with joy alight
laughing voices, warmth and cheer,
clap and reel, round about ~
Fairer is my Beloved than words of Men,
than poetry of the sweetest verse can tell
devised of the fairest languages earth-tongues know,
with tender phrases of shimmering beauty and love,
which touch the heart and brighten the eye,
and bring glad smiles to faces weary ~
Fairer than words devised with purpose to speak
beyond hope of bliss, of enchanted joy:
Cêaghleäighy-avonliândië-car-phaëlarnâegheiy-lyeigh-thaën-ein-rhaëweagh-whaêy-dar-ilhaëlihil-i-bôrnin-migh-forwaeth-cûl-wahliëley-caern-mûrië-shaer-furiaey-loienaë-fin-brahiûghlein-emyl-maënornîn-tal-caësi-narheigheth-bhiloëwil-faeîen-gloiën-tuer-weagh-hilthaern-pharthidil-weign-öen-blaënbriaë-ranhuien-bhûrliraen-haeghseän-caelry-for-haeiwenë-teighhaên-e-nâr-orodieney-brohnein-e-neigh-mithaënil-rhorobraëth-bûrliaenë-cilcaern-lalywieygh-amraëth-mûhlioëth-hûrtheghir-thulianin-wein-praëthcêil-bril-ghawernië-eäviôneth-caerdh-weghiërn-elcarniarthë-thurieth-fulwirië-winfaleth-briën-orowaêlth-winwaehl-ahleigh-lalywn-faën-thay-shaeleigh-anrewegh-laë-thynaên-si-elthyn-whaë-saerah-leigh-faen-mibeäth-maëgh-seighly-thië-rabyrl-weighlyn-mûrië… *
O Lord God, High King of All, O Beloved of all kindly souls,
O Desire of all Hearts, Light of All Eyes, O Fairer than All that Is,
O grant us a glimpse of Your Unspeakable Beauty,
O ravish us with longing by the works of Your Hands.
We name You Blessëd over All
and Crown You with High Praises forever:
Blessëd are You, O God, the One, Faëren-Bhril-Cal-Thissaë High Ruler of All, O Aldurië mûr-Valithil the Sacred, Thar-Hûmithë Wearer of the Tall Crown, Eä-Bethil-Weäghey the High King of Earth-Realm, O Carändärôthilië-Aöllatonë He Who is Bedecked in Splendour-White and Splendour-Gold, O Eliänûlë Light of All Eyes, O Laîrthëlimbalil Desire of All Hearts, Nëanoriël-Oëlissomë Life and Hope of All Creatures, O Regent of Many Names, O Blessëd God, Caern Murië Shaer Furiey, Praise and Glory to You in All Your Works Forever ~
Blessëd are You, O God, the One, the All-Mighty Enthroned King, Praiseworthy and Altogether Glorious, He Who brought All that Is into Being as the Offspring of Your Thought and Who brings All into One Theme redounding to Your Boundless Glory, Weaving Loveliness and Gladness into the Fabric of Your Handiwork, He Who is the Fulfillment of All Mortal Longings ~
Blessëd are You, O Sun-God, High King of Light, Brilliant in Splendour and Glory, blessing Earth with Life, Praise Him Forever who gives light to the eyes and warmth to the brow, who sets the frozen streams flowing, who brings sparkling light to the surface of waters, who glitters among the waving leaves on the limb, Praise Him with Great Praise, ye myriad flowers, ye joyful birds, Praise the Ruler of Day-Sky, Golden Face, Summer-Star, Radiant Glory-Bloom ~
Blessëd are You, O King of the Air, Master of All Winds, which blow from the corners of the Earth, Praiseworthy and Glorious are You Who speaks in the gentle breezes in the leaves, All Praise the Wind-Lord in His High Spaces, who fills all with His Mighty Breath ~
Blessëd are You, Star-Kindler, shining with light more lovely than diamonds, crowning treetops with enchantment, who fixed the orders and shapes of the stars, who alone knows the tales they bring in their seasons, bringing Hope into darkness, Light from Afar ~
Blessëd are You, O Master of the Moon, which sails through the dark night clothed in robes of enchanting Light, waxing and waning with the passing time, returning with bright face watching, shining on silver waters ~
Blessëd are You, O Woodland King, bedecked with Leaf-Crown, and living-leaf raiment, delighting in such creatures as love the sylvan realms, forest and brook, tree and branch, gold light sparkling among emerald leaves, finding delight in the towering trees and in the small secret things in the soil, in the birth of the fawn, He Who minds every fallen acorn and cone, Praise Him with Great Praise ~
Blessëd are You, Lord of Oceans, who alone searches the depths and delights in the teeming life in the waters, who strides the waves and calms the storms, O Praise the Great Sea-King, the Foam-Rider, Tide-Bringer, who speaks in the roaring depths, the crashing waves, of whom the sea-birds and gulls cry and sing in the surf, Praise Him with Everlasting Praise in the spray of sea-breakers and sparkle of sunlight on the wide waters ~
Blessëd are You, O King of Birds, Lover of creatures of feather and wing, who delights in their antics in flight and who teaches them their merry songs, All Praise the Bird-Lord, friend of sparrow-small and owl-wise, who hears their hatchlings cry and feeds them, who finds joy in the soaring eagle on the heights and the clucking hen in the yard, O how kindly a friend the birds have in You, O Feather-Mender and Egg-Keeper, O Gentle High-Falconer, Praise You with Great Praise ~
Blessëd are You, O Beauteous Flower-King, finding joy in the first buds of Spring, in fragrant blossoms, O God of Unspeakable Loveliness, whose tender steps give birth to new fragrant blossoms, and at whose glance fresh faces of spring-flowers open, He Who is arrayed in myriad colours, crowned with garlands, who adorns meadows and waysides with your tender treasures, All Praise the God of Floral-Life, who strolls through gardens at leisure and delights with the butterflies and bees in newly opened blooms, fragrant fallen petals, warm delicious breezes ~
Blessëd are You, O King of Flowing Waters, who smiles upon the waters of river-valleys, finding joy in the sweep of waters along the banks, delighting in the sparkle of sunlight on rippling currents, who dances and sings with the waters over many stones in swift mountain streams, O Praise Him with Great Praise ~
Blessëd are You, O God of Harvest-time, who brings forth fruits and grains from the ground in due season, who blesses the fields with new bounties, All Praise to You, O Harvest-King, feeding the hungry with the spoils of the Earth ~
Blessëd are You, O Storm-God, rolling in cloud and rain, thunder and lightning are in your Mighty Hand, He Who is clothed at times dark and heavy, at times bright white and crowned with golden sun, All Praise the Rain-King, delighting in warm summer showers, in the song of raindrops in the wood, enriching of field and forest, delight of trees who with outstretched arms praise your Name, Holy are You and Lovely, who leave sparkling diamonds on leaf and blade, Praise Your Glorious Name...
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