Alas, my companion! How shall I bear that?
Had Solomon seen a green parrot like mine,
What pleasure had he felt in other birds’ line?
Dear prattler, in whose words I took such delight!
And then, thus to leave me, with naught in my sight!
Thy tongue to me dearer than gold’s wealth untold;
At sound of thy sweet voice my joy was tenfold.”155
O tongue! Thou’rt a fire, and also a cornstack![222]
My patience, the cornstack! Hark! How its flames crack!
My soul doth, in secret, of thee complain sore;