Jaroslav Vrchlický4128149Satanella — Prologue1932Roderick Aldrich Ginsburg

Prologue

As within a castle's ruins
Steals a full moon's shining ray;
As within a forest's shadows
Colored butterfly has strayed,
As within a rusty goblet
Falls a drop of golden wine;
Thus within my saddened bosom
And within my orphaned heart
Gleamed a ray of love eternal,
Strayed a butterfly of dreams,
Fell a droplet of my musing;
Tell me, is there aught yet needed
To complete this song of mine? . . .