The wounded knight

Text by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)
Translated into English by Joseph Massaad 

deutsch - français

I know amongst old stories,
The saddest that was told:
A knight lies worn and worries,
His love is faithless and cold.

As faithless must he scorn her,
She, who in his heart does reign;
He holds as his dishonor
To love her so much in vain.

He longs in the lists to enter
And challenge to battle each knight:
" Let him who my love does slander
Be ready to the death to fight. "

Yet, all would remain in silence,
Save his own heart's unrest,
And he would have to turn his lance
Against his own bleeding breast.