To you now my love, my Gretchen
Let us frolic in glee, and make merry as we dance over the horizon of the sea.
To my angel, my Gretchen.
Watch my wrath, in this distraught stage, clinging to the memory of us in a more peaceful age.
Liar!
Cowardice!
Fool!
Blockhead!
See how they mock me my love, my nimble innocent dove.
No do not come near
I will not let you see
The monster that lies within me
To my rose, my Gretchen.
You have come to me, together we shall live in the stars of night, singing and dancing in joyous flight.
Love.
In the cosmos ever bright, I hold in my hand my Gretchen, my shining light.
How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale?
How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
Desire you say.
Greed.
Ardor.
Selfishness.
My only will was to have seen you smiled, but now you gaze at me with eyes of disgust and defiled.
My sweet, my Gretchen if hating me makes your cloudy eyes see, then cursed be me.
Cursed be the doll.
Cursed be the flower.
Cursed be the flame.
Cursed be the mermaid.
And dead be the rat, especially the rat.
Look now, even thou my fair, my Gretchen, even still do you more detest, more hate, more defile.
But I don't mind, my dear.
As long as my Gretchen is happy here.