STAGE LOVE

When the game began between them for a jest,
He played king and she played queen to match the best;
Laughter soft as tears, and tears that turned to laughter,
These were things she sought for years and sorrowed after.

Pleasure with dry lips, and pain that walks by night;
All the sting and all the stain of long delight;
These were things she knew not of, that knew not of her,
When she played at half a love with half a lover.

Time was chorus, gave them cues to laugh or cry;
They would kill, befool, amuse him, let him die;
Set him webs to weave to-day and break to-morrow
Till he dies for good in play and rose in sorrow.

What the years mean; how time dies and is not slain;
How love grow's and laughs and cries and waves again;
These were things she came to know, and take their measure,
When the play was played out so for one man's pleasure.

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戯れに　ゲームは始まった、
彼はキング　彼女はクイーンの役で　最高にお似合い。
涙のようにやわらかな笑い、笑いに変わる涙、
それは彼女が長年待ち憧れ、けれど　あとで悲しんだもの。

乾いた唇で味わう歓び、夜ごとに来る痛み。
どんな棘もどんな汚れも　ずっと続く楽しみ。
それは彼女が聞いたことなく、かかわりもなかったもの、
遊び半分の恋人と　遊び半分に恋愛劇を演じた時には。

『時』はコロス、笑うも泣くも　合図をすれば。
彼を殺しも、あざけりも、笑わせもしよう、死ぬがままにも。
今日織って明日には裂く布を　織らせることも
永久に死んで、やがて哀しく立ち上がるまで。

年月の意味。『時』は終わるが消されはせぬこと。
愛はまた芽生え、笑い、泣き、織りなされること。
それは彼女が悟り、見定めたこと、
男の心を満たし　劇が終わった時に。