A Dangerous masquerade
Luke Hsieh to a friend on the Internet chats.
A profitless game,
When all hides our faces and name,
A costly enterprise,
One's willing to purchase at any price,
These masks I wear,
Dance with neither emotion nor tears,
Fair ladies and gentle all,
Are blissful upon entering this mask ball,
Then how should I scorn my own ecstasy?
When I dance with numerous fairies,
O! Fair, fair, all is fair but I,
All faults is hidden from me but mine,
How would I know Venus could lie?
About things which love and beauty promise of,
Beauty I have none,
Yet what love did promise?
But words, but wit, but false conceptions,
O, harmonious three-quarter tempo sounds,
As we jest and dance without bound,
What expectation has this fair lady-
Who entrusts her elegant hand in the care of mine -
About this masked gentleman - what expectation?
Will she shy her fair hands,
When my mask falls and she understands
And sees this man replenished with naked faults,
Pardon me, my fair lady; pardon the entire encounter,
Dear waltzes, minuets, polkas and mazurka,
She must pardon all that,
All sins will fall upon my top hat,
This lady fair must pardon all and pardon none,
For I will complete my given task,
Attach this face to the faultless mask,
Had I any fortune or talent,
My bliss will not depend on this unprofitable enterprise,
Yet all is faultless but I,
When I see no fault but mine,
I will return again yet again,
To this addictive idleness,
Upon my word for if Venus can lie,
Why not I?
Why not I?
- Luke Hsieh