Like the gods. . .

In my eyes he matches the gods, that man who
sits there facing you-any man whatever-
listening from closeby to the sweetness of your
voice as you talk, the
sweetness of your laughter: yes, that-I swear it-
sets the heart to shaking inside my breast, since
once I look at you for a moment, I can't
speak any longer,
but my tongue breaks down, and then all at once a
subtle fire races inside my skin, my
eyes can't see a thing and a whirring whistle
thrums at my hearing,
cold sweat covers me and a trembling takes
ahold of me all over: I'm greener than the
grass is and appear to myself to be little
short of dying.
But all must be endured, since even a poor