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Description

FOR DECAY

Decay, hurry, beloved bride
to make our lonesome bed!
Rejected by World, rejected by God,
but you I entrust my hopes.
Hurry, adorn our chamber -- on the black-clad bier
the sighing lover your dwelling shall reach.
Hurry, make our bridal sweet -- with carnation spring
will her sow.

Shut tender in your womb my languish body,
choke with your touch my pain!
In worms thoughts and feeling dissolve,
in ashes my burning heart.
Rich are you, O Girl! -- As dowry you give
the vast, the greening Earth for me.
I anguish up here, but happy will be
with you below.

Erik Johan Stagnelius (1793-1823)

Translated to English by Edmund Gosse in 1886 (I think) and slightly improved by me, because it was honestly a not so very good translation. The Swedish original rhymes, which makes it quite difficult to make a decent translation.

Description

FOR DECAY

Decay, hurry, beloved bride
to make our lonesome bed!
Rejected by World, rejected by God,
but you I entrust my hopes.
Hurry, adorn our chamber -- on the black-clad bier
the sighing lover your dwelling shall reach.
Hurry, make our bridal sweet -- with carnation spring
will her sow.

Shut tender in your womb my languish body,
choke with your touch my pain!
In worms thoughts and feeling dissolve,
in ashes my burning heart.
Rich are you, O Girl! -- As dowry you give
the vast, the greening Earth for me.
I anguish up here, but happy will be
with you below.

Erik Johan Stagnelius (1793-1823)

Translated to English by Edmund Gosse in 1886 (I think) and slightly improved by me, because it was honestly a not so very good translation. The Swedish original rhymes, which makes it quite difficult to make a decent translation.