| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893. | | | | Appendix | II. Unacknowledged and Uncollected Translations.
Tell me, tell me, thou pretty bee |
| | By Giovanni Meli
TELL me, tell me, thou pretty bee, | |
| Whither so early thy flight may be? | |
| Not a neighboring mountain height | |
| Yet blushes with the morning light; | |
| Still the dew on spray and blossom | 5 |
| Trembling shines in the meadow’s bosom; | |
| Why do I see thee, then, unfold | |
| Thy soft and dainty wings of gold;— | |
| Those little wings are weary quite, | |
| Still thou holdest thy onward flight,— | 10 |
| Then tell me, tell me, thou pretty bee, | |
| Whither so early thy flight may be. | |
| |
| Thou seekest honey?—if it be so, | |
| Fold up thy wings,—no farther go; | |
| I ’ll show thee a safe and sacred spot, | 15 |
| Where all the year round ’t will fail thee not. | |
| Knowest thou the maid for whom I sigh,— | |
| Her of the bright and beaming eye? | |
| Endless sweetness shalt thou sip, | |
| Honied stores upon her lip. | 20 |
| On those lips of brightest red, | |
| Lips of the beloved maid, | |
| Sweetest honey lies for thee;— | |
| Sip it,—sip it;—this is she. | | | | |
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