Translation falls as short of untranslated verse

As shadows of the substance: shadows are of night.

But your discrimination's power should not condemn them;

They’re noble women all, the daughters of the light.

And shadows are awry, like the face seen in the moon:

These poems are so too: but, if I dare to say it,

Like to the strengthless shadow on the earth extended

Some traces of the substance still can be discerned.

And shadows strengthless are, and darkling in our sight

As are these poems too: only to common eyes

Which cannot see beyond weak darkness of the shadow:

What shadow dares to bar the day from Tessel's eyes?

And shadows all are cold, but tepid at their warmest:

These poems are so too: their cold's but surface chill

With hidden fire within, like the cold breast of the lover,

The peppercorn is cold until you bite its fire.

And shadows nothings are, like dreams in the full day,

These poems are so too: but nothings bodied forth,

Know what fed my dream, which I digested into dreams:

I’d swallowed pith and all, before I dreamed and saw.

Come, cool Tesselschade, once my guest for solid fare,

See where my shame may lead; I dare to taunt your coldness,

Now, of your tolerance, I bid you dine with me

On cold, deformity, shades, nothings, dark.

Hoe lijvigh en hoe recht, hoe witt, hoe heet, hoe swaer

Waer 't Engelsche gerecht, als uw vernuft kon dalen

Tot overzeesch gekoock in Nederland te halen,

En all dit laff gedroom een Tesselschaduw waer!

Maer ‘tzuyderlicker soet van Roomens schaduw-tael

Besitt uw besigh hert: Jerusalem langs Roomen

Op Tassos Lauwer-koets met Nederlandsche toomen

Te voeren daer ghij woont, bewoont v altemael.

(Hoe langsaem loopt die huer! Wanneer will 't besigh hert

Geleggen van die draght, en 't machtighe bekeeren

Dat Circe niet en kost, den Alckemaerder leeren,

Daer door de Schaduw ‘tlijf, en ‘tlijf de schaduw werdt?)

Soo viel mijn’ taeck Noord-west: die gaf mij uw bevel.

Myn’ onmacht beefde’r voor, en ‘tkon mijn’ hand ontroeren,

En, meend’ ick, ‘twas soo soet als qualick uijt te voeren;

Maer, ‘tQualick, dat ghij wilt, werdt van uw willen, Wel.