I leave you now, my oldest friend

Celibacy, I must say farewell.

You were my comrade for twenty-five years,

I can’t go without goodbye, I know it well.

Don’t be mad at me, who, even though your

Follower, will leave you suddenly,

I shared my adolescence with you,

I want my manhood only for me.

I loved you, perhaps like nobody else,

When you warned me, I obeyed.

I went wherever the banner of

Romantic adventures you swayed.

You took me far away to many places;

I got tired, now I need a rest.

My bed will be my lover’s two arms

And my white pillow will be her two soft breasts.

My young pals are smiling,

A sneer going from lip to lip

And they pass me by showing pity …

Sour grapes, I say, isn’t it?

Indeed I am very deplorable,

Really worthy of all the compassion,

Because I cannot roam night after night

Filthier than filthy taverns, with passion.

I am not allowed to love more than one,

The one who also loves only me.

Not like their fantastic lovers

Who loved many hundreds easily.

Farewell my friend, Celibacy!

You can be angry or you can laugh,

I am now turning my back on you

The pleasures you gave me were more than enough.

Get new followers with your colorful banner

Somewhere else,—me, you can forget.

All I need now is a white banner

And that will be my young wife’s bonnet.