When gardens were in bloom

I met you when gardens were in bloom
In the valleys of plenty
The Bosphorus shone, the jewel of Istanbul
And I had the strength of twenty.

My armour was silver, my hair damask gold,
Like Alexander I loved the whole world
Your eyes were copper, your fingers cold,
When they gently lowered my sword.

Anger and war, bloodshed and mess,
Noble knights needn’t prove their valour
In the gardens of bloom tranquil happiness
I will grant you if only you follow.

I sheathed my blade, put the armor away
Apple gardens gave fruit in plenty
In their lustrous shade I let myself sway
And gone was the strength of twenty.

Call to arms and the sound of battle
My beloved shakes me awake:
"I should run or bear the shackles
We will meet in the land far away".

And I look at the face that was dear
In the eyes that shone so bright
In the garden the snake had been near
As I readied my men for a fight