The wine-drinkers sit on the porte cochre in the sun.
Their lack of success in love has made them torpid1.
They move their fans with a motion that stirs no feather,
the glare of the sun has darkened their complexions2.
Let us commend them on their conversations.
One says oh and the other says indeed.
The afternoon must be prolonged forever,
because the night will be impossible for them.
They know that the bright and very delicate needles
inserted beneath the surfaces of their skins
will work after darkat present are drugged, are dormant3.
Nobody dares to make any sudden disturbance4.
One says no, the other one murmurs5 why?
The cousins pause: tumescent.
What do they dream of? Murder?
They dream of lust6 and they long for violent action but none occurs.
Their quarrels perpetually die from a lack of momentum7
The light is empty: the sun forestalls8 reflection.