In a dream I saw my sweetheart,
A woman harassed with care;
Faded, and haggard, and withered,
The form that had bloomed so fair.
A woman harassed with care;
Faded, and haggard, and withered,
The form that had bloomed so fair.
One child in her arms she carried,
And one by the hand she led.
And trouble and poverty plainly
In her eyes and her raiment I read.
And one by the hand she led.
And trouble and poverty plainly
In her eyes and her raiment I read.
Across the square she tottered,
And face to face we stood.
She looked at me, and I spoke then
In quiet but mournful mood.
And face to face we stood.
She looked at me, and I spoke then
In quiet but mournful mood.
"Come home with me to my dwelling,
Thou art pale and ill, I think,
And there, with unceasing labor,
I will furnish thee meat and drink.
Thou art pale and ill, I think,
And there, with unceasing labor,
I will furnish thee meat and drink.
"And I will serve thee, and cherish
Thy children so wan and mild.
And thyself more dearly than any,
Thou poor, unhappy child.
Thy children so wan and mild.
And thyself more dearly than any,
Thou poor, unhappy child.
"Nor will I vex thee by telling
The love that burns in my breast;
And I will weep when thou diest
Over thy place of rest."
The love that burns in my breast;
And I will weep when thou diest
Over thy place of rest."
XLIV.
"Dearest friend, what may it profit
To repeat the old refrain?
Wilt thou, brooding still above it,
Sitting on love's egg remain!
To repeat the old refrain?
Wilt thou, brooding still above it,
Sitting on love's egg remain!
Ah, it needs incessant watching;
From the shell the chicks have risen.
Clucking, they reward thy hatching,
And this book shall be their prison."
From the shell the chicks have risen.
Clucking, they reward thy hatching,
And this book shall be their prison."
XLV.
Only bear with me in patience,
If the notes of former wrongs
Many a time distinctly echo
In the latest of my songs.
If the notes of former wrongs
Many a time distinctly echo
In the latest of my songs.
Wait! the slow reverberation
Of my grief will soon depart,
And a spring of new song blossom
In my healed, reviving heart.
Of my grief will soon depart,
And a spring of new song blossom
In my healed, reviving heart.
XLVI.
'Tis time that, more sober and serious grown,
From folly at last I break free.
I, who so long in comedian's gown,
Have played in the play with thee.
From folly at last I break free.
I, who so long in comedian's gown,
Have played in the play with thee.
The scenes gaily painted were bright to behold,
And in ultra-romantic tints shone.
My knightly, rich mantle was spangled with gold;
Noblest feelings were ever mine own.
And in ultra-romantic tints shone.
My knightly, rich mantle was spangled with gold;
Noblest feelings were ever mine own.
But now with grave trouble my thoughts are beset,
Although from the stage I depart;
And my heart is as wretchedly miserable yet,
As though I still acted my part.
Although from the stage I depart;
And my heart is as wretchedly miserable yet,
As though I still acted my part.
Ah God! all unwitting and wholly in jest,
What I felt and I suffered I told.
I have fought against Death who abode in my breast
Like the dying wrestler of old.
What I felt and I suffered I told.
I have fought against Death who abode in my breast
Like the dying wrestler of old.
XLVII.
The great king Wiswamitra
In dire distress is now.
He seeks with strife and penance
To win Waschischta's cow.
In dire distress is now.
He seeks with strife and penance
To win Waschischta's cow.
Oh, great King Wiswamitra,
Oh what an ox art thou!
So much to struggle and suffer,
And only for a cow.
Oh what an ox art thou!
So much to struggle and suffer,
And only for a cow.
XLVIII.
Heart, my heart, oh, be not shaken!
Bravely bear thy fate. Once more
Shall the coming Spring restore
What the Winter rude hath taken.
Bravely bear thy fate. Once more
Shall the coming Spring restore
What the Winter rude hath taken.
How abundant is thy measure!
Still, O world, how fair thou art!
And thou yet may'st love, my heart,
Everything that gives thee pleasure.
Still, O world, how fair thou art!
And thou yet may'st love, my heart,
Everything that gives thee pleasure.
XLIX.
Thou seemest like a flower,
So pure and fair and bright;
A melancholy yearning
Steals o'er me at thy sight.
So pure and fair and bright;
A melancholy yearning
Steals o'er me at thy sight.
I fain would lay in blessing
My hands upon thy hair,
Imploring God to keep thee,
So bright, and pure, and fair.
My hands upon thy hair,
Imploring God to keep thee,
So bright, and pure, and fair.
L.
Child, I must be very careful,
For thy soul would surely perish,
If the loved heart in thy bosom
Love for me should ever cherish.
For thy soul would surely perish,
If the loved heart in thy bosom
Love for me should ever cherish.
But the task proves all too easy,
Strange regrets begin to move me.
Meanwhile many a time I whisper:
"If I could but make her love me!"
Strange regrets begin to move me.
Meanwhile many a time I whisper:
"If I could but make her love me!"
LI.
When on my couch reclining,
Buried in pillows and night,
There hovers then before me
A form of grace and light.
Buried in pillows and night,
There hovers then before me
A form of grace and light.
As soon as quiet slumber
Has closed my weary eyes,
Then softly does the image
Within my dream arise.
Has closed my weary eyes,
Then softly does the image
Within my dream arise.
But with my dream at morning,
It never melts away;
For in my heart I bear it
Through all the livelong day.
It never melts away;
For in my heart I bear it
Through all the livelong day.
LII.
Maiden with the lips of scarlet,
Clearest, sweetest eyes that be,
O my darling little maiden,
Ever do I think of thee!
Clearest, sweetest eyes that be,
O my darling little maiden,
Ever do I think of thee!
Dreary is the winter evening:
Would that I were in thy home,
Sitting by thee, calmly chatting,
In the cosy little room.
Would that I were in thy home,
Sitting by thee, calmly chatting,
In the cosy little room.
And upon my lips, my darling,
I would press thy small white hand.
I would press and I would moisten
With my tears thy small, white hand.
I would press thy small white hand.
I would press and I would moisten
With my tears thy small, white hand.
LIII.
Let the snow without be piled,
Let the howling storm rage wild,
Beating o'er the window-pane,—
I will never more complain,
For within my heart bide warm
Spring-tide joy and sweetheart's form.
Let the howling storm rage wild,
Beating o'er the window-pane,—
I will never more complain,
For within my heart bide warm
Spring-tide joy and sweetheart's form.
LIV.
Some to Mary bend the knee,
Others unto Paul and Peter,
I, however, I will worship,
Sun of beauty, only thee.
Others unto Paul and Peter,
I, however, I will worship,
Sun of beauty, only thee.
Kiss me, love me, dearest one,
Be thou gracious, show me favor,
Fairest sun among all maidens,
Fairest maiden under the sun.
Be thou gracious, show me favor,
Fairest sun among all maidens,
Fairest maiden under the sun.
LV.
Did not my pallid cheek betray
My love's unhappy fate?
And wilt thou force my haughty lips
To beg and supplicate?
My love's unhappy fate?
And wilt thou force my haughty lips
To beg and supplicate?
Oh far too haughty are these lips,
They can but kiss and jest.
They speak perchance a scornful word,
While my heart breaks in my breast.
They can but kiss and jest.
They speak perchance a scornful word,
While my heart breaks in my breast.
LVI.
Dearest friend, thou art in love,
Tortured with new woes thou art;
Darker grows it in thy brain,
Lighter grows it in thy heart.
Tortured with new woes thou art;
Darker grows it in thy brain,
Lighter grows it in thy heart.
Dearest friend, thou art in love,
Though thou hast not yet confessed.
I can see thy flaming heart
Burn already through thy vest.
Though thou hast not yet confessed.
I can see thy flaming heart
Burn already through thy vest.
LVII.
I fain by thee would tarry,
To rest there and to woo;
But thou away must hurry,
Thou hadst too much to do.
To rest there and to woo;
But thou away must hurry,
Thou hadst too much to do.
I told thee that my spirit
Was wholly bound to thee,
And thou didst laugh to hear it,
And curtsy low to me.
Was wholly bound to thee,
And thou didst laugh to hear it,
And curtsy low to me.
Yea, thou did'st much misuse me,
In all my love's distress,
And even didst refuse me
At last the parting kiss.
In all my love's distress,
And even didst refuse me
At last the parting kiss.
I will not for thy glory
Go drown, when all is o'er;
My dear, this same old story
Befell me once before.
Go drown, when all is o'er;
My dear, this same old story
Befell me once before.
LVIII.
Sapphires are those eyes of thine,
So lovely and so sweet,
Thrice blessed is the happy man
Whom they with love will greet.
So lovely and so sweet,
Thrice blessed is the happy man
Whom they with love will greet.
Thy heart, it is a diamond,
That sheds a splendid light.
Thrice blessed is the happy man
For whom it glows so bright.
That sheds a splendid light.
Thrice blessed is the happy man
For whom it glows so bright.
As red as rubies are thy lips,
Naught fairer can I prove.
Thrice blessed is the happy man
To whom they whisper love.
Naught fairer can I prove.
Thrice blessed is the happy man
To whom they whisper love.
Oh, knew I but that happy man,
Could I at last discover,
Deep in the greenwood, all alone—
His bliss were quickly over.
Could I at last discover,
Deep in the greenwood, all alone—
His bliss were quickly over.
LIX.
Lovers' vows, wherefrom thou turnest,
Bound me closely to thy heart,
Now my jest grows sober earnest,
I am pierced by mine own dart.
Bound me closely to thy heart,
Now my jest grows sober earnest,
I am pierced by mine own dart.
Laughingly thou stand'st before me—
If thou leave me in my need,
All the powers of hell come o'er me,
I shall shoot myself indeed.
If thou leave me in my need,
All the powers of hell come o'er me,
I shall shoot myself indeed.
LX.
Our life and the world have too fragment-like grown;
To the German Professor I'll hie me anon
Who sets in straight order all things overhurled.
He will draw up a sensible system, I think,
With his nightcap and nightgown he'll stop every chink
In this tumble-down edifice known as the world.
To the German Professor I'll hie me anon
Who sets in straight order all things overhurled.
He will draw up a sensible system, I think,
With his nightcap and nightgown he'll stop every chink
In this tumble-down edifice known as the world.
LXI.
Long through my racked and weary brain
Did endless thoughts and dreams revolve;
But now thy lovely eyes, my dear,
Have brought me to a firm resolve.
Did endless thoughts and dreams revolve;
But now thy lovely eyes, my dear,
Have brought me to a firm resolve.
Within their radiance wise and kind,
Where'er thine eyes shine, I remain.
I could not have believed it true
That I should ever love again.
Where'er thine eyes shine, I remain.
I could not have believed it true
That I should ever love again.
LXII.
To-night they give a party,
The house is all a-glow.
Above, in the lighted window,
Moves a shadow to and fro.
The house is all a-glow.
Above, in the lighted window,
Moves a shadow to and fro.
Thou see'st me not in the darkness,
I stand below, apart.
Still less, my dear, thou seeest
Within my gloomy heart.
I stand below, apart.
Still less, my dear, thou seeest
Within my gloomy heart.
My gloomy heart it loves thee;
It breaks for love of thee,
It breaks, and yearns, and bleedeth,
Only thou wilt not see.
It breaks for love of thee,
It breaks, and yearns, and bleedeth,
Only thou wilt not see.
LXIII.
I fain would outpour all my sorrows
In a single word to-day.
To the merry winds I would trust it,
They would merrily bear it away.
In a single word to-day.
To the merry winds I would trust it,
They would merrily bear it away.
They would bear it to thee, my darling,
The word of sorrowful grace.
Thou should'st hear it at every hour,
Thou shouldst hear it in every place.
The word of sorrowful grace.
Thou should'st hear it at every hour,
Thou shouldst hear it in every place.
And scarce in the midnight darkness
Shouldst thou close thine eyes in sleep,
Ere my whispered word, it would follow,
Though thy dream were ever so deep.
Shouldst thou close thine eyes in sleep,
Ere my whispered word, it would follow,
Though thy dream were ever so deep.
LXIV.
Thou hast diamonds, and pearls and jewels,
All thy heart covets in store,
And the loveliest eyes under heaven—
My darling, what wouldst thou more?
All thy heart covets in store,
And the loveliest eyes under heaven—
My darling, what wouldst thou more?
Upon thine eyes, so lovely,
Have I written o'er and o'er
Immortal songs and sonnets—
My darling, what wouldst thou more?
Have I written o'er and o'er
Immortal songs and sonnets—
My darling, what wouldst thou more?
And with thine eyes so lovely
Thou hast stung me to the core,
And hast compassed my undoing—
My darling, what wouldst thou more?
Thou hast stung me to the core,
And hast compassed my undoing—
My darling, what wouldst thou more?
LXV.
He who for the first time loves,
E'en rejected, is a god.
He who loves a second time,
Unrequited, is a fool.
E'en rejected, is a god.
He who loves a second time,
Unrequited, is a fool.
Such a fool am I, in loving
Once again with no return.
Sun and moon and stars are laughing;
I am laughing too—and dying.
Once again with no return.
Sun and moon and stars are laughing;
I am laughing too—and dying.
LXVI.
They gave me advice, they counseled sense,
They overpowered with compliments.
Patience! they said, and in my need
They'd prove themselves my friends indeed.
They overpowered with compliments.
Patience! they said, and in my need
They'd prove themselves my friends indeed.
Despite their promise to help and protect,
I surely had perished of sheer neglect,
Had there not come a worthy man,
Who bravely to help me now began.
I surely had perished of sheer neglect,
Had there not come a worthy man,
Who bravely to help me now began.
Oh, the worthy man! he gave me to eat;
Such kindness as his I shall never forget.
I long to embrace him, but never can,
For I am myself this excellent man.
Such kindness as his I shall never forget.
I long to embrace him, but never can,
For I am myself this excellent man.
LXVII.
This most amiable of fellows
Ne'er enough can honored be.
Ah! to oysters, Rhine-wine, cordial,
Many a time he treated me.
Ne'er enough can honored be.
Ah! to oysters, Rhine-wine, cordial,
Many a time he treated me.
Natty are his hose and trousers,
Nattier his cravat is seen;
And he enters every morning,
Asks me how my health has been.
Nattier his cravat is seen;
And he enters every morning,
Asks me how my health has been.
Of my rich renown he speaketh,
Of my charms and wit displayed.
Zealous, eager seems he ever
To befriend me and to aid.
Of my charms and wit displayed.
Zealous, eager seems he ever
To befriend me and to aid.
And at parties in the evening,
With inspired brow and eye,
He declaims before the ladies
My immortal poesy.
With inspired brow and eye,
He declaims before the ladies
My immortal poesy.
How delightfully refreshing
Now-a-days to find still here
Such a youth, when good things surely
More and more do disappear.
Now-a-days to find still here
Such a youth, when good things surely
More and more do disappear.
LXVIII.
I dreamt I was Almighty God,
And sat within the sky,
And angels sat on either side,
And praised my poetry.
And sat within the sky,
And angels sat on either side,
And praised my poetry.
And sweets and pasties there I ate,
And drank the best Tokay,
Worth many a precious florin bright,
Yet had no bill to pay.
And drank the best Tokay,
Worth many a precious florin bright,
Yet had no bill to pay.
No less was I nigh bored to death,
And longed for earth and evil,
And were I not Almighty God,
I fain had been the devil.
And longed for earth and evil,
And were I not Almighty God,
I fain had been the devil.
"Thou long-legged angel Gabriel,
Make haste; begone from here!
And hither bring my friend Eugene,
The friend I love so dear.
Make haste; begone from here!
And hither bring my friend Eugene,
The friend I love so dear.
"Within the college seek him not,
But where good wine inspires.
And seek him not in Hedwig Church,
But seek him at Miss Myers'."
But where good wine inspires.
And seek him not in Hedwig Church,
But seek him at Miss Myers'."
Then spreading broad his mighty wings,
The angel doth descend,
And hastens off, and brings me back
Dear Bendel, my good friend.
The angel doth descend,
And hastens off, and brings me back
Dear Bendel, my good friend.
Lo, youth, I am Almighty God!
The earth is my estate.
Did I not always promise thee
I should be something great?
The earth is my estate.
Did I not always promise thee
I should be something great?
And I accomplish miracles
That shall thy homage win.
To-day to please thee I shall bless
The city of Berlin.
That shall thy homage win.
To-day to please thee I shall bless
The city of Berlin.
Behold, the pavements of each street
Now wider, broader, grown!
And to an oyster, fresh and clear,
Transformed is every stone.
Now wider, broader, grown!
And to an oyster, fresh and clear,
Transformed is every stone.
A shower of sweet lemonade
Pours down like dew divine.
And through the very gutters flows
The mellowest Rhine wine.
Pours down like dew divine.
And through the very gutters flows
The mellowest Rhine wine.
Oh, how the Berlinese rejoice!
They lush o'er such good fare.
The councillors and aldermen
Will drain the gutters bare.
They lush o'er such good fare.
The councillors and aldermen
Will drain the gutters bare.
The poets are in ecstasies
At such a feast divine.
The captains and the corporals
Lick up the streaming wine.
At such a feast divine.
The captains and the corporals
Lick up the streaming wine.
The captains and the corporals,
What clever men are they!
They think—such miracles as these
Occur not every day.
What clever men are they!
They think—such miracles as these
Occur not every day.
LXIX.
I left you in the midmost of July,
To-day, my friends in winter I behold.
Then in the heat ye basked so warm and bright,
But now ye have grown cool, yea, even cold.
To-day, my friends in winter I behold.
Then in the heat ye basked so warm and bright,
But now ye have grown cool, yea, even cold.
Soon I depart again, and come once more,
Then shall I find you neither warm nor cold.
And I shall moan lamenting o'er your graves,
And mine own heart shall then be poor and old.
Then shall I find you neither warm nor cold.
And I shall moan lamenting o'er your graves,
And mine own heart shall then be poor and old.
LXX.
Oh, to be chased from lovely lips! and torn
From lovely arms that clasped as in a dream.
I fain had stayed with thee another morn.
Then came the postboy with his tinkling team.
From lovely arms that clasped as in a dream.
I fain had stayed with thee another morn.
Then came the postboy with his tinkling team.
E'en such is life, my child, a constant moan—
A constant parting, evermore good-byes,
Could not thy heart cling fast unto mine own?
Couldst thou not hold me steadfast with thine eyes?
A constant parting, evermore good-byes,
Could not thy heart cling fast unto mine own?
Couldst thou not hold me steadfast with thine eyes?
LXXI.
All night, in the shadowy post-chaise,
We drove through the winter weather.
We slept on each other's bosoms,
We jested and laughed together.
We drove through the winter weather.
We slept on each other's bosoms,
We jested and laughed together.
But how were we both astonished,
When morning bade us stir,
Betwixt us two sat Cupid,
The blindfold passenger.
When morning bade us stir,
Betwixt us two sat Cupid,
The blindfold passenger.
LXXII.
Lord knows where the reckless creature
Chose her transient stopping-place!
Swearing through the rainy weather,
Everywhere I seek her trace.
Chose her transient stopping-place!
Swearing through the rainy weather,
Everywhere I seek her trace.
I have been to every tavern
Running up and running down,
And of every surly waiter
Made inquiries in the town.
Running up and running down,
And of every surly waiter
Made inquiries in the town.
Lo, I see her in yon window!
And she beckons—all is well!
Could I guess that you had chosen,
Lady, such a grand hotel?
And she beckons—all is well!
Could I guess that you had chosen,
Lady, such a grand hotel?
LXXIII.
Like shadows black the houses
Uprise in long array.
Enveloped in my mantle
I hurry on my way.
Uprise in long array.
Enveloped in my mantle
I hurry on my way.
The old cathedral-belfry
Chimes midnight grave and slow.
With all her charms and kisses
My love awaits me now.
Chimes midnight grave and slow.
With all her charms and kisses
My love awaits me now.
The moon is my companion,
Kind-beaming from the sky
I reach the house beloved,
And joyously I cry—
Kind-beaming from the sky
I reach the house beloved,
And joyously I cry—
"I thank thee, trusty servant,
That thou hast cheered my way.
And now, dear moon, I leave thee.
On others shed thy ray.
That thou hast cheered my way.
And now, dear moon, I leave thee.
On others shed thy ray.
"And if a lonely lover
Who sings of grief, thou see,
Oh give him such sweet solace
As thou hast given me."
Who sings of grief, thou see,
Oh give him such sweet solace
As thou hast given me."
LXXIV.
Wert thou, in sooth, mine honored wife,
Then shouldst thou envied be;
A merry pastime were thy life—
All pleasure, mirth, and glee.
Then shouldst thou envied be;
A merry pastime were thy life—
All pleasure, mirth, and glee.
And should'st thou scold, and rail and curse,
I'd meekly bear my fate;
But if thou do not praise my verse,
Then shall we separate.
I'd meekly bear my fate;
But if thou do not praise my verse,
Then shall we separate.
LXXV.
Upon thy snow-white shoulders
I lean my head at rest;
And secretly I hearken
To the yearning of thy breast.
I lean my head at rest;
And secretly I hearken
To the yearning of thy breast.
In thy heart hussars blue-coated
Are riding and blowing their horn;
And my darling will surely desert me
With the earliest streak of morn.
Are riding and blowing their horn;
And my darling will surely desert me
With the earliest streak of morn.
And if thou desert me to-morrow,
None the less art thou mine to-day.
And within thine arms so lovely,
Still doubly blest I stay.
None the less art thou mine to-day.
And within thine arms so lovely,
Still doubly blest I stay.
LXXVI.
Hussars are blowing their trumpets,
And to thy doors they ride.
A garland of wreathed roses
I bring to thee, my bride.
And to thy doors they ride.
A garland of wreathed roses
I bring to thee, my bride.
That were a boisterous household,
Landpests and soldiery!
And in thy little heart, dear,
The goodliest quarters be.
Landpests and soldiery!
And in thy little heart, dear,
The goodliest quarters be.
LXXVII.
I, too, in my youth did languish,
Suffered many a bitter anguish,
Burning in love's spell.
Now the price of fuel's higher,
And extinguished is the fire,
Ma foi! and that is well.
Suffered many a bitter anguish,
Burning in love's spell.
Now the price of fuel's higher,
And extinguished is the fire,
Ma foi! and that is well.
Think of this, my youthful beauty,
Dry the stupid tears of duty,
Quell love's stupid, vague alarms.
Since thy life is not yet over,
Oh forget thy former lover,
Ma foi! within mine arms.
Dry the stupid tears of duty,
Quell love's stupid, vague alarms.
Since thy life is not yet over,
Oh forget thy former lover,
Ma foi! within mine arms.
LXXVIII.
Dost thou hate me then so fiercely,
Hast thou really changed so blindly?
To the world I shall proclaim it,
Thou could'st treat me so unkindly.
Hast thou really changed so blindly?
To the world I shall proclaim it,
Thou could'st treat me so unkindly.
Say, ungrateful lips, how can you
Breathe an evil word of scorning,
Of the very man who kissed you
So sincerely, yestermorning?
Breathe an evil word of scorning,
Of the very man who kissed you
So sincerely, yestermorning?
LXXIX.
Yes, they are the self-same eyes
That still brighten as I greet her,
Yes, they are the self-same lips
That made all my life seem sweeter.
That still brighten as I greet her,
Yes, they are the self-same lips
That made all my life seem sweeter.
Yes, it is the very voice,
At whose slightest tones I faltered
But no more the same am I;
I wend homeward strangely altered.
At whose slightest tones I faltered
But no more the same am I;
I wend homeward strangely altered.
By the fair white arms embraced
With a close and tender passion,
Now I lie upon her heart,
Dull of brain, in cold vexation.
With a close and tender passion,
Now I lie upon her heart,
Dull of brain, in cold vexation.
LXXX.
Ye could not understand mine ire
Nor I the tales that ye did tell,
But when we met within the mire,
We knew each other very well.
Nor I the tales that ye did tell,
But when we met within the mire,
We knew each other very well.
LXXXI.
But the eunuchs still complained,
When I raised my voice to sing—
They complained and they maintained
That it had too harsh a ring.
When I raised my voice to sing—
They complained and they maintained
That it had too harsh a ring.
And they raised with one accord
All their dainty voices clear,
Little crystal trills outpoured—
Oh, how pure and fine to hear!
All their dainty voices clear,
Little crystal trills outpoured—
Oh, how pure and fine to hear!
And they sang of love so sweet,
Love's desire and love's full measure,
That the rare artistic treat
Made the ladies weep for pleasure.
Love's desire and love's full measure,
That the rare artistic treat
Made the ladies weep for pleasure.
LXXXII.
On the walls of Salamanca
Gently sigh the breezes yonder.
Often with my gracious Donna,
There on summer eves I wander.
Gently sigh the breezes yonder.
Often with my gracious Donna,
There on summer eves I wander.
Round my beauty's slender girdle,
Tenderly mine arm enwreathing,
I can feel with blessed finger
Her proud bosom's haughty breathing.
Tenderly mine arm enwreathing,
I can feel with blessed finger
Her proud bosom's haughty breathing.
But I hear an anxious whisper
Through the linden-branches coming,
And below, the somber mill-stream
Murmurs dreams of evil omen.
Through the linden-branches coming,
And below, the somber mill-stream
Murmurs dreams of evil omen.
Ah, Señora, I foresee it!
I shall be expelled forever,
On the walls of Salamanca,
We again shall wander never!
I shall be expelled forever,
On the walls of Salamanca,
We again shall wander never!
LXXXIII.
Next to me lives Don Henriquez,
He whom folk "the beauty" call;
Neighborly our rooms are parted
Only by a single wall.
He whom folk "the beauty" call;
Neighborly our rooms are parted
Only by a single wall.
Salamanca's ladies flutter
When he strides along the street,
Clinking spurs, mustachoes twirling,
And with hounds about his feet.
When he strides along the street,
Clinking spurs, mustachoes twirling,
And with hounds about his feet.
But in quiet hours of evening
He will sit at home apart,
His guitar between his fingers,
And sweet dreams within his heart.
He will sit at home apart,
His guitar between his fingers,
And sweet dreams within his heart.
Then he smites the chords with passion,
All at once begins to strum.
Ah, like squalling cats his scrapings,
Toll-de-roll and toodle-dum!
All at once begins to strum.
Ah, like squalling cats his scrapings,
Toll-de-roll and toodle-dum!
LXXXIV.
We scarcely had met ere thy voice and thine eye
Assured me, my darling, that thou wast mine own;
And had not thy mother stood cruelly nigh,
I think I should really have kissed thee anon.
Assured me, my darling, that thou wast mine own;
And had not thy mother stood cruelly nigh,
I think I should really have kissed thee anon.
To-morrow again I depart from the town,
And hasten forth on my weary track,
From the window my yellow-haired lass peeps down,
And the friendliest greetings I waft her back.
And hasten forth on my weary track,
From the window my yellow-haired lass peeps down,
And the friendliest greetings I waft her back.
LXXXV.
Lo, on the mountains the sunbeams' first kiss!
The bells of the herd ring afar on the plain,
My darling, my lambkin, my sun and my bliss,
Oh, fain would I see thee and greet thee again!
The bells of the herd ring afar on the plain,
My darling, my lambkin, my sun and my bliss,
Oh, fain would I see thee and greet thee again!
I gaze on thy windows with curious eyes.
Farewell, dearest child, I must vanish for thee,
In vain! for the curtain moves not—there she lies,
There slumbers she still—and dreams about me?
Farewell, dearest child, I must vanish for thee,
In vain! for the curtain moves not—there she lies,
There slumbers she still—and dreams about me?
LXXXVI.
In Halle, near the market,
There stand two mighty lions.
Ah, lion-strength of Halle town,
How art thou tamed and broken!
There stand two mighty lions.
Ah, lion-strength of Halle town,
How art thou tamed and broken!
In Halle, near the market,
There stands a mighty giant,
He holds a sword and he never moves,
He is petrified with terror.
There stands a mighty giant,
He holds a sword and he never moves,
He is petrified with terror.
In Halle, near the market,
A stately church is standing,
Where the Burschenschaft and the Landsmannschaft
Have plenty of room to worship.
A stately church is standing,
Where the Burschenschaft and the Landsmannschaft
Have plenty of room to worship.
LXXXVII.
Dusky summer-eve declineth
Over wood and verdant meadow,
Golden moon in azure heavens,
Wafting fragrance, softly shineth.
Over wood and verdant meadow,
Golden moon in azure heavens,
Wafting fragrance, softly shineth.
By the brook-side chirps the cricket,
Something stirs within the water,
And the wanderer hears a rustling,
Hears a breathing past the thicket.
Something stirs within the water,
And the wanderer hears a rustling,
Hears a breathing past the thicket.
In the streamlet, white and slender,
All alone the nymph is bathing,
Beautiful her arms and shoulders
Shimmer in the moonbeams' splendor.
All alone the nymph is bathing,
Beautiful her arms and shoulders
Shimmer in the moonbeams' splendor.
LXXXVIII.
Night enfolds these foreign meadows,
Sick heart, weary limbs caressing.
Ah, thy light athwart the shadows,
Moon, is like a quiet blessing!
Sick heart, weary limbs caressing.
Ah, thy light athwart the shadows,
Moon, is like a quiet blessing!
Gentle moon, thy mild beams banish
Gloomy terrors where they hover.
All my woes dissolve and vanish,
And mine eyes with dew brim over.
Gloomy terrors where they hover.
All my woes dissolve and vanish,
And mine eyes with dew brim over.
LXXXIX.
Death is like the balmy night,
Life is like the sultry day;
It is dark, and I am sleepy.
I am weary of the light.
Life is like the sultry day;
It is dark, and I am sleepy.
I am weary of the light.
O'er my couch a tree doth spring
In its boughs a nightingale
Sings of love, of naught but love,
In my dream I hear him sing.
In its boughs a nightingale
Sings of love, of naught but love,
In my dream I hear him sing.
XC.
"Tell me where's your lovely maiden,
Whom you sang of erst so well,
As a flame that through your bosom
Pierced with rare, enchanted spell."
Whom you sang of erst so well,
As a flame that through your bosom
Pierced with rare, enchanted spell."
Ah, that flame is long extinguished!
And my heart is cold above.
And this little book the urn is
For the ashes of my love.
And my heart is cold above.
And this little book the urn is
For the ashes of my love.
SONGS TO SERAPHINE.
SONGS TO SERAPHINE.
I.
In the dreamy wood I wander,
In the wood at even-tide;
And thy slender, graceful figure
Wanders ever by my side.
In the wood at even-tide;
And thy slender, graceful figure
Wanders ever by my side.
Is not this thy white veil floating?
Is not that thy gentle face?
Is it but the moonlight breaking
Through the dark fir-branches' space?
Is not that thy gentle face?
Is it but the moonlight breaking
Through the dark fir-branches' space?
Can these tears so softly flowing
Be my very own I hear?
Or indeed, art thou beside me,
Weeping, darling, close anear?
Be my very own I hear?
Or indeed, art thou beside me,
Weeping, darling, close anear?
II.
Over all the quiet sea-shore
Shadowing falls the hour of Hesper;
Through the clouds the moon is breaking,
And I hear the billows whisper.
Shadowing falls the hour of Hesper;
Through the clouds the moon is breaking,
And I hear the billows whisper.
"Can that man who wanders yonder
Be a lover or a dunce?
For he seems so sad and merry,
Sad and merry both at once."
Be a lover or a dunce?
For he seems so sad and merry,
Sad and merry both at once."
But the laughing moon looks downward,
And she speaks, for she doth know it:
"Yes, he is both fool and lover,
And, to cap it all, a poet!"
And she speaks, for she doth know it:
"Yes, he is both fool and lover,
And, to cap it all, a poet!"