THE BIRD AND THE SHIP. FROM MÜLLER. "THE rivers rush into the sea, "The clouds are passing far and high, And everything, that can sing and fly, "I greet thee, bonny boat! Whither, or whence With thy fluttering golden band ?”— "I greet thee, little bird! To the wide sea I haste from the narrow land. I see no longer a hill, sail; I have trusted all to the sounding gale, "And wilt thou, little bird, go with us? With merry companions all." "I need not and seek not company, "High over the sails, high over the mast, When thy merry companions are still, at last Thou shalt hear the sound of my voice. "Who neither may rest, nor listen may, I dart away, in the bright blue day, "Thus do I sing my weary song, THE HAPPIEST LAND. -FRAGMENT OF A MODERN GERMAN BALLAD. THERE sat one day in quiet, By an alehouse on the Rhine, Four hale and hearty fellows, And drank the precious wine. The landlord's daughter filled their cups But, when the maid departed, A Swabian raised his hand, And cried, all hot and flushed with wine, "Long live the Swabian land! "The greatest kingdom upon earth Cannot with that compare; With all the stout and hardy men And the uut-brown maidens there." "Ha!" cried a Saxon, laughing,And dashed his beard with wine; "I had rather live in Lapland, Than that Swabian land of thine! "The goodliest land on all this earth, There have I as many maidens "Hold your tongues! both Swabian and Saxon!" A bold Bohemian cries; "If there's a heaven upon this earth, In Bohemia it lies. "There the tailor blows the flute, And the cobbler blows the horn, And the miner blows the bugle, Over mountain gorge and bourn." And then the landlord's daughter Up to heaven raised her hand, And said, "Ye may no more contend, There lies the happiest land!" THE CASTLE BY THE SEA. FROM UHLAND. "Hast thou seen that lordly castle, The clouds float gorgeously. "And fain it would stoop downward Well have I seen that castle, "The winds and the waves of ocean, Didst thou hear, from those lofty chambers, The harp and the minstrel's rhyme ?" "The winds and the waves of ocean, They rested quietly; But I heard on the gale a sound of wail. And tears came to mine eye." "And sawest thou on the turrets "Led they not forth, in rapture, "Well saw I the ancient parents; They were moving slow, in weeds of woe, No maiden was by their side!" WANDERER'S NIGHT-SONGS. FROM GOETHE. I. THOU that from the heaven's art, Come, ah, come into my breast! II. O'er all the hill-tops In all the tree-tops Hardly a breath; The birds are asleep in the trees. Wait; soon like these Thou too shalt rest. THE BLACK KNIGHT. FROM THE GERMAN OF UHLAND. "TWAS Pentecost, the Feast of Gladness, Of ancient Hofburgh's walls, A luxuriant Spring shall break." Drums and trumpets echo loudly, Before the monarch's stalwart son. To the barrier of the fight Rode at last a sable Knight. Danced in sable iron sark, To the sumptuous banquet came Twixt son and daughter all dis- With mournful mind The ancient King reclined, Gazed at them in silent thought. Pale the children both did look, "Sir Knight! your name and scut- But the guest a beaker took; cheon say!" "Should I speak it here, Ye would stand aghast with fear; I am a Prince of mighty sway!" When he rode into the lists, "Golden wine will make you whole!" The children drank, Gave many a courteous thank; "Oh, that draught was very cool!" The arch of heaven grew black with Each the father's breast embraces, mists, And the castle 'gan to rock. At the first blow, Fell the youth from saddle-bow, Pipe and viol call the dances, Torch-light through the bigh hall glances; Doth ask the maiden's hand, Son and daughter; and their faces Looks the fear-struck father grey, "Woe! the blessed children both Take me, too, the joyless father!" From his hollow, cavernous breast, SILENT LOVE. And seldom speak : And pain. |