The swarthy woman then went inside,To the spring in the courtyard yonder;Her eyes from their stain she purified,And,--wonder!--Her face and eyes were radiant and bright, And the maid of the mill was disclosed to the sightOf the startled and angry stripling!
THE MAID OF THE MILL.
Thou sweetest, fairest, dearly-loved life!
Before thine anger I cower;
But blows I dread not, nor sharp-edged knife,--This hour Of sorrow and love to thee I'll sing, And myself before thy feet I'll fling,And either live or die there!
YOUTH.
Affection, say, why buried so deepIn my heart hast thou lain hidden?
By whom hast thou now to awake from thy sleepBeen bidden?
Ah love, that thou art immortal I see!
Nor knavish cunning nor treacheryCan destroy thy life so godlike.
THE MAID OF THE MILL.
If still with as fond and heartfelt love,As thou once didst swear, I'm cherish'd, Then nought of the rapture we used to proveIs perish'd.
So take the woman so dear to thy breast!
In her young and innocent charms be blest,For all are thine from henceforward!
BOTH.
Now, sun, sink to rest! Now, sun, arise!
Ye stars, be now shining, now darkling!
A star of love now gleams in the skies,All-sparkling!
As long as the fountain may spring and run, So long will we two be blended in one,Upon each other's bosoms!
1797.
THE TRAVELLER AND THE FARM~MAIDEN.
HE.
CANST thou give, oh fair and matchless maiden,'Neath the shadow of the lindens yonder,--Where I'd fain one moment cease to wander,--Food and drink to one so heavy laden?
SHE.
Wouldst thou find refreshment, traveller weary,Bread, ripe fruit and cream to meet thy wishes,--None but Nature's plain and homely dishes,--Near the spring may soothe thy wanderings dreary.
HE.
Dreams of old acquaintance now pass through me,Ne'er-forgotten queen of hours of blisses.
Likenesses I've often found, but this is One that quite a marvel seemeth to me!
SHE.
Travellers often wonder beyond measure,But their wonder soon see cause to smother;Fair and dark are often like each other, Both inspire the mind with equal pleasure.
HE.
Not now for the first time I surrenderTo this form, in humble adoration;It was brightest midst the constellation In the hail adorn'd with festal splendour.
SHE.
Be thou joyful that 'tis in my powerTo complete thy strange and merry story!
Silks behind her, full of purple glory, Floated, when thou saw'st her in that hour.
HE.
No, in truth, thou hast not sung it rightly!
Spirits may have told thee all about it;
Pearls and gems they spoke of, do not doubt it,--By her gaze eclipsed,--it gleam'd so brightly!
SHE.
This one thing I certainly collected:
That the fair one--(say nought, I entreat thee!)Fondly hoping once again to meet thee, Many a castle in the air erected.
HE.
By each wind I ceaselessly was driven,Seeking gold and honour, too, to capture!
When my wand'rings end, then oh, what rapture, If to find that form again 'tis given!
SHE.
'Tis the daughter of the race now banish'dThat thou seest, not her likeness only;Helen and her brother, glad though lonely, Till this farm of their estate now vanish'd.
HE.
But the owner surely is not wantingOf these plains, with ev'ry beauty teeming?
Verdant fields, broad meads, and pastures gleaming, Gushing springs, all heav'nly and enchanting.
SHE.
Thou must hunt the world through, wouldst thou find him!--We have wealth enough in our possession,And intend to purchase the succession, When the good man leaves the world behind him.
HE.
I have learnt the owner's own condition,And, fair maiden, thou indeed canst buy it;But the cost is great, I won't deny it,--Helen is the price,--with thy permission!
SHE.
Did then fate and rank keep us asunder,And must Love take this road, and no other?
Yonder comes my dear and trusty brother;
What will he say to it all, I wonder?
1803.
EFFECTS AT A DISTANCE.
THE queen in the lofty hall takes her place,The tapers around her are flaming;She speaks to the page: "With a nimble paceGo, fetch me my purse for gaming.
'Tis lying, I'll pledge,On my table's edge."Each nerve the nimble boy straineth, And the end of the castle soon gaineth.
The fairest of maidens was sipping sherbetBeside the queen that minute;Near her mouth broke the cup,--and she got so wet!
The very devil seem'd in itWhat fearful distress'Tis spoilt, her gay dress.
She hastens, and ev'ry nerve straineth, And the end of the castle soon gaineth.
The boy was returning, and quickly came,And met the sorrowing maiden;None knew of the fact,--and yet with Love's flame,Those two had their hearts full laden.
And, oh the blissOf a moment like this!
Each falls on the breast of the other, With kisses that well nigh might smother.
They tear themselves asunder at last,To her chamber she hastens quickly, To reach the queen the page hies him fast,Midst the swords and the fans crowded thickly.
The queen spied amainOn his waistcoat a stain;For nought was inscrutable to her, Like Sheba's queen--Solomon's wooer.
To her chief attendant she forthwith cried"We lately together contended, And thou didst assert, with obstinate pride,That the spirit through space never wended,--That traces aloneBy the present were shown,--That afar nought was fashion'd--not even By the stars that illumine you heaven.
"Now see! while a goblet beside me they drain'd,They spilt all the drink in the chalice;And straightway the boy had his waistcoat stain'dAt the furthermost end of the palace.--Let them newly be clad!
And since I am glad That it served as a proof so decided, The cost will by me be provided."1808.
THE WALKING BELL
A CHILD refused to go betimesTo church like other people;He roam'd abroad, when rang the chimesOn Sundays from the steeple.
His mother said: "Loud rings the bell,Its voice ne'er think of scorning;Unless thou wilt behave thee well,'Twill fetch thee without warning."The child then thought: "High over headThe bell is safe suspended--"So to the fields he straightway spedAs if 'twas school-time ended.
