And then the landlord's daughter THE WAVE. FROM THE GERMAN OF TIEDGE. "WHITHER, thou turbid wave? Whither, with so much haste, As if a thief wert thou?" "I am the Wave of Life, Stained with my margin's dust; From the struggle and the strife Of the narrow stream I fly To the Sea's immensity, To wash from me the slime Of the muddy banks of Time." THE DEAD. FROM THE GERMAN OF STOCKMANN. How they so softly rest, And they no longer weep, Calls them, they slumber! THE BIRD AND THE SHIP. FROM THE GERMAN OF MÜLLER. "THE rivers rush into the sea, By castle and town they go; "The clouds are passing far and high, "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. "Full and swollen is every sail; I see no longer a hill, I have trusted all to the sounding gale, And it will not let me stand still. "And wilt thou, little bird, go with us? Thou mayest stand on the mainmast tall, For full to sinking is my house With merry companions all.""I need not and seek not company, Bonny boat, I can sing all alone; For the mainmast tall too heavy am I, Bonny boat, I have wings of my own. "High over the sails, high over the mast, Who shall gainsay these joys? When thy merry companions are still, at last, Thou shalt hear the sound of my voice. "Who neither may rest, nor listen may, God bless them every one! I dart away, in the bright blue day, "Thus do I sing my weary song, Wherever the four winds blow; And this same song, my whole life long, Neither Poet nor Printer may know." WHITHER? FROM THE GERMAN OF MÜLLER. I HEARD a brooklet gushing From its rocky fountain near, Down into the valley rushing, So fresh and wondrous clear. I know not what came o'er me, Nor who the counsel gave; But I must hasten downward, All with my pilgrim-stave; Downward, and ever farther, And ever the brook beside; Didst thou hear, from those lofty cham- | At the first blow, bers, 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 The King and his royal bride? And the wave of their crimson mantles? "Led they not forth, in rapture, "Well saw I the ancient parents, THE BLACK KNIGHT. FROM THE GERMAN OF UHLAND. "T WAS Pentecost, the Feast of Gladness, When woods and fields put off all sad ness. Thus began the King and spake : "So from the halls Of ancient Hofburg's walls, A luxuriant Spring shall break." Drums and trumpets echo loudly, Wave the crimson banners proudly, From balcony the King looked on; In the play of spears, Fell all the cavaliers, Before the monarch's stalwart son. To the barrier of the fight Rode at last a sable Knight. Fell the youth from saddle-bow, Hardly rises from the shock. Pipe and viol call the dances, Torch light through the high halls glances; Waves a mighty shadow in ; Doth ask the maiden's hand, Danced in sable iron sark, Down fall from her the fair Flowerets, faded, to the ground. To the sumptuous banquet came Every Knight and every Dame; 'Twixt son and daughter all distraught, With mournful mind The ancient King reclined, Gazed at them in silent thought. Pale the children both did look, "Golden wine will make you whole!" The children drank, Gave many a courteous thank : "O, that draught was very cool!" Each the father's breast embraces, Son and daughter; and their faces Colorless grow utterly; Whichever way Looks the fear-struck father gray, He beholds his children die. "Woe the blessed children both Takest thou in the joy of youth; Take me, too, the joyless father!" Spake the grim Guest, "Sir Knight! your name and scutch- From his hollow, cavernous breast: "Roses in the spring I gather!" SONG OF THE SILENT LAND. FROM THE GERMAN OF SALIS. INTO the Silent Land! Ah! who shall lead us thither? THE SKELETON IN ARMOR. "SPEAK! speak! thou fearful guest! Who, with thy hollow breast Still in rude armor drest, Comest to daunt me ! Wrapt not in Eastern balms, But with thy fleshless palms Stretched, as if asking alms, Why dost thou haunt me?" Then, from those cavernous eyes Gleam in December; From the heart's chamber. "I was a Viking old! My deeds, though manifold, Oft through the forest dark Followed the were-wolf's bark, Until the soaring lark Sang from the meadow. "But when I older grew, Joining a corsair's crew, O'er the dark sea I flew With the marauders. Wild was the life we led; Many the souls that sped, Many the hearts that bled, By our stern orders. 66 Many a wassail-bout Wore the long Winter out; Often our midnight shout Set the cocks crowing, "Once as I told in glee Fell their soft splendor. "I wooed the blue-eyed maid, Our vows were plighted. By the hawk frighted. "Bright in her father's hall When of old Hildebrand "While the brown ale he quaffed, Loud then the champion laughed, And as the wind-gusts waft The sea-foam brightly, "She was a Prince's child, I but a Viking wild, And though she blushed and smiled, Should not the dove so white "Scarce had I put to sea, Among the Norsemen ! "Then launched they to the blast, "And as to catch the gale Death without quarter! "As with his wings aslant, With his prey laden, "Three weeks we westward bore, "There lived we many years; |