THE DEAD. FROM THE GERMAN OF KLOPSTOCK. How they so softly rest, And they no longer weep Here, where all gladness flies! And, by the cypresses Softly o'ershadowed, Until the Angel Calls them, they slumber! THE BIRD AND THE SHIP. FROM THE GERMAN OF MÜLLER. "THE rivers rush into the sea, "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 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, 66 High over the sails, high over the mast, When thy merry companions are still, at last, "Who neither may rest, nor listen may, I dart away, in the bright blue day, "Thus do I sing my weary song, Wherever the four winds blow; WHITHER? FROM THE GERMAN OF MÜLLER. From its rocky fountain near, What do I say of a murmur? That can no murmur be; 'Tis the water-nymphs, that are singing Their roundelays under me. Let them sing, my friend, let them murmur, And wander merrily near; The wheels of a mill are going In every brooklet clear. Trust her not, She is fooling thee! She has two eyes, so soft and brown, She gives a side-glance and looks down, Beware! Beware! Trust her not, She is fooling thee! And she has hair of a golden hue, Take care! And what she says, it is not true, Beware! Beware! Trust her not, She is fooling thee! She has a bosom as white as snow, Take care! She knows how much it is best to show, Beware! Beware! Trust her not, She is fooling thee! She gives thee a garland woven fair, Take care! It is a fool's-cap for thee to wear, Beware! Beware! Trust her not, She is fooling thee! SONG OF THE BELL. FROM THE GERMAN. BELL! thou soundest merrily, To the church doth hie! Bell! thou soundest merrily; Bed-time draweth nigh! Say! how canst thou mourn? Thou art but metal dull! Thou dost feel them all! God hath wonders many, THE CASTLE BY THE SEA. "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, Had they a merry chime? 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, G 'And sawest thou on the turrets "Led they not forth, in rapture, They were moving slow, in weeds of woe, THE BLACK KNIGHT. FROM THE GERMAN OF UHLAND. "TWAS Pentecost, the Feast of Gladness, When woods and fields put off all sadness. 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, Fell all the Cavaliers, Before the monarch's stalwart son. To the barrier of the fight Rode at last a sable Knight. "Sir Knight! your name and scutcheon, 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, The arch of heaven grew black with 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 high halls glances; Waves a mighty shadow in; |