THE WAVE FROM THE GERMAN OF TIEDGE. "WHITHER, thou turbid wave? "I am the Wave of Life, THE DEAD. FROM THE GERMAN OF KLOPSTOCK. How they so softly rest, Unto whose dwelling-place Now doth my soul draw near! How they so softly rest All in their silent graves, Deep to corruption Slowly down-sinking! And they no longer weep, Here, where complaint is still! 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 MULLER. "THE rivers rush into the sea, "The clouds are passing far and high, And every thing that can sing and fly "I greet thee, bonny boat! Whither or whence, "Full and swollen is every sail; 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, "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, WHITHER? FROM THE GERMAN OF MULLER. I HEARD a brooklet gushing I know not what came o'er me, Downward, and ever farther, Is this the way I was going? What do I say of a murmur? 'Tis the water-nymphs that are singing Let them sing, my friend, let them murmur, And wander merrily near; The wheels of a mill are going In every brooklet clear. She gives a side-glance and looks down, She has a bosom as white as snow, She knows how much it is best to show, Trust her not, She is fooling thee! THE CASTLE BY THE SEA. FROM THE GERMAN OF 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, 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, But I heard on the gale a sound of wail, "And sawest thou on the turrets And the wave of their crimson mantles? "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!" |