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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 07
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Yet did she go in silence
Into the dim gray
World outside.
Sick since then,
Wounded and woeful heart!
Never shall it be whole.
Meseems that, spun of the air, a thread of magic
Binds her yet to me, an unrestful bond;
It draws, it draws me faint with love toward her.
Might it yet be some day that on my threshold
I should find her, as erst, in the morning twilight,
Her traveler's bundle beside her,
And her eye true-heartedly looking up to me,
Saying, "See, I've come back,
Back once more from the lonely world!"
* * * * *
A SONG FOR TWO IN THE NIGHT[23 - Translator: Charles Wharton Stork.] (1825)
She. How soft the night wind strokes the meadow grasses
And, breathing music, through the woodland passes!
Now that the upstart day is dumb,
One hears from the still earth a whispering throng
Of forces animate, with murmured song
Joining the zephyrs' well-attunèd hum.
He. I catch the tone from wondrous voices brimming,
Which sensuous on the warm wind drifts to me,
While, streaked with misty light uncertainly,
The very heavens in the glow are swimming.
She. The air like woven fabric seems to wave,
Then more transparent and more lustrous groweth;
Meantime a muted melody outgoeth
From happy fairies in their purple cave.
To sphere-wrought harmony
Sing they, and busily
The thread upon their silver spindles floweth.
He. Oh lovely night! how effortless and free
O'er samite black-though green by day—thou movest!
And to the whirring music that thou lovest
Thy foot advances imperceptibly.
Thus hour by hour thy step doth measure—
In trancèd self-forgetful pleasure
Thou'rt rapt; creation's soul is rapt with thee!
* * * * *
EARLY AWAY[24 - Translator: Charles Wharton Stork.] (1828)
The morning frost shines gray
Along the misty field
Beneath the pallid way
Of early dawn revealed.
Amid the glow one sees
The day-star disappear;
Yet o'er the western trees
The moon is shining clear.
So, too, I send my glance
On distant scenes to dwell;
I see in torturing trance
The night of our farewell.
Blue eyes, a lake of bliss,
Swim dark before my sight,
Thy breath, I feel, thy kiss;
I hear thy whispering light.
My cheek upon thy breast
The streaming tears bedew,
Till, purple-black, is cast
A veil across my view.
The sun comes out; he glows,
And straight my dreams depart,
While from the cliffs he throws
A chill across my heart.
* * * * *
THE FORSAKEN MAIDEN[25 - Translator: Charles Wharton Stork.] (1829)
Early when cocks do crow
Ere the stars dwindle,
Down to the hearth I go,
Fire must I kindle.
Fair leap the flames on high,
Sparks they whirl drunken;
I watch them listlessly
In sorrow sunken.
Sudden it comes to me,
Youth so fair seeming,
Into the dim gray
World outside.
Sick since then,
Wounded and woeful heart!
Never shall it be whole.
Meseems that, spun of the air, a thread of magic
Binds her yet to me, an unrestful bond;
It draws, it draws me faint with love toward her.
Might it yet be some day that on my threshold
I should find her, as erst, in the morning twilight,
Her traveler's bundle beside her,
And her eye true-heartedly looking up to me,
Saying, "See, I've come back,
Back once more from the lonely world!"
* * * * *
A SONG FOR TWO IN THE NIGHT[23 - Translator: Charles Wharton Stork.] (1825)
She. How soft the night wind strokes the meadow grasses
And, breathing music, through the woodland passes!
Now that the upstart day is dumb,
One hears from the still earth a whispering throng
Of forces animate, with murmured song
Joining the zephyrs' well-attunèd hum.
He. I catch the tone from wondrous voices brimming,
Which sensuous on the warm wind drifts to me,
While, streaked with misty light uncertainly,
The very heavens in the glow are swimming.
She. The air like woven fabric seems to wave,
Then more transparent and more lustrous groweth;
Meantime a muted melody outgoeth
From happy fairies in their purple cave.
To sphere-wrought harmony
Sing they, and busily
The thread upon their silver spindles floweth.
He. Oh lovely night! how effortless and free
O'er samite black-though green by day—thou movest!
And to the whirring music that thou lovest
Thy foot advances imperceptibly.
Thus hour by hour thy step doth measure—
In trancèd self-forgetful pleasure
Thou'rt rapt; creation's soul is rapt with thee!
* * * * *
EARLY AWAY[24 - Translator: Charles Wharton Stork.] (1828)
The morning frost shines gray
Along the misty field
Beneath the pallid way
Of early dawn revealed.
Amid the glow one sees
The day-star disappear;
Yet o'er the western trees
The moon is shining clear.
So, too, I send my glance
On distant scenes to dwell;
I see in torturing trance
The night of our farewell.
Blue eyes, a lake of bliss,
Swim dark before my sight,
Thy breath, I feel, thy kiss;
I hear thy whispering light.
My cheek upon thy breast
The streaming tears bedew,
Till, purple-black, is cast
A veil across my view.
The sun comes out; he glows,
And straight my dreams depart,
While from the cliffs he throws
A chill across my heart.
* * * * *
THE FORSAKEN MAIDEN[25 - Translator: Charles Wharton Stork.] (1829)
Early when cocks do crow
Ere the stars dwindle,
Down to the hearth I go,
Fire must I kindle.
Fair leap the flames on high,
Sparks they whirl drunken;
I watch them listlessly
In sorrow sunken.
Sudden it comes to me,
Youth so fair seeming,
