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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MAIDEN FROM AFAR by JOHANN CHRISTOPH FRIEDRICH VON SCHILLER

First Line: WITHIN A VALE, EACH INFANT YEAR
Last Line: SHE SAW TWO HEARTS THAT LOVED DRAW NEAR.
WITHIN a vale, each infant year,
When earliest larks first carol free,
To humble shepherds doth appear
A wondrous maiden, fair to see.
Not born within that lowly place—
From whence she wander'd, none could tell;
Her parting footsteps left no trace,
When once the maiden bade farewell.

And blessèd was her presence there—
Each heart, expanding, grew more gay;
Yet something loftier still than fair
Kept man's familiar looks away.
From fairy gardens, known to none,
She brought mysterious fruits and flowers —
The things of some serener sun—
Some Nature more benign than ours.

With each, her gifts the maiden shared—
To some the fruits, the flowers to some;
Alike the young, the aged fared;
Each bore a blessing back to home.
Though every guest was welcome there,
Yet some the maiden held more dear,
And cull'd her rarest sweets whene'er
She saw two hearts that loved draw near.



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