Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PICTURES OF TRAVEL: THE RETURN HOME, by HEINRICH HEINE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PICTURES OF TRAVEL: THE RETURN HOME, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: On my life, a life of darkness
Last Line: Keeping up his wretched dinning
Subject(s): Hearts; Homecoming; Life; Love; Travel; Journeys; Trips


1.

ON my life, a life of darkness,
Once a vision sweet shone bright;
Now that vision sweet hath faded,
And I'm veil'd in utter night.

When in darkness children wander,
Soon their spirits die away,
And to overcome their terror,
Some loud song straight carol they.

I, a foolish child, am singing
In the darkness spread around;
Though my song may give no pleasure,
Yet mine anguish it hath drown'd.

2.

IN vain would I seek to discover
Why sad and mournful am I;
My thoughts without ceasing brood over
A tale of the times gone by.

The air is cool, and it darkleth,
And calmly flows the Rhine;
The peak of the mountain sparkleth,
While evening's sun doth shine.

Yon sits a wondrous maiden
On high, a maiden fair;
With bright golden jewels all-laden,
She combs her golden hair.

She combs it with comb all-golden,
And sings the while a song;
How strange is that melody olden,
As loudly it echoes along!

It fills with wild terror the sailor
At sea in his tiny skiff;
He looks but on high, and grows paler,
Nor sees the rock-girded cliff.

The waves will the bark and its master
At length swallow up, then methought
'Tis Lore-ley who this disaster
With her false singing hath wrought.

3.

MY heart, my heart is mournful,
Yet May is gleaming like gold;
I stand, 'gainst the linden reclining,
High over the bastion old.

Beneath, the moat's blue water
Flows peacefully along;
A boy his bark is steering,
And fishes, and pipes his song.

Beyond, in pleasing confusion,
In distant and chequer'd array,
Are men, and villas, and gardens,
And cattle, woods, meadows so gay.

The maidens are bleaching the linen,
And spring on the grass, like deer
The mill-wheel's powd'ring diamonds,
Its distant murmur I hear.

Beside the old grey tower
A sentry-box is set;
A red-accoutred fellow
Walks up and down there yet.

He's playing with his musket,
While gleameth the sun o'erhead;
He first presents and shoulders --
I would that he'd shoot me dead!

4.

WITH tears through the forest I wander,
The throstle's sitting on high;
She, springing, sings softly yonder:
O wherefore dost thou sigh?

"Sweet bird, thy sister the swallow
"Can tell thee the cause of my gloom;
"She dwells in a nest all hollow,
"Beside my sweetheart's room."

5.

THE night is damp and stormy,
No star is in the sky;
In the wood, 'neath the rustling branches
In silence wander I.

A distant light is twinkling
From the hunter's lonely cot;
But within, the scene is but saddening,
And the light can allure me not.

The blind old grandmother's sitting
In her leather elbow-chair,
All-gloomily fix'd like a statue,
Not a word escapeth her there.

With curses to and fro paces
The forester's red-headed son;
With fury and scorn he's laughing,
As he throws 'gainst the wall his gun.

The fair spinning-maiden's weeping,
And moistens the flax with her tears;
The father's terrier, whining,
Curl'd up at her feet appears.

6.

WHEN I, on my travels, by hazard,
My sweetheart's family found,
Her sister and father and mother, --
They gave me a welcome all round.

When they for my health had inquired,
They added, all of a breath,
That they thought me quite unalter'd,
Though my face was pale as death.

I ask'd for their aunts and their cousins,
And many a tiresome friend;
I ask'd for the little puppy
Whose soft bark knew no end.

And then for my married sweetheart
I ask'd, as if just call'd to mind,
And they answer'd, in friendly fashion,
That she had but just been confin'd.

I gave them my very best wishes,
And lovingly begg'd them apart
That they'd give her a thousand greetings
From the bottom of my heart.

Then cried the little sister:
"The small and gentle hound
"Grew to be big and savage,
"And in the Rhine was drown'd."

That little one's like my sweetheart,
So like when she wears a smile!
Her eyes are the same as her sister's
Which caus'd all my mis'ry the whils.

7.

WE sat by the fisherman's cottage,
O'er ocean cast our eye;
Then came the mists of evening,
And slowly rose on high.

The lamps within the light-house
Were kindled, light by light,
And in the farthest distance
A ship was still in sight.

We spoke of storm and shipwreck,
And of the sailor's strange life,
'Twixt sky and water, 'twixt terror
And joy in endless strife.

We spoke of distant regions,
Of North and South spoke we,
The many strange races yonder,
And customs, strange to see.

The air on the Ganges is balmy,
And giant-trees extend,
And fair and silent mortals
Before the lotos bend.

In Lapland, the people are dirty,
Flat-headed, broad-mouthed, and small;
They squat round the fire, bake fishes,
And squeak, and speak shrilly, and squall.

The maidens earnestly listen'd,
At length not a word was said;
The ship from sight had vanish'd,
For darkness o'er all things was spread.

8.

THOU pretty fisher-maiden,
Quick, push thy bark to land;
Come hither, and sit beside me,
And toy with me, hand in hand.

Recline thy head on my bosom,
Nor be so fearful of me;
Thou trustest thyself, void of terror,
Each day to the raging sea.

My heart is like the ocean,
Hath tempest, ebb, and flow,
And many pearls full precious
Lie in its depths below.

9.

THE moon hath softly risen,
And o'er the waves doth smile;
Mine arms hold my sweetheart in prison,
Our hearts both swelling the while.

Blest in her sweet embraces
I calmly repose on the strand:
Hear'st thou aught in the wind as it races?
Why shrinks thy snow-white hand?

"O, 'tis not the tempest's commotion,
"'Tis the song of the mermaids below;
"'Tis the voice of my sisters, whom Ocean
"Swallow'd up in its depths long ago."

10.

ON the clouds doth rest the moon,
Like a giant-orange gleaming;
Broad her streaks, with golden rays
O'er the dusky ocean beaming.

Lonely roam I by the strand
While the billows white are breaking;
Many sweet words hear I there,
From the water's depths awaking.

Ah! the night is long, full long,
And my heart must break its slumbers;
Beauteous nymphs, come forth to light,
Dance! and sing your magic numbers!

To your bosom take my head,
Soul and body I surrender!
Sing me dead, caress me dead,
Drain my life with kisses tender.

11.

IN their grey-hued clouds envelop'd,
Now the mighty gods are sleeping;
And I listen to their snoring,
Stormy weather o'er us creeping.

Stormy weather! Raging tempests
On the poor ship bring disaster;
On these winds who'll place a bridle, --
On these waves that own no master?

I the storm can never hinder,
Nor the mast and planks from creaking,
So I wrap me in my mantle,
Like the gods for slumber seeking.

12.

THE wind puts on its breeches again,
Its white and watery breeches;
It flogs each billow with might and main,
Till it howls and rushes and pitches.

From the darksome height, with furious might
Pours the rain in wild commotion;
It seems as though the ancient Night
Would drown the ancient Ocean.

To the ship's high mast the sea-mew clings,
With hoarse and shrill shrieking and yelling;
In anxious-wise she flutters her wings,
Approaching disasters foretelling.

13.

THE storm strikes up for dancing,
It blusters, pipes, roars with delight;
Hurrah, how the bark is springing!
How merry and wild is the night!

A living watery mountain
The raging sea builds tow'rd the sky;
A gloomy abyss here is gaping,
There, mounts a white tower on high.

A vomiting, cursing, and praying
From the cabin bursts forth 'mid the roar;
I cling to the mast for protection,
And wish I was safely on shore.

14.

'TIS evening, darker 'tis getting,
Mist veils the sea from the eye;
The waves are mysteriously fretting,
White shadows are rising on high.

From the billows the mermaid arises,
And sits herself near me on shore;
The veil which her figure disguises
Her snow-white bosom peeps o'er.

She warmly doth caress me,
And takes my breath away:
Too closely dost thou press me,
Thou lovely water-fay!

"My arms thus closely caress thee,
"I clasp thee with all my might;
"In hope of warmth do I press thee,
"For cold indeed is the night."

The moon from her dusky cloister
Of clouds, sheds a paler ray;
Thine eye grows sadder and moister,
Thou lovely water-fay!

"No sadder nor moister 'tis growing,
"Mine eye is moist and wet,
"For when from the wave I was going,
"A drop remain'd in it yet."

The sea-mew mourns shrilly, while ocean
Is growling and heaving its spray;
Thy heart throbs with raging emotion,
Thou lovely water-fay!

"My heart throbs with raging emotion,
"Emotion raging and wild;
"For I love thee with speechless devotion,
"Thou darling human child!"

15.

WHEN I before thy dwelling
At morning happen to be,
I rejoice, my little sweet one,
When thee at thy window I see.

With thy dark-brown eyes so piercing
My figure thou dost scan:
Who art thou, and what ails thee,
Thou strange and sickly man?

"I am a German poet,
"Well known in the German land;
"When the best names in it are reckon'd,
"My name amongst them will stand.

"My little one, that which ails me
"Ails crowds in the German land;
"When the fiercest sorrows are reckon'd,
"My sorrows amongst them will stand."

16.

THE gleam o'er the ocean had faded not,
While the eve's last rays were flitting;
We sat by the lonely fisherman's cot,
Alone and in silence sitting.

The waters swell'd, while the mist rose above,
The restless sea-mew was screaming;
From out thine eyes, so full of love,
The tears were quickly streaming.

I saw them falling on thy fair hand,
And on my knees soon sank I,
And then from off thy snow-white hand
The tears with rapture drank I.

Since that hour, my body hath fast decay'd,
My soul is dying with yearning;
I was poison'd, alas! by the hapless maid
With her falling tears so burning.

17.

UP high on yonder mountain
Stands a stately castle alone,
Where dwell three beauteous maidens,
Whose love in turns I have known.

On Saturday Harriet kiss'd me,
While Sunday was Julia's right;
On Monday Cunigund follow'd,
Who well nigh stifled me quite.

To hold a fete in the castle
On Tuesday my maidens agreed;
The neighbouring lords and ladies
All came with carriage or steed.

But I was never invited,
To your great wonder, no doubt;
The whispering aunts and cousins
Obsery'd it, and laugh'd right out

18.

ON the dim and far horizon
Appeareth, misty and pale,
The city, with all its towers,
In evening twilight's veil.

A humid gust is ruffling
The path o'er the waters dark;
With mournful measure, the sailor
Is rowing my tiny bark.

The sun once more ariseth,
And over the earth gleams he,
And shows me the spot out yonder
Where my loved one was lost to me

19.

ALL hail to thee, thou stately
Mysterious town, all hail,
Who erst within thy bosom
My loved one's form didst veil!

O say, ye towers and gateways,
O where can my loved one be?
To your keeping of yore was she trusted,
And ye must her bail be to me.

The towers, in truth, are guiltless,
From their places they could not come down,
When she, with her trunks and boxes,
So hastily went from the town.

The gates, however, they suffer'd
My darling to slip through them straight;
A gate is ever found willing
To let a fool "gang her ain gait."

20.

ONCE more my steps through the olden path
And the well-known streets are taken,
Until I come to my loved one's house,
So empty now and forsaken.

How narrow and close the streets appear!
How nauseous the smell of the plaster!
The houses seem tumbling down on my head,
So I haste away, fearing disaster.

21.

ONCE more through the halls I pass'd
Where her troth to me was plighted;
On the spot where her tears fell fast
A serpent's brood had alighted.

22.

THE night is still, and the streets are deserted,
In this house my love had her dwelling of yore;
'Tis long since she from the city departed,
Yet her house still stands on the spot as before.

There stands, too, a man, who stares up at her casement,
And wrings his hands with the weight of his woes;
I look on his face with shudd'ring amazement, --
The moon doth the form of myself disclose.

Thou pallid fellow, thou worthless double!
Why dare to mimic my love's hard lot,
Which many a night gave me grief and trouble
In former days, on this very spot?

23.

HOW canst thou sleep in quiet,
And know that I'm still alive?
I burst the yoke that's upon me,
When my olden wrath doth revive.

Dost know the ancient ballad:
How of yore a dead stripling brave
At midnight came to his loved one,
And carried her down to his grave?

Believe me, thou wondrous beauty,
Thou wondrously lovely maid,
I'm alive still, and feel far stronger
Than the whole of the dead's brigade!

24.

THE maiden's asleep in her chamber,
"In peeps the quivering moon;
"Outside is a singing and jingling,
"As though to a waltz's tune.

"I needs must look through my window,
"To see who's disturbing my rest;
"There stands a skeleton ghastly
"Who's fiddling and singing his best:

"Thy hand for the dance thou didst pledge me,
"And then thy promise didst break;
"To-night there's a ball in the churchyard,
"Come with me, the dance to partake.

"He forcibly seizes the maiden,
"And lures her from out her abode;
"She follows the skeleton wildly,
"Who fiddles and sings on the road.

"He hops and he skips and he fiddles,
"His bones they rattle away;
"With his skull he keeps nidding and nodding,
"By the moonlight's glimmering ray."

25.

I STOOD, while sadly mused I,
And her likeness closely did scan,
And her beloved features
To glow with life began.

Around her lips there gather'd
A sweet and wondrous smile,
And as through tears of sorrow
Her clear eyes shone the while.

And then my tears responsive
Adown my cheeks did pour --
And ah! I scarce can believe it,
That I've lost thee evermore.

26.

UNHAPPY Atlas that I am! I'm doom'd
To bear a world, a very world of sorrows;
Unbearable's the load I bear, and e'en
The heart within me's breaking.

O thou proud heart! thy doing 'twas indeed,
Thou wouldst be happy, utterly be happy,
Or utterly be wretched, O proud heart,
And now in truth thou'rt wretched!

27.

THE years are coming and going,
To the grave whole races descend,
And yet the love in my bosom
Shall never wax fainter or end.

O could I but once more behold thee,
Before thee sink down on my knee,
And die, as these words I utter:
Dear Madam, I love but thee!

28.

IDREAMT: the quivering moon gleam'd above,
And the stars cast a mournful ray;
I was borne to the town where dwelleth my love,
Many hundred miles away

And when I arrived at her dwelling so blest,
I kiss'd the stones of the stair,
Which her little foot so often had press'd,
And the train of her garment fair.

The night was long, the night was chill,
And cold were the stones that night;
Her pallid form from the window-sill
Look'd down in the moonbeam's light.

29.

WHAT means this tear all-lonely
That troubles now my gaze?
Of olden times the offspring
Still in mine eye it stays.

It had its shining sisters,
Who all have faded from sight,
With all my joys and sorrows,
Yea, faded in storm and night.

Like clouds have also fleeted
The stars so blue and mild,
Which into my yearning bosom
Those joys and sorrows once smiled.

Ah! even my love's devotion
Like idle breath did decay;
Thou old, old tear all-lonely,
Do thou, too, pass away!

30.

THE pallid autumnal half-moon
Looks down from the clouds on high;
The parsonage, silent and lonely,
By the side of the churchyard doth lie.

The mother is reading her Bible,
The son on the light turns his eyes,
All-sleepy, the elder daughter
Doth stretch, while the younger thus cries

"Good heavens, how dreadfully tedious
"The days are! I'm quite in despair!
"'Tis only when there's a burial
"One sees aught of life, I declare!

The mother then says, midst her reading:
"You're mistaken, four only have died
"Since the time when they buried your father
"By the gate of the churchyard outside."

The elder daughter says gaping:
"I'll starve no longer with you;
"I'll go to the Count to-morrow,
"He's rich and he loves me too."

The son bursts out into laughter:
"At the tavern drink huntsmen three;
"They're making money, and gladly
"Would teach the secret to me."

The mother then throws her Bible
Full hard in his lanky face:
"Wouldst thou dare, thou accursed of heaven,
"As a robber thy friends to disgrace?"

They hear a knock at the window,
And see a beckoning hand;
And behold, outside the dead father
In his black preaching-garment doth stand.

31.

THE weather is bad and stormy,
With rain and tempest and snow;
I sit at the window, gazing
On the gloomy darkness below.

One single light I see glimm'ring
That slowly moves in the street;
'Tis a woman holding a lantern,
And walking with tottering feet.

I expect that she's making a purchase
Of meal and butter and eggs;
'Tis to bake a cake for her daughter
That she is out now on her legs.

The daughter's at home in the arm-chair
And sleepily looks at the light,
Her golden locks stray over
Her face so lovely and bright.

32.

'TIS thought that I am tormented,
By love's bitter sorrow distress'd,
And at length I myself believe it
As well as all the rest.

Thou great-eyed little maiden,
I ever have whisper'd apart:
I love thee beyond expression,
While love is gnawing my heart.

'Twas but in my lonely chamber
That I dared my love to proclaim,
And, ah! I have ever been silent,
When into thy presence I came.

When there, the evil angels
Appear'd, and my lips they held;
And, ah! 'tis by evil angels
That my joy hath now been dispell'd.

33.

O THY tender lily-fingers,
Could I once again but kiss them,
Press them softly to my heart,
And then die in silent weeping!

O thy violet eyes so radiant
Hover near me day and night,
And I'm troubled: what forebodeth
All this sweet, this blue enigma?

34.

"HATH she then no word e'er spoken
"Of thy passion, hapless lover?
"In her sweet eyes couldst thou never
"Signs of answering love discover?

"Through her sweet eyes couldst thou never
"Reach her soul, and so get at her?
"Yet thou art not thought a blockhead,
"Worthy friend, in such a matter."

35.

THEY loved each other, but neither
Would be the first to confess;
Like foes, they gaz'd at each other,
And would die of their love's distress.

They parted at length, and thereafter,
Except in vision, ne'er met;
From life they long have departed,
And scarcely know of it yet.

36.

AND when I to you my grief did confide,
You only yawn'd, and nothing replied;
But when I reduced my sorrow to rhyme,
You praised me greatly, and call'd it sublime.

37.

I CALL'D the devil, and he came,
And with wonder his form did I closely scan;
He is not ugly, and is not lame,
But really a handsome and charming man.
A man in the prime of life is the devil,
Obliging, a man of the world, and civil;
A diplomatist too, well skill'd in debate,
He talks right glibly of church and state.
He's rather pale, but it's really not strange,
For his studies through Sanskrit and Hegel range.
Fouque is still his favourite poet;
But criticism he'll touch no more,
But has handed that subject entirely o'er
To his grandmother Hecate, that she may know it.
My juridical works did he kindly praise,
His favourite hobby in former days.
He said that my friendship was not too dear,
And then he nodded, and look'd severe,
And afterwards asked if it wasn't the case
We had met at the Spanish ambassador's rout?
And when I look'd him full in the face
I saw him to be an old friend without doubt.

38.

MAN, revile not thou the devil,
For the path of life is short,
And damnation everlasting
Is too true, not mere report.

Man, pay all the debts thou owest,
For the path of life is long,
And thou'lt often have to borrow
Just as usual, right or wrong.

39.

THE three holy kings from the Eastern land
Inquired in every city:
Where goeth the road to Bethlehem,
Ye boys and maidens pretty?

The young and the old, they could not tell,
The kings went onward discreetly;
They follow'd the track of a golden star,
That sparkled brightly and sweetly.

The star stood still over Joseph's house,
And they enter'd the dwelling lowly;
The oxen bellow'd, the infant cried,
While sang the three kings holy.

40.

MY child, we once were children,
Two children, little and gay;
We crawl'd inside the henhouse,
And hid in the straw in play.

We crow'd as the cocks are accustom'd,
And when the people came by,
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" -- and they fancied
'Twas really the cock's shrill cry.

The chests within our courtyard
With paper we nicely lined,
And in them lived together,
In a dwelling quite to our mind.

The aged cat of our neighbour
Came oft to visit us there;
We made her our bows and our curtsies,
And plenty of compliments fair.

For her health we used to inquire
In language friendly and soft;
Since then we have ask'd the same question
Of many old cats full oft.

We used to sit, while we wisely
Discoursed, in the way of old men,
And lamented that all was better
In the olden days than then;

How love and truth and religion
From out of the world had fled,
How very dear was the coffee,
How scarce was the gold, we said.

Those childish sports have vanish'd,
And all is fast rolling away;
The world, and the times, and religion,
And gold, love, and truth all decay.

41.

MY heart is sore oppress'd, with sighing
I think upon the days of yore;
The world was then in calmness lying,
And men were peaceful evermore.

All now is changed, in mournful chorus
Want and confusion round us spread;
The Lord seems dead that erst rul'd o'er us
Beneath us, is the Devil dead.

All now appears so drear and sadden'd,
Decay'd and cold, of joy bereft,
That, were we not by love still gladden'd,
No single resting-place were left.

42.

AS the gleaming moon is piercing
Through the darksome clouds above,
So from out time's darksome mirror
Peeps a vision full of love.

All upon the deck were sitting,
Proudly sailing down the Rhine,
And the shores, in summer verdure,
In the setting sun did shine.

Thoughtfully was I reclining,
Bent before a lovely maid;
In her beauteous, pallid features
Lo, the golden sunlight play'd.

Lutes were sounding, youths were singing,
Wondrous was our joy that day;
And the heavens became still bluer,
And our souls soar'd high away.

Hills and castles, woods and meadows,
Like a vision fleeted by,
And I saw them all reflected
In the lovely maiden's eye.

43.

IN vision saw I my loved one
A worn, sad woman one day;
Her once so-blooming figure
Had wither'd and fallen away.

A child in her arms she carried,
By the hand another she led,
And grief and poverty plainly
In her walk, looks, and garments I read.

Across the market she totter'd,
And then did I meet her eye;
She looked upon me, and gently
I spake to her thus, with a sigh:

"Come with me to my dwelling,
"For thou art pale and ill,
"And food and drink I'll earn thee
"By industry and skill.

"I'll also nourish and cherish
"The children that with thee I see;
"But, my child so poor and unhappy,
"I'll care the most for thee.

"I never will remind thee
"That I loved thee so dearly of yore,
"And when at length thou diest,
"I'll weep at thy grave full sore."

44.

"FRIEND! why always thus endeavour
"To repeat the same old story?
"Wilt thou brooding sit for ever
"On love's eggs grown old and hoary?

"Ah! 'tis but the usual custom,
"Chickens from the shells are crawling;
"In a book thou seek'st to thrust 'em,
"While they're fluttering and calling!"

45.

PRYTHEE, be not thou impatient
If there still are loudly ringing
Many of my old sad numbers
In the newest songs I'm singing.

Wait awhile, and soon the echo
Will have died away of sorrow,
And a new-born song-spring softly
From the heal'd heart shoot to-morrow.

46.

'TIS now full time that my folly I drop,
And return to sober reason;
This comedy now 'twere better to stop
That we've played for so long a season.

In a gay and highly romantic style
The gorgeous coulisses were painted;
My knight's cloak glitter'd, while I was the while
With the finest sensations acquainted.

And now that I, while more sober I grow,
Am against this toying inveighing,
I feel that I'm still as wretched as though
A comedy still I were playing.

Alas! unconsciously and in jest
Of my feelings was I the narrator;
And I've play'd, with my own death in my breast,
The dying gladiator.

47.

THE monarch Wiswamitra
Is restlessly striving now;
He must needs, by fighting and penance,
Obtain Wasischta's cow.

O monarch Wiswamitra,
O what an ox art thou,
To have all this fighting and penance,
And all for nought but a cow!

48.

LET not grief, my heart, come o'er thee
Bear thy lot with faith unshaken,
For what winter may have taken
Will returning spring restore thee.

And how much remaineth over!
And how fair the world is still!
And, my heart, if 'tis thy will,
Thou of All mayst be the lover!

49.

A FLOW'RET thou resemblest,
So pure and fair and blest;
But when I view thee, sorrow
Straight creepeth to my breast

I feel as though inspired
My hands on thy head to lay,
And pray that God may keep thee
So blest, fair, pure, for aye.

50.

CHILD! it would be thy perdition,
And the greatest pains I've taken
Ne'er within thy fond heart tow'rd me
Loving feelings to awaken.

Now that I've so soon succeeded,
To my vow I'm wellnigh faithless,
And this thought steals o'er me often:
Would that thou could'st love me nathless

51.

WHEN on my couch I'm lying
In night and pillows conceal'd,
A sweet and charming image
Before me stands reveal'd.

As soon as silent slumber
Hath closed mine eyes in sleep,
Into my dream this image
Doth softly, gently creep.

Yet with the dream of morning
It ne'er doth melt away,
For in mine inmost bosom
I bear it all the day.

52.

MAIDEN with the mouth so rosy,
With the eyes so sweet and bright,
O my darling little maiden,
I of thee think day and night.

Long is now the winter evening,
Fain would I disperse its gloom,
Sitting by thee, talking with thee
In thy trusty little room.

To my lips I'd fain be pressing
Thy dear little snowy hand,
With my falling tears caressing
Thy dear little snowy hand.

53.

THOUGH outside snow-piles are forming,
Though 'tis hailing, though 'tis storming,
Rattling 'gainst the window-pane,
Nevermore will I complain,
For within my breast I bear
Spring-joys and love's image fair.

54.

SOME make prayers to the Madonna,
Others unto Paul and Peter;
Thee alone, of suns the fairest,
Thee alone will I e'er honour.

Let me be with kisses laden,
Be thou kindly, be thou gracious,
'Mongst all maidens sun the fairest,
'Neath the sun the fairest maiden!

55.

DID not my pallid face betray
My loving woe unto thee?
And wilt thou that my haughty mouth
With begging words shall woo thee?

Alas! this mouth is far too proud,
'Twas made but for kissing and sighing;
Perchance it may speak a scornful word,
While I with sorrow am dying.

56.
WORTHY friend, thou'rt deep in love,
And beneath new pangs thou'rt fretting;
Darker grows it in thy head,
In thy heart 'tis lighter getting.

Worthy friend, thou'rt deep in love,
And thou fain would'st hide thy yearning
Yet I see thy heart's fierce glow
Through thy waistcoat hotly burning.

57.

I FAIN would linger by thee,
And rest beside thee too;
Away thou needs must hie thee,
Thou hast so much to do.

I said that I surrender'd
My very soul to thee;
An answering bow was tender'd,
Thou laughedst full of glee.

Thou cruelly didst use me,
And treat my love amiss;
At last thou didst refuse me
The usual parting kiss.

Don't think that I deem it my duty
To shoot myself any the more;
For all of this, my beauty,
Has happen'd to me before

58.

A PAIR of sapphires are thine eyes,
So clear, so sweetly roving;
O three times happy is the man
Whom those fair eyes are loving.

Thy heart, it is a diamond,
A sparkling radiance throwing;
O three times happy is the man
For whom with love 'tis glowing.

Thy lips are very rubies bright,
One never can see fairer;
O three times happy is the man
Who of their love is sharer.

O did I know the happy man!
O could I unattended
Within the green wood meet with him, --
His luck would soon be ended!

59.

WHILE with loving words, but lying,
I have bound me to thy breast,
Now in my own fetters dying,
Into earnest turns my jest.

When thou jestingly dost fly me,
By a rightful impulse led,
Then the powers of hell draw nigh me,
And I really shoot me dead.

60.

TOO fragmentary is World and Life;
I'll go to the German professor, who's rife
With schemes for putting Life's pieces together,
Whereby a passable System's unfurl'd;
Ragged nightcaps and dressing-gowns keep out the weather,
Stop the gaps in the edifice crack'd of the world.

61.

THIS evening they've a party,
The house is fill'd with light;
By yonder shining window
A shadowy form's in sight.

Thou see'st me not, in darkness
I stand below and apart;
Still less canst thou see ever
Inside my darksome heart.

My darksome heart doth love thee,
It loves thee and it breaks,
And breaks, and bleeds, and quivers,
But thou see'st not how it aches.

62.

I WOULD that my woes all their fulness
In one single word could convey;
To the merry winds straight would I give it,
Who would merrily bear it away.

That word so teeming with sadness
They would carry, my loved one to thee
Thou wouldst hear it at every moment,
Wouldst hear it where'er thou mightst be.

As soon as thine eyelids at nighttime
Are peacefully closed in sleep,
My word would straightway pursue thee
Far into thy visions most deep.

63.

THOU hast pearls, thou hast diamonds also,
Hast all that mortals adore;
Thine eyes are among the fairest, --
My loved one, what wouldst thou have more?

Upon thine eyes so beauteous
I've written many a score
Of sweet immortal ballads, --
My loved one, what wouldst thou have more?

And with thine eyes so beauteous
Hast thou tormented me sore,
And brought me to utter perdition, --
My loved one, what wouldst thou have more?

64.

HE who for the first time loveth,
Though 'tis hopeless, is a God;
But the man who hopeless loveth
For the second time's -- a fool.

I, a fool like this, am loving
Once more, with no love responsive;
Sun and moon and stars are laughing,
I, too, join the laugh and -- die.

65.

NEVER match'd the timid coldness
Of thy spirit, from the first,
With my love's untutor'd boldness,
Which through rocks delights to burst.

Thou in love dost love the highway,
And I see thee walk through life
With thy husband taking thy way,
As an honest teeming wife!

66.

COUNSEL they gave me, and good instruction.
Pour'd on me honours, by way of seduction
Said I had only to wait for a while,
And their protection upon me should smile.

Spite the protection they bid me hold cherish'd,
I before long should of hunger have perish'd,
Had I not happen'd a good man to see,
Who took an interest kindly in me.

Good man indeed! for he gives me my food;
Never can I forget conduct so good.
Pity I cannot with kisses reply,
For the good man is no other than -- I!

67.

THIS young man, so good and worthy,
Cannot be too much respected;
Oft he gives me wine and oysters,
Gives me liquors well selected.

Coat and trousers fit him neatly,
His cravat is still more sightly;
And so comes he every morning
For my health to ask politely.

Of my wide-spread glory speaks he,
Of my talents and my graces;
Eagerly at my disposal
All his services he places.

And in company at evening,
With a face as if inspired
He declaims before the ladies
All my poems so admired.

O it is indeed most pleasant
Such a young man to discover
In the present day, when surely
All things good will soon be over.

68.

I DREAMT that I was Lord of all,
And sat in heaven proudly;
The angels, ranged around my throne,
All praised my verses loudly.

And cakes I ate, and comfits too,
In value many a florin;
And Cardinal I drank the while,
And had no need of scorin'.

Plagued by ennui, I long'd to be
On earth, with all its evil;
And were I not the Lord of all,
I'd fain have been the devil.

Thou long-legg'd Angel, Gabriel, go,
And hasten downward thither,
And find my worthy friend Eugene,
And bring him to me hither.

Within the College seek him not,
But o'er a glass of brandy;
Seek for him not in Hedwig's Church,
But at Miss Meyer's so handy.

The Angel then spread out his wings,
And with his whole soul in it
Flew down, and seized my worthy friend,
And brought him in a minute.

Ay, youth, I am the Lord of all,
And rule o'er every nation;
I always told thee I should come
To power and reputation.

Each day I work such miracles
As greatly would delight thee;
The town of A ---- I'll happy make
To-day, and so excite thee.

The paving-stones upon the road
Shall all be now converted,
And, lo, an oyster, fresh and clear,
In each shall be inserted.

A constant shower of lemon-juice
Like dew, shall serve as pickle,
And in the gutters of the streets
The finest wine shall trickle.

How all the A -- er's straight rejoice,
And to the banquet hasten!
The judges from the gutter drink
As if it were a basin.

And how at this divine repast
Rejoice the poets needy!
Lieutenants lick the streets quite dry,
And ensigns poor and greedy.

The ensigns and lieutenants are
Wise in their generation;
They always think the present time
The weightiest in creation.

69.

FROM beauteous lips compell'd to part, and carried
Away from beauteous arms fast clasp'd around me
Yet one more day I gladly would have tarried,
When came the post-boy with his steeds, and found me

Child, this is very life, an endless wailing,
An endless farewell-taking, endless parting;
Is then thy heart to clasp mine unavailing?
Could not thine eye retain me, e'en at starting?

70.

WE travelled alone in the gloomy
Post-chaise the whole of the night;
Each lean'd on the other's bosom,
And jested with hearts so light.

When morning dawn'd upon us,
My child, how we did stare,
For the blind passenger, Amor,
Was sitting between us there!

71.

HEAVEN knows where the haughty hussy
May have will'd to pitch her tent;
Swearing, with the rain fast falling,
All the city through I went.

From one tavern to another
Ran I swiftly in the rain,
And to every surly waiter
Did I turn myself in vain.

Then I saw her at a window,
Nodding, tittering as well:
Could I tell that thou wouldst live in,
Maiden, such a grand hotel?

72.

LIKE darkling visions the houses
Are standing all in a row;
Deep hidden in my mantle,
In silence I onward go.

The high cathedral tower
The hour of twelve doth proclaim:
My love, with her charms and kisses,
Awaits me with rapturous flame.

The moon is my attendant,
And kindly gleams in the sky,
And when I arrive at her dwelling,
I joyfully call up on high:

I thank thee, my olden companion,
That thou hast thus lighted my way;
I now at length can release thee,
Light the rest of the world now, I pray

And find'st thou some mortal enamour'd,
In solitude mourning his fate,
As me thou of old time didst comfort,
Him also O comfort thou straight!

73.

O WHAT falsehood lies in kisses!
In mere show what joy's convey'd!
In betrayal, O what bliss is!
Sweeter still to be betray'd!

Though thou mayst resist me, fairest,
Yet I know what thou allowest;
I'll avow whate'er thou swearest,
I will swear what thou avowest.

74.

UPON thy snowy bosom
My head all-softly I lay,
And secretly can listen
To what thy heart doth say.

The blue hussars are blowing,
And riding in at the gate;
To-morrow my heart-beloved one
Will surely desert me straight.

If thou wilt desert me to-morrow,
At least to-day thou art mine,
And in thine arms so beauteous
With twofold bliss I'll recline.

75.

THE blue hussars are blowing,
And riding out at the gate;
I come then, my loved one, and bring thee
A nosegay of roses straight.

Those were indeed wild doings,
Much folk and warlike display!
By far too many were quarter'd
Within thy bosom that day.

76.

I IN youthful years did languish,
Suffer'd many a bitter anguish
From love's fiery glow.
Wood is now so dear, the fire
Will for lack of fuel expire --
Ma foi! 'tis better so.

Think of this, O youthful fair one!
Chase away the tears that wear one,
And all foolish love's alarms;
If thy life may not have perish'd,
O forget thy love once cherish'd --
Ma foi! within my arms.

77.

THE eunuchs controverted,
When I raised up my voice;
They grumbled and asserted
My singing was not choice.

And then they all raised sweetly
Their voicelets petty and shrill;
They sang so finely and neatly,
Like crystal sounded their trill.

They sang of love's fierce yearning,
Of loving effusions and love,
To tears the ladies all turning,
With tunes so adapted to move.

78.

I LEFT you at first in July at the warmest,
In January now I find you once more;
In the midst of the heat you then were complaining,
And now you are cool'd, and cold to the core.

I shall soon leave again, and when next I'm returning
Neither warm shall I find you, nor yet quite cold;
I shall walk o'er your grave with silent composure,
While my own heart within me is wretched and old.

79.

ART thou then indeed so hostile,
Art thou tow'rds me changed so sadly?
I by all means shall lament it,
Thou hast treated me so badly.

O ungrateful lips, how could ye
Speak with malice cruel-hearted
Of the man who ofttimes kiss'd you
Lovingly, in days departed?

80.

AH! once more the eyes are on me,
Which did greet me once with gladness
And the lips once more address me,
Which once sweeten'd life's long sadness.

E'en the voice I hear, whose accents
Charm'd me, as they sweetly falter'd;
I alone am not the same one,
Having home return'd, all-alter'd.

By those arms so white and beauteous
Lovingly embraced and closely,
To her heart I now am clinging,
Dull of feeling and morosely.

81.

ON the walls of Salamanca
Soft refreshing winds are playing;
There, with my beloved Donna,
On a summer's eve I'm straying.

Round the fair one's slender body
Doth my arm with rapture linger,
And her bosom's haughty motion
Feel I with a loving finger.

Yet a whisper fraught with sorrow
Through the linden trees is moving,
And, beneath, the dusky millstream
Murmurs sad dreams, disapproving.

"Ah, Senora! a foreboding
"Tells me, I shall hence be driven
"On the walls of Salamanca
"Ne'er again to walk 'tis given."

82.

THY voice and thine eye, when we first saw each other,
Convinced me thou saw'st me with heart not estranged;
And had it not been for thy tyrant mother,
I think that we kisses should straight have exchanged.

To-morrow again I depart from the city,
And on, in my olden course, wander I;
At the window my fair one is lurking in pity,
And friendly greetings I throw up on high.

83.

OVER the mountains the sun mounts in splendour,
Afar sound the bells of the lambs as they stray;
My loved one, my lamb, my sun bright and tender,
How gladly once more would I see thee to-day!

I gaze up on high, with looks fond and loving --
My child, fare thee well, I must wander from thee;
In vain! for her curtain is still and unmoving --
She slumbering lieth and dreameth of me.

84.

AT Halle, in the market
Two mighty lions are standing.
Thou lion-scorn of Halle,
Methinks they've tamed thee finely!

At Halle, in the market,
A mighty giant's standing.
He hath a sword, and moves not,
He's turn'd to stone by terror.

At Halle, in the market,
A mighty church is standing.
The students of each faction
Have there a place for praying.

85.

GLIMM'RING lies the summer even
Over wood and verdant meadows,
And the gold moon, fragrance shedding,
Gleameth from the azure heaven.

Crickets at the brook with shrillness
Chirp; there's motion in the water,
And the wand'rer hears a splashing,
And a breathing in the stillness.

Yonder at the lone stream sparkling,
See, the beauteous elf is bathing;
Arm and neck, so white and lovely,
Glisten in the moonbeams darkling.

86.

ON the strange roads night is lying,
Heart is sick and limbs are weary;
But the moonbeams, softly vying,
Shed their light like blessings cheery.

Ah, sweet moon! thy radiant splendour
Scares away each terror nightly;
All my woes dissolve, and tender
Dew o'erflows my eyelids lightly.

87.

DEATH nothing is but cooling night,
And life is nought but sultry day;
Darkness draws nigh, I slumber
Wearied by day's bright light.

Over my bed ariseth a tree,
There sings the youthful nightingale;
She sings of love exulting,
In dreams 'tis heard by me.

88.

"SAY, where is thy beauteous mistress,
"Whom thou sangest in the hour
"When thy heart was pierced so strangely
"By the flames of magic power?"

All those flames are now extinguish'd,
And my heart is cold and weary,
And this book's the urn that holdeth
My love's ashes sad and dreary.

89.

FULL long have I my head tormented
With ceaseless thinking, day and night;
And yet thy darling eyes compel me
To love thee, in my own despite.

Now stand I, where thine eyes are gleaming,
Charm'd by their sweet expressive light;
That I should love again thus deeply
I scarcely can believe aright.

90.

WHEN thou hast become my wedded wife
Thy joy shall know no measure;
Thou'lt live in happiness all thy life,
In uninterrupted pleasure.

And I will very patient be
E'en 'neath thy reviling and curses;
But we must part most certainly
If thou abusest my verses.

91.

LITTLE by thee comprehended,
Little knew I thee, good brother;
When we in the mud descended
Soon we understood each other.

92.

NEAR me dwelleth Don Henriques,
As the "handsome" known and feted;
Our apartments are adjoining,
By a thin wall separated.

Salamanca's dames are blushing
As he in the streets is walking
Rattling spurs, mustachios twirling,
With his dogs behind him stalking.

But at evening's silent hour he
All alone at home is sitting,
His guitar his fingers twanging,
Sweet dreams through his fancy flitting.

On the chords with vigour plays he,
His wild phantasies beginning --
O it drives me mad to hear him
Keeping up his wretched dinning





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