Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine Part 18

All things that we clasp and cherish, Pa.s.s like dreams we may not keep.

Human hearts forget and perish, Human eyes must fall asleep.

XI.

She stood beside the ocean, And sighed as one oppressed, With such a deep emotion The sunset thrilled her breast.

Dear maiden, look more gayly, This trick is old, thou'lt find.

Before us sinks he daily, To rise again behind.

XII.

My ship sails forth with sable sails, Far over the savage sea; Thou know'st how heavy is my woe, Yet still thou woundest me.

Thy heart is fickle as the wind, And flits incessantly.

My ship sails forth with sable sails, Far over the savage sea.

XIII.

I told nor man, nor woman How ill you dealt with me; I came abroad and published it To the fishes in the sea.

Only upon terra firma I have left you your good name; But over all the ocean Every creature knows your shame.

XIV.

The roaring waves press onward To reach the strand.

Then swell, and, crashing downward, Break on the sand.

They roll with surging power, Nor rest, nor fail-- And then ebb slow and slower-- Of what avail?

XV.

The Runenstein juts in the sea, I sit here with my dreams, The billows wander foamingly; Winds pipe, the sea-mew screams.

Oh I have loved full many a la.s.s, And many a worthy fellow, Where have they gone? The shrill winds pa.s.s, And wandering foams the billow.

XVI.

The waves gleam in the sunshine, They seem of gold to be.

When I am dead, my brothers, Oh drop me in the sea.

For dearly have I loved it.

Like cooling balm descends Upon my heart its current: We were the best of friends.

TO ANGELIQUE.

I.

Now that heaven smiles in favor, Like a mute shall I still languish,-- I, who when unhappy, ever Sang so much about mine anguish?

Till a thousand striplings haunted By despair, my notes re-fluted, And unto the woe I chanted, Greater evils still imputed.

Oh ye nightingales' sweet choir, That my bosom holds in capture, Lift your joyous voices higher, Let the whole world hear your rapture!

II.

Though thou wert fain to pa.s.s me quickly, Yet backward didst thou look by chance; Thy wistful lips were frankly parted, Impetuous scorn was in thy glance.

Would that I ne'er had sought to hold thee, To touch thy fleeing gown's white train!

The dear mark of thy tiny footprints Would that I ne'er had found again!

For now thy rare wild charm has vanished, Like others thou art tame to see, Intolerably kind and gentle-- Alas! thou art in love with me.

III.

Ne'er can I believe, young beauty, Thy disdainful lips alone: For such big black eyes as thine are Virtue never yet did own.

And those brown-streaked lies down-glancing Say "I love thee!" clearly scanned, Let thy little white heart kiss me-- White heart, dost thou understand?

IV.

From the slightest of emotions, What a sudden transformation, To the most unbounded pa.s.sion, And the tenderest relation!

Every day it waxes deeper, My affection for my lady.

I am almost half-persuaded That I am in love already.

Beautiful her soul: though truly That's a question of opinion.

I am surer of the beauty Of the bodily dominion.

Oh that waist! And oh that forehead!

Oh that nose! The sweet enclosure Of the lovely lips in smiling!

And the bearing's proud composure!

V.

Ah, how fair thou art when frankly Thou reveal'st thy soul's dimensions, And thy speech is overflowing With the n.o.blest of intentions.