The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume V Part 17

SONG OF THE MOUNTAIN BOY[20] (1806)

The mountain shepherd-boy am I; The castles all below me spy.

The sun sends me his earliest beam, Leaves me his latest, lingering gleam.

I am the boy of the mountain!

The mountain torrent's home is here, Fresh from the rock I drink it clear; As out it leaps with furious force, I stretch my arms and stop its course.

I am the boy of the mountain!

I claim the mountain for my own; In vain the winds around me moan; From north to south let tempests brawl-- My song shall swell above them all.

I am the boy of the mountain!

Thunder and lightning below me lie, Yet here I stand in upper sky; I know them well, and cry, "Harm not My father's lowly, peaceful cot."

I am the boy of the mountain!

But when I hear the alarm-bell sound, When watch-fires gleam from the mountains round, Then down I go and march along, And swing my sword, and sing my song.

I am the boy of the mountain!

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE VILLA BY THE SEA From the Painting by Arnold Bocklin]

DEPARTURE[21] (1806)

What jingles and carols along the street!

Fling open your cas.e.m.e.nts, damsels sweet!

The prentice' friends, they are bearing The boy on his far wayfaring.

'Mid fluttering ribbons and tossing caps, Full merry the rabble huzzas and claps; But the boy regards not the token-- He walks like one heartbroken.

Full clear clinks the wine-can, full red gleams the wine "Drink deep and drink deeper, dear brother mine!"

"Oh, have done with the red wine of parting That burns me within with its smarting!"

And outside from the cottage, last of all, A maiden peeps out and her tear-drops fall, Yet her tear-drops to none she discloses But forget-me-nots and roses.

And outside by the cottage, last of all, The boy glances up at a cas.e.m.e.nt small, And glances down without greeting.

'Neath his hand his heart is beating.

"What, brother! Art lacking a bright nosegay?

See yonder--the beckoning, blossomy spray!

G.o.d save thee, thou prettiest sweeting!

Drop down now a nosegay for greeting!"

"Nay, brothers, pa.s.s yonder cas.e.m.e.nt by.

No prettiest sweeting like her have I.

In the sun those blossoms would wither; The wind it would blow them thither."

So farther and farther with shout and song!

And the maiden listens and harkens long "Ah, me! he is flown now beyond me-- The boy I have loved so fondly!

And here I stay, with my lonely lot, With roses, ah!--and forget-me-not, And he whose heart I'd be sharing-- He is gone on his far wayfaring!"

FAREWELL[22] (1807)

Farewell, farewell! From thee Today, love, must I sever.

One kiss, one kiss give me, Ere I quit thee forever!

One blossom from yon tree O give to me, I pray!

No fruit, no fruit for me!

So long I may not stay.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LEAVING AT DAWN]

THE HOSTESS' DAUGHTER[23] (1809)

Three students had cross'd o'er the Rhine's dark tide; At the door of a hostel they turned aside.

"Hast thou, Dame hostess, good ale and wine And where is thy daughter, so sweet and fine?"

"My ale and wine are cool and clear; On her death-bed lieth my daughter dear."

And when to the chamber they made their way, In a sable coffin the damsel lay.

The first--the veil from her face he took, And gazed upon her with mournful look:

"Alas! fair maiden--didst thou still live, To thee my love would I henceforth give!"

The second--he lightly replaced the shroud, Then round he turned him, and wept aloud:

"Thou liest, alas I on thy death-bed here; I loved thee fondly for many a year!"

The third--he lifted again the veil, And gently he kissed those lips so pale:

"I love thee now, as I loved of yore, And thus will I love thee forevermore!"

THE GOOD COMRADE[24] (1809)

I had a gallant comrade, No better e'er was tried; The drum beat loud to battle-- Beside me, to its rattle, He marched, with equal stride.