Well know I that thou from the window Full often hast gazed below, And in the moonlight hast seen me Stand fix’d, the image of woe.
A youth once loved a maiden, Who loved another instead; The other himself loved another, And with the latter did wed. The maiden, in scornful anger, Straight married the first of the men Who happened to come across her,-- The youth was heart-broken then. ’Tis only an old, old story, And yet it ever seems new; The heart of him whom it pictures Will soon be broken in two.
Friendship, love, philosophers’ stone,-- These three things men value alone. I, too, valued and sought them ever, But, alas, discovered them never.
On hearing the strains enthralling That my loved one sang to me erst, With torments fierce and appalling My heart is ready to burst. Impell’d by a gloomy yearning I seek in the forest relief, And there in tears hotly burning I quench my anguish and grief.
The child of a king in dream have I seen; How tear-stain’d and pallid her face is, As we quietly sit ’neath the linden green, Held fast in each other’s embraces!
“Thy father’s throne is nothing to me, Nor yet his sceptre all golden, And diamond crown; for nothing but thee, Sweet love, will I be beholden.”
“That may not be,” the maiden replied, For I in my grave am lying, And only by night can I be by thy side, To thy loving caresses replying.”
Sweet love, in fond converse together In the light canoe sat we, Still the night was, and calm was the weather, As we skimm’d o’er the wide-spreading sea.
The fair spirit-islands before us In the glimmering moonlight lay; Sweet tones came floating o’er us, While the mists were dancing in play.
On danced they with merrier motion, And sweeter still sounded the song; But over the boundless ocean We mournfully floated along.
From older legends springing, Appears a snow-white band With joyous strains, and singing, From some far magic-land,
Where flowers in glowing splendour Pine in the evening sun, And bridal glances tender Cast sweetly every one;
Where all the trees, uniting In chorus, shout below, And bubbling brooks delighting The ear, like music flow;
And love-songs fierce and burning Unheard of bliss impart, Till sweet and wondrous yearning Befools the throbbing heart.