High your deeds, and great your fame, Heroes of the tomb! Glancing through the carnage came Many a dauntless plume. Terror of the Moorish foe, Toggenburg, thou art! Heavy was the load his breast On to that belovèd land Where she breathes the air! Knocking at the castle gate Was the pilgrim heard; Woe the answer from the grate! Woe the thunder-word! "She thou seekest lives - a Nun! To the world she died When, with yester-morning's sun, From that day his father's hall Ne'er his home may be; Helm and hauberk, steed and all, Where his castle-crownèd height Dwells unknown the hermit knight, Rude the hut he built him there, Dusky lindens through. There when dawn was in the skies, Looking to the cloister still, Clinked the lattice bar. Till a passing glimpse allowed- Calm and angel-mild, and bowed Then the watch of day was o'er; Down he lay, to greet once more Days and years are gone, and still Tilla passing glimpse allowed- So upon that lonely spot Sate he, dead at last, With the look where life was not, Towards the casement cast. Bulwer's Translation. THE SHARING OF THE EARTH "TAK AKE the world," cried the God from his heaven You have only to settle the shares." Each takes for himself as it pleases, Old and young have alike their desire: The harvest the husbandman seizes; Through the wood and the chase sweeps the squire. The merchant his warehouse is locking; The abbot is choosing his wine; Cries the monarch, the thoroughfare blocking, All too late, when the sharing was over, Not an inch but its owners there are. "Woe is me! is there nothing remaining For the son who best loves thee alone!" Thus to Jove went his voice in complaining, As he fell at the Thunderer's throne. "In the land of thy dreams if abiding," Quoth the God, "Canst thou murmur at me? Where wert thou when the earth was dividing?" "I was," said the poet, "by thee! "Mine eye by thy glory was captured, "Alas," said the God, "earth is given! Bulwer's Translation. THE BEST STATE ow the best state to know? It is found out: H The breakers are dashing with might, with might: "The earth is a desert, And broken my heart, Nor aught to my wishes The world can impart. Thou Holy One, call now thy child from below; I have known all the joys that the world can bestow "In vain, oh how vainly, Flows tear upon tear! Dull Death's heavy ear! Yet say what can soothe for the sweet vanished love, The balm for thy breast." Let ever, though vainly, Flow tear upon tear; Dull Death's heavy ear: Yet still when the heart mourns the sweet vanished love, No balm for its wound can descend from above Like Love's sorrows and tears. Bulwer's Translation. THE MAIDEN FROM AFAR ITHIN a vale each infant year, WITH When earliest larks first carol free, Not born within that lowly place; From whence she wandered, none could tell; Her parting footsteps left no trace, When once the maiden sighed farewell. And blessed 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 products of a brighter sun, Of nature more benign than ours. With each, her gifts the maiden shared,— |