THE HOSTESS'S DAUGHTER. 219

THE HOSTESS'S DAUGHTER.

Over the Rhine came gallants three,
And drew the rein at an hostelry.

"Now hast thou good wine, mine hostess, say, And where is thy lovely daughter gay?"

"My wine it is bright and fair to see,

My daughter alas! in her shroud lies she."

And they entered the chamber with muffled tread,

Where a coffin black was the maiden's bed. And the first he lifted the veil from her face, And looked at the maiden with sorrowful gaze. "Oh, wert thou living thou beauteous one, How would I love thee from this day on."

The second spread o'er her the veil where she lay,
And his tears fell fast as he turned him away.
"Ah, me! that thou liest thus dead on thy bier;
Have I not lov'd thee this many a year?
Yes, yes! I have loved thee this many a year."

But the third came forward and lifted the veil,
And the maiden he kiss'd on her lips so pale.
"In the past as to-day I have lov'd but thee,
And I'll love thee still through eternity."

From the German.

FOREVER AND FOREVER.

I think of all thou art to me,-
I dream of what thou canst not be;

My life is curst with thoughts of thee,
Forever and forever.

My heart is full of grief and woe-
I see thy face where'er I go;
I would alas! it were not so,
Forever and forever.

Perchance if we had never met,
I had been spared this mad regret,
This endless striving to forget,
Forever and forever.

Perchance if thou wert far away,
Did I not see thee day by day,
I might again be blithe and gay,
Forever and forever.

Ah, no! I could not bear the pain,
Of never seeing thee again!
I cling to thee with might and main,
Forever and forever.

Ah, leave me not, I love but thee!
Blessing or curse whiche'er thou be,
Oh! be as thou hast been to me,
Forever and forever.

VIOLET FANE.

WERE I A BIRD OF AIR.

STAR OF MY HEART.

While there's a pearl in the depth of the sea
While there's a leaf on the green myrtle tree,
Balm in the zephyrs in summer that float,
Music that thrills in the nightingale's throat;

Long as the perfume exhales from the rose,
Long as the brooklet in melody flows,
Yes, and still longer, if these should depart,
Yes, yes, yes, thee will I worship, star of my

heart.

G. ENDESSOHN.

WERE I A BIRD OF AIR.

Were I a bird of air

And had two pinions fair,

I'd fly to thee, I'd fly to thee.
But that can never be

Ah woe is me! Ah woe is me!

Tho' thou art far from me,

I am in dreams with thee,

With thee alone, with thee alone.

But when I wake again,

The dream has flown, the dream has

flown.

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There is no hour of night,
But to my heart is bright,

With thoughts of thee, with thoughts of thee;

And that a thousand times

Thy heart a thousand times, Thou'st given to me From the German.

SONG.

Oh, press thy cheek against mine own,
Together our tears shall be flowing,
And press thy heart close to my heart,

Together the flames shall be glowing. And when in the glowing flames at last, The stream of tears is thronging

And when mine arm shall encircle thee fast,
Then I shall die of longing.

Oh, press thy cheek against mine own.
From the German.

ABSENT YET PRESENT.

As the flight of a river that flows to the sea,
My soul rushes ever in tumult to thee,

A twofold existence I am where thou art,

My heart in the distance beats close to thy

heart,

Look up, I am near thee,
I gaze on thy face,

I see thee, I hear thee,
I feel thine embrace.

AT SUNDOWN.

And absence but brightens the eyes that I miss,
And custom but heightens the spell of thy kiss,
It is not from duty, tho', that may be owned,—
It is not from beauty, tho' that be bestowed,
But all that I care for,
And all that I know,
Is that without where-fore,
I worship thee so.

LORD LYTTON.

AT SUNDOWN.

At sundown when one star was seen,

Just glimmering above,

I chanc'd while wand'ring o'er the green,
To meet the maid I love.

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She too, unconsciously had stray'd,

('Twas odd!) across that meadow fair, And envious tongues perhaps had said,

"Each knew the other would be there."

I know not how it came to pass,
That I her hand embrac'd,

Or how my arm (but so it was)
Encircled her fair waist.

I did not hear the vesper chime,
Give warning to that hour of bliss,
It must have been just at that time,
I stole love's first and virgin kiss.