Then why—O why should I repine,
Since all the roving birds are mine?
The thrush and linnet in the vale,
The sweet sequester'd nightingale,
The bulfinch, wren, and wood-lark, all
Obey my summons when I call:
O! could I form some cunning snare
To catch the coy, coquetting fair,
In Cupid's filmy web so fine,
The pretty girls should all be mine!
When all were mine—among the rest,
I'd choose the Lass I lik'd the best;
And should my charming mate be kind;
And smile, and kiss me to my mind,
With her I'd tie the nuptial knot,
Make Hymen's cage of my poor cot,
And love away this fleeting life,
Like Robin Redbreast and his wife!
Mo. Anthology and Boston Rev., III-591, Nov. 1806, Boston.
[E. Schickaneder, Die Zauberflöte. Oper in zwei Aufzügen von Mozart. Dichtung nach Ludwig Giesecke von E. Schickaneder.
James Montgomery, The Wanderer of Switzerland and Other Poems, London, 1806. First Amer. ed. from second London ed., N. Y., 1807. P. 93.]
THE CHASE.
In the third number[33] of the Port Folio we inserted a very humorous parody of the following ballad of Bürger. We understand from the criticks in the German Language that the original is eminently beautiful. Its merit was once so highly appreciated in England that a host of translators started at once in the race for public favor. The ensuing version which is, we believe, by Sir Walter Scott, Esqr., well deserves a place in this journal.
[The translation by Scott follows.]
Port Folio, III-100, Feb. 14, 1807, Phila.
[Also in Weekly Mag., II-413, July 28, 1798, Phila.]