MAX. I love him because he is so good, And makes me such fine bows and arrows, To shoot at the robins and the sparrows, And the red squirrels in the wood!
BERTHA. I love him, too!
GOTTLIEB.
Ah, yes! we all
Love him from the bottom of our hearts;
He gave us the farm, the house, and the grange,
He gave us the horses and the carts,
And the great oxen in the stall,
The vineyard, and the forest range!
We have nothing to give him but our love!
BERTHA. Did he give us the beautiful stork above On the chimney-top, with its large, round nest?
GOTTLIEB. No, not the stork; by God in heaven, As a blessing, the dear white stork was given, But the Prince has given us all the rest. God bless him, and make him well again.
ELSIE. Would I could do something for his sake, Something to cure his sorrow and pain!
GOTTLIEB. That no one can; neither thou nor I, Nor any one else.
ELSIE.
And must he die?
URSULA. Yes; if the dear God does not take Pity upon him in his distress, And work a miracle!
GOTTLIEB.
Or unless
Some maiden, of her own accord,
Offers her life for that of her lord,
And is willing to die in his stead.