"I married her with my left hand,
For she was of low degree,
I'd wed her with my right—with both,
For so dear is she to me."
"We will make thy wife a princess."
Said the King with kindling brow,
"God grant she may bring to Dessau,
Many sons so brave as thou.
"You are Sovereign Prince of Dessau
By the right of princely birth,
She is Sovereign Queen of Beauty,
As fair as there walks the earth.
"She's fairest, and you the bravest,
With love for a joining band,
Shall rank equal with the noblest
That walks in our Fatherland."
* * *
Tears passed over Anhalt Dessau,
And sprinkled his locks with snow,
He had wealth, success and honours,
And his share of human woe.
His fair wife and his goodly sons
Filled his heart with joy and pride;
But that heart was wrung with sorrow,
When his only daughter died.
For ah! she was long in dying,
And his love was strong and warm;
To keep her from an early grave,
He'd have given his right arm.
She was a most winsome maiden,
And she had her mother's face;
She brought back all his wooing time,
His love in the market place.
"My daughter," he said, "you're dying,
You are fading fast away;
What is there you would have me do,
Love, before your dying day."