She hears such music and such song,
That length of time seems nothing long,
And silver-white the brooklets there
Flow ever on so pure and fair.
The youth again addressed the maid,
"My garden here thou hast surveyed.
I will again conduct thee home.
To thine own land, the time is come."
The maiden turns with grief away,
Comes to the town without delay,
The watchman calls, "Stand, who goes there?"
She says, "I to my father must repair!"
"Who is your father, then," quoth he,
"The general," she answers free.
The watchman then replied and smiled,
"The general;—he has no child."
But by her garments all men see,
The maiden is of high degree.
The watchman then conducts her straight
Before the guardians of the State.
The maid declares and stands thereto,
The general is her father true.
And but two hours have scarcely flown,
Since she went out to walk alone.
The guardians saw a wonder great,
And asked where she had been of late;
Her father's name, his power and race,
That she must tell them face to face.
They searched the ancient records through,
And this they found was written true,
That once was lost a bride so fine
From this same city Grosswardein.
The length of time they came to try,
And sixteen years they find passed by;
And yet the maid was fresh and fair,
As when first in her fifteenth year.
Thereby the guardians understand
This is the work of God's own hand.
They bring the maiden food to eat,
She turns white as a winding-sheet.