Truly a lovely land,
Truly a lovely dream,
Truly a peaceful scene—
When, like a flash, through all the sea
There shone a gleam.
Rising like Venus from her wat’ry bed
Rose a young mermaid with her hair unkempt,
Beautiful hair! light as a golden leaf,
Shining like Phoebus at the break of day.
And she tossed and shook her lovely head,