In my court the morning’s twilight found me;
At the chase the early sun while rising,
I upon the mountain—and behind it,
On that mountain, ’neath a dark-green pine tree,
Lo! I saw a lovely maiden sleeping;
On a clover-sheaf her head was pillow’d;
On her bosom lay two snowy dovelets;
In her lap there was a dappled fawnkin.
There I tarried till the fall of ev’ning:
Bound my steed at night around the pine-tree:
Bound my falcon to the pine-tree branches:
Gave the sheaf of clover to my courser:
Gave the two white dovelets to my falcon:
Gave the dappled fawn to my good greyhound:
And, for me,—I took the lovely maiden.
ANXIETY.
I fain would sing—but will be silent now,
For pain is sitting on my lover’s brow;
And he would hear me—and, though silent, deem
I pleased myself, but little thought of him,
While of nought else I think; to him I give
My spirit—and for him alone I live:
Bear him within my heart, as mothers bear
The last and youngest object of their care.
INQUIRY.
Say, heavenly spirit! kindly say,
Where tarries now this youth of mine;
Say, is he speeding on his way,
Or doth he linger, drinking wine?
If he be speeding on,—elated
With joy and gladness let him be:
If quaffing wine,—in quiet seated,
O! his be peace and gaiety!
But if he love another maiden,
I wish him nought but sorrow:—No!
Then be his heart with anguish laden!
And let Heaven smite his path with woe!
FROZEN HEART.
Thick fell the snow upon St. George’s day;
The little birds all left their cloudy bed;
The maiden wander’d bare-foot on her way;
Her brother bore her sandals, and he said:
“O sister mine! cold, cold thy feet must be.”
“No! not my feet, sweet brother! not my feet—
But my poor heart is cold with misery.
There’s nought to chill me in the snowy sleet:
My mother—’tis my mother who hath chill’d me,
Bound me to one who with disgust hath fill’d me.”