Say! how canst thou mourn?
How canst thou rejoice?

Thou art but metal dull!
And yet all our sorrowings,
And all our rejoicings,

Thou dost feel them all!

God hath wonders many,
Which we cannot fathom,
Placed within thy form!
When the heart is sinking,
Thou alone canst raise it,
Trembling in the storm!

THE CASTLE BY THE SEA.

FROM THE GERMAN OF UHLAND.

"HAST thou seen that lordly castle,

That Castle by the Sea? Golden and red above it

The clouds float gorgeously.

"And fain it would stoop downward To the mirror'd wave below;

And fain it would soar upward

In the evening's crimson glow."

"Well have I seen that castle,
That Castle by the Sea,
And the moon above it standing,
And the mist rise solemnly."

"The winds and the waves of ocean,

Had they a merry chime ?

Didst thou hear, from those lofty chambers,

The harp and the minstrel's rhyme?"

"The winds and the waves of ocean,

They rested quietly;

But I heard on the gale a sound of wail,
And tears came to mine eye."

"And sawest thou on the turrets
The king and his royal bride?
And the wave of their crimson mantles?
And the golden crown of pride?

"Led they not forth, in rapture,
A beauteous maiden there?
Resplendent as the morning sun,
Beaming with golden hair?"

"Well saw I the ancient parents,
Without the crown of pride;

They were moving slow, in weeds of woe,
No maiden was by their side!"

THE BLACK KNIGHT.

FROM THE GERMAN OF UHLAND.

"TWAS Pentecost, the Feast of Gladness, When woods and fields put off all sadness. Thus began the king and spake :

"So from the halls

Of ancient Hofburg's walls,

A luxuriant spring shall break."

Drums and trumpets echo loudly,
Wave the crimson banners proudly.
From balcony the king looked on;
In the play of spears,

Fell all the cavaliers,

Before the monarch's stalwart son.

To the barrier of the fight,

Rode at last a sable knight,

"Sir Knight! your name and scutcheon, say!” “Should I speak it here,

Ye would stand aghast with fear;

1 am a prince of mighty sway!"

When he rode into the lists,

The arch of heaven grew black with mists,

And the castle 'gan to rock.

At the first blow

Fell the youth from saddle-bow,
Hardly rises from the shock.

Pipe and viol call the dances,

Torch-light through the high halls glances;

Waves a mighty shadow in;

With manner bland

Doth ask the maiden's hand,

Doth with her the dance begin;

Danced in sable iron sark,

Danced a measure weird and dark,
Coldly clasped her limbs around,

From breast and hair

Down fall from her the fair

Flowerets, faded, to the ground.

To the sumptuous banquet came
Every knight and every dame.

"Twixt son and daughter all distraught,

With mournful mind

The ancient king reclined,

Gazed at them in silent thought.

Pale the children both did look,
But the guest a beaker took;
"Golden wine will make you

U

whole!"

The children drank,

Gave many a courteous thank;
"Oh, that draught was very cool!"

Each the father's breast embraces,
Son and daughter; and their faces
Colourless grew utterly.
Whichever way

Looks the fear-struck father gray
He beholds his children die.

"Woe! the blessed children both
Takest thou in the joy of youth;
Take me, too, the joyless father!"
Spake the grim guest,

From his hollow, cavernous breast;
"Roses in the spring I gather!

BLESSED ARE THE DEAD.

FROM THE GERMAN OF SIMON DACH.

O, HOW blest are you whose toils are ended! Who, through death, have unto God ascended! Ye have arisen

From the cares which keep us still in prison.

We are still as in a dungeon living,

Still oppress'd with sorrow and misgiving;
Our undertakings

Are but toils, and troubles, and heart-breakings.

Ye, meanwhile, are in your chambers sleeping,
Quiet, and set free from all our weeping;
No cross nor trial

Hinders your enjoyments with denial.

Christ has wiped away your tears for ever;
Ye have that for which we still endeavour.
To you are chanted

Songs which yet no mortal ear have haunted.

Ah! who would not, then, depart with gladness, To inherit heaven for earthly sadness?

Who here would languish

Longer in bewailing and in anguish ?

Come, O Christ, and loose the chains that bind us! Lead us forth, and cast this world behind us ;

With thee, the Anointed,

Finds the soul its joy and rest appointed.

THE TWO LOCKS OF HAIR.

FROM THE GERMAN OF PFIZER.

A YOUTH, light-hearted and content,
I wander through the world;
Here, Arab-like, is pitched my tent,
And straight again is furled.

Yet oft I dream that once a wife
Close in my heart was locked,
And in the sweet repose of life
A blessed child I rocked.

I wake! Away that dream,—away!
Too long did it remain !

So long, that both by night and day
It ever comes again.

The end lies ever in my thought;
To a grave so cold and deep
The mother beautiful was brought;
Then dropt the child asleep.