THE HOSTESS'S DAUGHTER. 219 THE HOSTESS'S DAUGHTER. Over the Rhine came gallants three, "Now hast thou good wine, mine hostess, say, And where is thy lovely daughter gay?" "My wine it is bright and fair to see, My daughter alas! in her shroud lies she." And they entered the chamber with muffled tread, Where a coffin black was the maiden's bed. And the first he lifted the veil from her face, And looked at the maiden with sorrowful gaze. "Oh, wert thou living thou beauteous one, How would I love thee from this day on." The second spread o'er her the veil where she lay, But the third came forward and lifted the veil, From the German. FOREVER AND FOREVER. I think of all thou art to me,- My life is curst with thoughts of thee, My heart is full of grief and woe- I would alas! it were not so, Perchance if we had never met, Perchance if thou wert far away, Ah, no! I could not bear the pain, I cling to thee with might and main, Ah, leave me not, I love but thee! Forever and forever. VIOLET FANE. WERE I A BIRD OF AIR. STAR OF MY HEART. While there's a pearl in the depth of the sea 221 Long as the perfume exhales from the rose, G. ENDESSOHN. WERE I A BIRD OF AIR. Were I a bird of air And had two pinions fair, I'd fly to thee, I'd fly to thee. Ah woe is me! Ah woe is me! Tho' thou art far from me, I am in dreams with thee, With thee alone, with thee alone. But when I wake again, The dream has flown, the dream has There is no hour of night, With thoughts of thee, with thoughts of thee; And that a thousand times Thy heart a thousand times, Thou'st given to me. From the German. SONG. Oh, press thy cheek against mine own, And when mine arm shall encircle thee fast, Oh, press thy cheek against mine own. From the German. ABSENT YET PRESENT. As the flight of a river that flows to the sea, A twofold existence I am where thou art, Look up, I am near thee, I gaze on thy face, I see thee, I hear thee, I feel thine embrace. AT SUNDOWN. 223 And absence but brightens the eyes that I miss, And all that I know, I worship thee so. LORD LYTTON. AT SUNDOWN. At sundown when one star was seen, I chanc'd while wand'ring o'er the green, She too, unconsciously had stray'd, ('Twas odd!) across that meadow fair, I know not how it came to pass, I did not hear the vesper chime, Give warning to that hour of bliss, I stole love's first and virgin kiss. |