They no sounds of rapture hear,
While the toast goes round,
Nor the revellers' roundelay,
With the vine leaf crowned.
Who to caprice a slave would be,
While spring and youth are still in bloom?
Who would in May-day's time of glee
Hang o'er his brow a veil of gloom?
On every path Joy greets the heart,
Where'er the pilgrim toils along;
She cometh, e'en when we must part,
To welcome us with wreath and song.
Still flows and purls the meadow's stream,
Still is the bower cool and green,
Still shines the moon with silver beam,
As once in Paradise serene;
Still doth the vine tree's purple flood
Pour balm into the heart's distress;
In evening's bow'r is sweet and good
The kiss which rosy lips impress.
The groves with nightingales abound,
With rapture lists the youth apart;
Still streameth, when their songs resound,
Repose e'en in the broken heart.
God's earth is fair unto the eye,
And worthy of a life of joy;
Hence, till I in its bosom lie,
Will I this lovely earth enjoy.
Kennst du das Land? wo die Citronen blühn,
Im dunkeln Laub die Gold-Orangen glühn,
Ein sanfter Wind vom blauen Himmel weht,
Die Myrte still und hoch der Lorbeer steht,
Kennst du es wohl?
Möcht' ich mit dir, o mein Geliebter, ziehn.
Kennst du das Haus? Auf Säulen ruht sein Dach,
Es glänzt der Saal, es schimmert das Gemach,
Und Marmorbilder stehn und sehn mich an:
Was hat man dir, du armes Kind, gethan?
Kennst du es wohl?
Dahin! Dahin
Möcht' ich mit dir, o mein Beschützer, ziehn.
Kennst du den Berg und seinen Wolkensteg?
Das Maulthier sucht im Nebel seinen Weg;
In Höhlen wohnt der Drachen alte Brut;
Es stürzt der Fels und über ihn die Fluth.
Kennst du ihn wohl?
Geht unser Weg! o Vater, lass uns ziehn!
Know'st thou the land? 'tis where the citron grows,
'Mid dark green leaves the golden orange glows,
A gentle breeze wafts from the azure sky,
O'er silent myrtles soar the laurels high.
Say, dost thou know it?
There, with thee, my belov'd one, would that I could flee!
Know'st thou the house? its walls on pillars lean,
Bright its saloons, its halls of dazzling sheen ;
There marble forms seem, while they gaze on me,
To say, "Poor child, what have they done to thee?"
Say, dost thou know it?
O my protector, would that I could flee!
Know'st thou the mountain and its cloud-capp'd road?
Amid the fog the mule toils with his load,
In dark caves dwells the dragon's ancient brood,
The rent rocks fall, and o'er them foams the flood.
Say, dost thou know it?
My path doth lie, O father, let us flee!
Was hör' icn draussen vor dem Thor,
Was auf der Brücke schallen ?
Lass den Gesang vor unserm Ohr
Im Saale wiederhallen !
Der König sprach's, der Page lief;
Der Knabe kam, der König rief:
Lasst mir herein den Alten!
Gegrüsset seid mir, edle Herrn,
Gegrüsst ihr, schöne Damen!
Welch reicher Himmel! Stern bei Stern!
Wer kennet ihre Namen ?
Im Saal voll Pracht und Herrlichkeit Schliesst, Augen, euch; hier ist nicht Zeit Sich staunend zu ergötzen.
Der Sänger drückt' die Augen ein,
Und schlug in vollen Tönen;
Die Ritter schauten muthig drein,
Und in den Schooss die Schönen.
Der König, dem das Lied gefiel,
Liess ihm zum Lohne für sein Spiel
Eine goldne Kette bringen.
Die goldne Kette gieb mir nicht,
Die Kette gieb den Rittern,
Vor deren kühnem Angesicht
Der Feinde Lanzen splittern.
Gieb sie dem Kanzler, den du hast,
Und lass ihn noch die goldne Last
Zu andern Lasten tragen.
"What is't without the gate I hear,
"What on the drawbridge sound?
"Quick, let the song unto our ear
"Within the hall resound!”
The monarch spake, the page he sped;
The boy returned, the monarch said,
"Conduct the old man in!"
'All hail, ye noble lords and peers!
“All hail, ye gentle dames!
"E'en richer than the starry spheres!
"Who knoweth all their names?
"In this bright hall, where splendours blaze, "Close, close, mine eyes, ye may not gaze, "Nor feast with wonder now!"
He closed his eyes, he struck an air,
The thrilling tones resound;
The knights with courage looked, the fair
Gazed down upon the ground.
The king was pleased and, for his strain
To honour him, a golden chain
He bade them bring to him.
"The golden chain I may not take, "The chain on knights bestow,
"Before whose daring presence break
"The lances of the foe.
"Give it thy chancellor to wear,
"Let him the golden burden bear
"With others that he hath!"
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