| Margarete Münsterberg, ed., trans. A Harvest of German Verse. 1916. | | | | Old Heidelberg | | By Joseph Victor von Scheffel (1826–1886) |
| | | OLD Heidelberg, I love thee, | |
| Thou town of honours fine. | |
| Ah, there is none above thee, | |
| By Neckar or the Rhine. | |
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| With youth in pleasure glowing, | 5 |
| With wisdom blessed and wine! | |
| How clear thy stream is flowing— | |
| Blue eyes like sunlight shine! | |
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| And when rough winter leaves thee, | |
| And northward turns the spring, | 10 |
| A bridal gown it weaves thee | |
| Of blossoms shimmering. | |
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| Thy name is written clearly | |
| Upon my heart’s own ground, | |
| And like a bride’s so dearly | 15 |
| I love thy name’s sweet sound. | |
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| When cruel thorns shall sting me, | |
| And dreary grows the land, | |
| I’ll spur my horse to bring me | |
| Back unto Neckar’s strand! | 20 | | | |
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