Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Margarete Münsterberg, ed., trans. A Harvest of German Verse. 1916.

By Would I Were a Falcon Wild

Popular Ballad (16th Century)

WOULD I were a falcon wild,

I should spread my wings and soar,

Then I should come swooping down

By a wealthy burgher’s door.

In his house there dwells a maid,

She is called fair Magdalene,

And a fairer damsel brown

All my days I have not seen.

On a Monday morning early,

Monday morning, they relate,

Magdalene was seen a-walking

Through the city’s northern gate.

Then the maidens said: “Thy pardon—

Magdalene, where wouldst thou go?”

—“Oh, into my father’s garden,

Where I went last night, you know.”

And when she to the garden came,

And straight into the garden ran,

There lay beneath the linden-tree

Asleep, a beautiful young man.

“Wake up, young man, be stirring,

Oh rise, for time is dear,

I hear the keys a-rattling,

And mother will be here.”

“Hear’st thou her keys a-rattling,

And thy mother must be nigh,

Then o’er the heath this minute

Oh, come with me, and fly!”

And as they wandered o’er the heath,

There for these twain was spread,

A shady linden-tree beneath,

A silken bridal-bed.

And three half-hours together,

They lay upon the bed.

“Turn round, turn round, brown maiden:

Give me thy mouth so red!”

“Thou say’st so much of turning round,

But naught of wedded troth,

I fear me I have slept away

My faith and honour both.”

“And fear’st thou, thou hast slept away

Thy faith and honour too,

I say I’ll wed thee yet, my dear,

So thou shalt never rue.”

Who was it sang this little lay,

And sang it o’er with cheer?

On St. Annenberg in the town,

It was the mountaineer.

He sang it there right gaily

Drank mead and cool red wine,

Beside him sat and listened

Three dainty damsels fine.