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Translated by C. T. Brooks
A SKIFF swam down the Danube’s tide, | |
| Therein a bridegroom sate, and bride, | |
| He one side, she the other. | |
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| “Tell me, my dearest heart,” said she, | |
| “What present shall I make to thee?” | 5 |
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| And back her little sleeve she stripped, | |
| And deeply down her arm she dipped. | |
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| And so did he, the other side, | |
| And laughed and jested with his bride. | |
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| “Fair Lady Danube, give me here | 10 |
| Some pretty gift to please my dear.” | |
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| She drew a sparkling sword aloft, | |
| Just such the boy had longed for, oft. | |
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| The boy, what holds he in his hand? | |
| OF milk-white pearls a costly band. | 15 |
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| He binds it round her jet-black hair, | |
| She looks a princess, sitting there. | |
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| “Fair lady Danube, give me here, | |
| Some pretty gift to please my dear!” | |
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| Once more she ’ll try what she can feel; | 20 |
| She grasps a helmet of light steel. | |
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| On his part, terrified with joy, | |
| Fished up a golden comb the boy. | |
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| A third time clutching in the tide, | |
| Woe! she falls headlong o’er the side. | 25 |
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| The boy leaps after, clasps her tight, | |
| Dame Danube snatches both from sight. | |
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| Dame Danube grudged the gifts she gave, | |
| They must atone for ’t in the wave. | |
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| An empty skiff glides down the stream, | 30 |
| The mountains hide the sunset gleam. | |
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| And when the moon in heaven did stand, | |
| The lovers floated dead to land, | |
| He one side, she the other. | |
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