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Translated by J. C. Mangan
A Legend of the Black Forest
A NIGH the gloomy Mummel-See | |
| Do live the palest lilies many: | |
| All day they droop so drowsily, | |
| In azure air and rainy; | |
| But when the dreamful noon of night | 5 |
| Rains down on earth its yellow light, | |
| Up spring they, full of lightness, | |
| In woman’s form and brightness. | |
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| The sad reeds moan like spirits bound | |
| Along the troubled water’s border, | 10 |
| As, hand-with-hand, linked wreathwise round, | |
| The virgins dance in order, | |
| Moonwhite in features as in dress, | |
| Till o’er their phantom huelessness | |
| A warmer color gushes, | 15 |
| And tints their cheeks with blushes. | |
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| Then pipe the reeds a sadder tune; | |
| The wind raves through the tannen-forest; | |
| The wolves in chorus bay the moon, | |
| Where glance her gray beams hoarest; | 20 |
| And round and round the darkling grass | |
| In mazy whirl the dancers pass, | |
| And loudlier boom the billows | |
| Among the reeds and willows. | |
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| But see!—the Giant-Elf anon | 25 |
| Half rises from the water’s bosom, | |
| With streaming beard, and head whereon | |
| Dank weeds for garlands blossom; | |
| And, fiercely lifting towards the strand | |
| A naked arm and clenchéd hand, | 30 |
| He shouts in tones of thunder | |
| That wake the abysses under! | |
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| Then lake and winds and dancers rest: | |
| And, as the water ceases booming, | |
| The Elf cries, “Hence, ye shapes unblest, | 35 |
| And leave my lilies blooming!” | |
| And lo! the streaky morn is up, | |
| Dew-diamonds brim each flowret’s cup, | |
| And Mummel’s lily-daughters | |
| Once more bend o’er his waters. | 40 |
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