Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Germany: Vols. XVII–XVIII. 1876–79. | | | | Rudesheim | | A Rhine Legend | | Emanuel Geibel (1815–1884) |
| | Translated by W. W. Caldwell
BY the Rhine, the emerald river, | |
| How softly glows the night! | |
| The vine-clad hills are lying | |
| In the moonbeams’ golden light. | |
| |
| And on the hillside walketh | 5 |
| A kingly shadow down, | |
| With sword and purple mantle, | |
| And heavy golden crown. | |
| |
| ’T is Charlemagne, the emperor, | |
| Who, with a powerful hand, | 10 |
| For many a hundred years | |
| Hath ruled in German land. | |
| |
| From out his grave in Aachen | |
| He hath arisen there, | |
| To bless once more his vineyards, | 15 |
| And breathe their fragrant air. | |
| |
| By Rudesheim, on the water, | |
| The moon doth brightly shine, | |
| And buildeth a bridge of gold | |
| Across the emerald Rhine. | 20 |
| |
| The emperor walketh over, | |
| And all along the tide | |
| Bestows his benediction | |
| On the vineyards far and wide. | |
| |
| Then turns he back to Aachen | 25 |
| In his grave-sleep to remain, | |
| Till the New Year’s fragrant clusters | |
| Shall call him forth again. | |
| |
| Then let us fill our glasses, | |
| And drink, with the golden wine, | 30 |
| The German hero-spirit, | |
| And its hero-strength divine. | | | | |
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