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Translated by C. G. Leland
I AM the Princess Ilse, | |
| And dwell in Ilsenstein: | |
| Come with me to my castle; | |
| Thou shalt be blest,—and mine! | |
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| With ever-flowing fountains | 5 |
| I ’ll cool thy weary brow: | |
| Thou ’lt lose, amid the rippling, | |
| The cares which grieve thee now. | |
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| In my white arms reposing, | |
| And on my snow-white breast, | 10 |
| Thou ’lt dream of old, old legends, | |
| And sink in joy to rest. | |
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| I ’ll kiss thee and caress thee, | |
| As in the ancient day | |
| I kissed the Emperor Henry, | 15 |
| Who long has passed away. | |
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| The dead are dead and silent: | |
| Only the living love; | |
| And I am fair and blooming,— | |
| Dost feel my wild heart move? | 20 |
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| And as my heart is beating, | |
| My crystal castle rings, | |
| Where many a knight and lady | |
| In merry measure springs. | |
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| Silk trains are softly rustling, | 25 |
| Spurs ring from night to morn; | |
| And dwarfs are gayly drumming, | |
| And blow the golden horn. | |
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| As round the Emperor Henry, | |
| My arms round thee shall fall: | 30 |
| I held his ears,—he heard not | |
| The trumpet’s warning call. | |
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