'And light thy heart beat, though thou 'rt far Away from me; And bright thy sun shine, though thou 'rt far And clear thy moon gleam, though thou 'rt far And still of me think, though I'm far Away from thee, As I of thee think, though thou 'rt far And soon mayst thou be near, not far And soon may I be near, not far And when once more I'm near, not far And thou once more art near, not far Away from me, Never again shall I stray far Away from thee, Nor ever thou again stray far Away from me, Till thy last stray, thy long, last stray Away from me, Or my last stray, my long, last stray THE GREEN HILLS (CO. DUBLIN), April 28, 1860. FRAGMENT. I. FRANKFORT behind us left and city sights, Not much affords us or to praise or blame, And close our first day's journey (of one hour), Mindful of health and homely grandsire saws, Retire to bed, and for we drink nor tea Nor more exciting coffee sweet, sound sleep. Next morning, breakfast without tea or coffee: From both we have suffered and have both renounced, And prize more our composure all day long, That turns the Abyssinian hunter's brain; Our road through Bieber, distant one short hour. Of whispering poplar, tall and fresh and green, From Offenbach to Bieber Walking from OFFENBACH to ASCHAFFENBURG, July 26, 1860. THE NINE MAIDENS OF CRACOW. ONCE upon a time in Cracow, I've heard say and do believe it, Sad and serious sat nine maidens. Doing nothing, saying nothing, What are they about, those maidens, All nine sitting with eyes downcast, Folded hands and mouths half open? Read me, if thou canst, the riddle. Ah! there 's not one of those maidens, Of the whole nine, has a sweetheart; Where's the wonder they look dismal, Now and then cry, heigh-ho, heigh-ho? "In the wood a tall oak 's growing," Sighing said one of the maidens, "Underneath its spreading branches, When I'm dead, let me be buried." "There let me be laid beside thee," Said another of the maidens, "In the shadow of the same oak; Of this wicked world I 'm weary." "When this poor heart throbs no longer, In that same oak's spreading shadow," "There we'll all be laid together," So into the wood, the maidens, But while some the grass were cutting, And shrieked loud. All stopped and looked up, Every heart began to flutter; When a soft voice from the trée cried: "Sweetest maidens, we are coming." In an instant round Lisetta's Waist was clasped a strong and kind arm; In an instant Gretchen's cheek was Glowing red with Julius' kisses; |