Rampolli Part 8

And so sat he, years a many, Years without a pang, Waiting without murmur any Till her window rang--

For the lovely one to send her Glance into the vale, And, unseeing, toward him bend her Angel visage pale.

And thus sat he, staring wanly, His last morning there: Toward her window still the manly Silent face did stare.

_LONGING_.

Ah, from out this valley hollow, By cold fogs always oppressed, Could I but the outpath follow-- Ah, how were my spirit blest!

Hills I see there, glad dominions, Ever young, and green for aye!

Had I wings, oh, had I pinions, To the hills were I away!

Harmonies I hear there ringing, Tones of sweetest heavenly rest; And the gentle winds are bringing Balmy odours to my breast!

Golden fruits peep out there, glowing Through the leaves to Zephyr's play; And the flowers that there are blowing Will become no winter's prey!

Oh, what happy things are meeting There, in endless suns.h.i.+ne free!

And the airs on those hills greeting, How reviving must they be!

But me checks yon raving river That betwixt doth chafe and roll; And its dark waves rising ever Strike a horror to my soul!

See a skiff on wild wave heaving!

But no sailor walks the mole.

Quick into it, firm believing, For its sails they have a soul!

Thou must trust, nor wait to ponder: G.o.d will give no pledge in hand; Nought but miracle bears yonder To the lovely wonderland!

FROM GOETHE.

POEMS LEGEND THE CASTLE ON THE MOUNTAIN

POEMS.

Poems are painted window-panes: Look from the square into the church-- Gloom and dusk are all your gains!

Sir Philistine is left in the lurch: Outside he stands--spies nothing or use of it, And nought is left him save the abuse of it.

But you, I pray you, just step in; Make in the chapel your obeisance: All at once 'tis a radiant pleasaunce: Device and story flash to presence; A gracious splendour works to win.

This to G.o.d's children is full measure: It edifies and gives them pleasure.

_LEGEND_.

AFTER THE MANNER OF HANS SACHS.

While yet unknown, and very low, Our Lord on earth went to and fro; And some of his scholars his word so good Very strangely misunderstood-- He much preferred to hold his court In streets and places of resort, Because under the heaven's face Words better and freer flow apace; There he gave them the highest lore Out of his holy mouth in store; Wondrously, by parable and example, Made every market-place a temple.

So faring, in his heart content, Once with them to a town he went-- Saw something blinking on the way, And there a broken horse-shoe lay!

He said thereon St. Peter to, "Prithee now, pick up that shoe."

St. Peter was not in fitting mood: He had been dreaming all the road Some stuff about ruling of the world, Round which so many brains are twirled-- For in the head it seems so easy!

And with it his thoughts were often busy; Therefore the finding was much too mean; Crown and sceptre it should have been!

He was not one his back to bow After half an iron-shoe!

Therefore aside his head he bended, And that he had not heard pretended.

In his forbearance the Lord did stoop And lift himself the horse-shoe up; Then for the present he did wait.

But when they reach the city-gate, He goes up to a blacksmith's door, Receives three pence the horse-shoe for; And as they through the market fare, Seeing for sale fine cherries there, He buys of them so few or so many As they will give for a three-penny; Which he, thereon, after his way, Up in his sleeve did quietly lay.

Now, from the other gate, they trod Through fields and meads a housless road; The path of trees was desolate, The sun shone out, the heat was great; So that one in a region such For a drink of water had given much.

The Lord goes ever before them all, And as by chance lets a cherry fall: In a trice St. Peter was after it there As if a golden apple it were!

Sweet to his palate was the berry.

Then by and by, another cherry Down on the ground the Master sends, For which St. Peter as quickly bends.

So, many a time, the Lord doth let Him bend his back a cherry to get.

A long time thus He let him glean; Then said the Lord, with look serene: "If at the right time thou hadst bent, Thou hadst found it more convenient!

Of little things who little doth make For lesser things must trouble take."

_THE CASTLE ON THE MOUNTAIN_.

Up there, upon yonder mountain, Stands a castle old, in the gorse, Where once, behind doors and portals, Lurking lay knight and horse.

Burnt are the doors and the portals; All round it is very still; Its old walls, tumbled in ruins, I scramble about at my will.

Close hereby lay a cellar Full of wine that was old and rare; But the cheery maid with the pitchers No more comes down the stair;

No more in the hall, sedately Sets the beaker before the guest; No more at the festival stately, The flagon fills for the priest;

No more to the page so thirsty Gives a draught in the corridor; And receives for the hurried favour The hurried thanks no more.

For every rafter and ceiling Long ago were to ashes burned, And stair and pa.s.sage and chapel To rubbish and ruin turned.

Yet when, with flask and cittern, On a day in the summer's prime, Up to the rocky summit I watched my darling climb--

Out came the old joy reviving On the face of the ancient rest, And on went the old life driving, In its lordliness and zest;

It seemed as for strangers distinguished Their state-rooms they did prepare, And out of that brave time, shadowy Came stepping a youthful pair.

And the worthy priest in his chapel Stood already in priestly dress, And asked--Will you two take one another?

And smiling we answered--Yes;

And the hymns with deep pulsation Stirred every heart at once; And instead of the congregation The echo yelled response.

And when, in the gathered evening, Profound the stillness grew, And the red-glowing sun at the broken Gable came peering through,

Then damsel and page, in his rays, are Grandees of the olden prime; She tastes of his cup at her leisure, And he to thank her takes time.

FROM UHLAND.