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O deck thyself, thou roof of foliage green,
Thou shalt receive the bringer of my light!
Ye branches build a shady bower, to screen
And circle her with the still blessed night!
And all ye flattering breezes breathe unseen,
And play around her cheek, so pure and bright,
When her light footsteps, softly moving, come
And bear their gentle burden to her home.
Hush! what steals through the hedges?
What was the rustling I heard?

No, 't was but the moving bushes,
Shaken by the startled bird.

Proud Day, put out thy torch! and thou appear
O Spiritual Night, with silence sweet!
Thy purple blossoms spread around us here,
And let the secret branches o'er us meet!
The joy of love shunneth the listener's ear,
Shunneth the prying ray of noonday's heat:
Let only Hesperus, the Silent, dare

To look on us, and in our transports share.

Did I not hear in the distance
Whispering voices awake?

No, it was the swan in circles
Moving on the silver lake.

Around me flow all sweetest harmonies,
The spring is falling with a pleasant noise,

The flowers are bending to the west wind's kiss,

And all things living in exchange of joys:

The grape the red peach, slumbering in its bliss, Behind the leaves its ripe repose enjoys:

The breeze, all balmy from the spicy flood, Drinks from my fevered cheek the glowing blood.

Do I not hear light footsteps

Rustling along through the walk?

No, it is the ripe fruit falling

With its own fullness from the stalk.

The flaming Eye of day has sunk in night-
A gentle death—and all the colors gay;
The flower cups, in the dear and dusky light,
All ope their eyes, that shunned the glare of day;
The moon lifts up her face, so mildly bright,
And melts the world in masses huge away.
From every charm, the girdle is unbound,
And all things beautiful are veilless found.

Something all white glimmers yonder;
Is 't not the folds of her dress?
No, it is the column gleaming

Through the yew wood's gloominess.

O longing heart, seek not this pleasing pain,
To play with lifeless images so sweet:
They will not in my empty arms remain;
No shadowy joy can cool this bosom's heat.
O guide my dear love to my heart again,
And let her tender hand with mine once meet;
Let but the border of her mantle gleam!
Then into Life stepped forth the empty dream.

And light, as from heavenly dwellings,
Appeareth the hour of bliss;

Unseen, unheard, she was near me,
And wakened her friend with a kiss.

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That the world may not press into thy chamber gay,
Shut out the rough cold breath of common day:

The mist of dreams alone

Around thee stay.

The following piece of Paul Gerhard we take from another collection. It is not well known in this country, though quite popular in Germany. We give a poor translation, but subjoin the original, in hopes some one will produce a better version.

AN EVENING HYMN.

I.

Now rests the wood in shadow,
Beast, man, and town, and meadow;
The weary world's asleep.
My soul, begin thy singing,

To thy Creator bringing

A Psalm acceptable and deep.

II.

Oh Sun, where wilt thou hide thee?
The night cannot abide thee,

The Night, the Daylight's foe.
Withdraw, Oh Sun, from Heaven,
If Christ my joy be given

Bright in my heart of hearts to glow.

I.

Nun ruhen alle Wälder,

Vieh, Menschen, Städt'und Felder,

Es schläft die müde Welt.

Ihr aber, meine Sinnen,

Auf! ihr sollt noch beginnen,

Was eurem Schöpfer wohlgefällt.

II.

Wo bist du, Sonne, blieben?
Die Nacht hat dich vertrieben,

Die Nacht, des Tages Feind.

Fahr' hin, du Erdensonne,
Wenn Jesus, meine Wonne,

Nur hell in meinem Herzen scheint.

III.

Now daylight is declining,
Now golden stars are shining,
In Heaven's purple hall.
Like them shall I serve standing,
When God shall come demanding
Me from this dark and tearful ball.

IV.

My body hastes to slumber;
The robes which it encumber,
A type of mortal life,
These lay I off far from me,
But Christ shall clothe upon me,
The garment of immortal life.

V.

Head, feet, and every finger,
While evening shadows linger,
Rejoice that day is o'er;
My heart, begin thy gladness,
Relieved from earthly sadness,

Thou 'lt be the slave of Sin no more!

III.

Der Tag ist nun vergangen;
Die goldnen Sterne prangen
Am blauen Himmelssaal.

Also werd' ich auch stehen,

Wann mich wird heissen gehen

Mein Gott aus diesem Jammerthal.

IV.

Der Leib eilt nun zur Ruhe,
Legt Kleider ab und Schuhe,

Das Bild der Sterblichkeit.

Die zieh' ich aus; dagegen

Wird Christus mir anlegen

Das Kleid der Ehr' und Herrlichkeit.

V.

Das Haupt, die Füss' und Hände
Sind froh, dass nun zu Ende

Des Tages Arbeit sey.

Herz, freu' dich! du sollst werden

Vom Elend dieser Erden,

Und von der Sündenarbeit frei.

VI.

Go home, ye limbs, now weary,
Forget your labors dreary,

You now require your bed.
But other times come speedy,
And for you will make ready

A couch in earth to rest this head.

VII.

Mine eyes e'en now are dozing,

And in a moment closing,

Where now are Sense and Soul?

Oh keep them with affection,

Stand thou their sole protection,

Thou, Eye and Guardian of the whole!

VIII.

Come thou thy child to cover,
And with thy wings brood over,
And shelter with thine arm.
Then, would the foe invade me,
Thine angel's voice shall aid me,
"This child shall meet no harm!"

VI.

Nun geht, ihr matten Glieder,
Geht hin, und legt euch nieder!
Des Bettes ihr begehrt.

Es kommen andre Zeiten,

Da man euch wird bereiten

Zur Ruh' ein Bettlein in der Erd'.

VII.

Die Augen stehn verdrossen,

Im Nu sind sie geschlossen;

Wo bleibt nun Leib und Seel'?

Nimm du sie hin in Gnaden,
Sey gut für allen Schaden,

Du Aug' und Wächter Israel!

VIII.

Steh' du zu meiner Seite,

Die Flügel um mich breite,

Und hülle mich darein!

Will mich der Feind verschlingen,

So lass die Engel singen:

Diess Kind soll unverletzet seyn.

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