And the Redeemer's blood! To himself he eateth and drinketh Read the Form of Communion, and in chimed the organ and anthem; But in the children (I noted it well; I knew it) there ran a Tremor of holy rapture along through their icy-cold members. Decked like an altar before them, there stood the green earth, and above it Heaven opened itself, as of old before Stephen; they saw there Radiant in glory the Father, and on his right hand the Redeemer. Under them hear they the clang of harpstrings, and angels from gold clouds Beckon to them like brothers, and fan with their pinions of purple. Closed was the Teacher's task, and with heaven in their hearts and their faces, Up rose the children all, and each bowed him, weeping full sorely, Downward to kiss that reverend hand, but all of them pressed he Moved to his bosom, and laid, with a prayer, his hands full of blessings, Now on the holy breast, and now on the innocent tresses. TRANSLATIONS FROM THE GERMAN. THE STATUE OVER THE CATHEDRAL DOOR. FROM JULIUS MOSEN. FORMS of saints and kings are standing The cathedral door above; Yet I saw but one among them Who hath soothed my soul with love. L L In his mantle,-wound about him, And so stands he calm and childlike! I would be like him, a child! And my songs, green leaves and blossoms, THE HEMLOCK-TREE. O HEMLOCK-TREE! O hemlock-tree! how faithful are thy branches! Green not alone in summer time, But in the winter's frost and rime! O hemlock-tree! O hemlock-tree! how faithful are thy branches! O maiden fair! O maiden fair! how faithless is the bosom ! And leave me in adversity! O maiden fair! O maiden fair! how faithless is thy bosom! The nightingale, the nightingale, thou tak'st for thine example! So long as summer laughs she sings, But in the autumn spreads her wings! The nightingale, the nightingale, thou tak'st for thine example! The meadow brook, the meadow brook, is mirror of thy falsehood! It flows so long as falls the rain, In drought its springs soon dry again. The meadow brook, the meadow brook, is mirror of thy falsehood! ANNIE OF THARAW. FROM THE LOW GERMAN OF SIMON DACH. ANNIE of Tharaw, my true love of old, Annie of Tharaw, her heart once again Annie of Tharaw, my riches, my good, Then come the wild weather, come sleet, or come snow, Oppression, and sickness, and sorrow, and pain, As the palm-tree standeth so straight and so tall, So love in our hearts shall grow mighty and strong, Shouldst thou be torn from me to wander alone Through forests I'll follow, and where the sea flows, Annie of Tharaw, my light and my sun, The threads of our two lives are woven in one. Whate'er I have bidden thee thou hast obeyed, How in the turmoil of life can love stand, Where there is not one heart, and one mouth, and one hand? Some seek for dissension, and trouble, and strife; Annie of Tharaw, such is not our love; Whate'er my desire is, in thine may be seen; It is this, O my Annie, my heart's sweetest rest, This turns to a heaven the hut where we dwell; |