WHAT is the name of King Ringang’s daughter? Rohtraut, Beauty Rohtraut! And what does she do the livelong day, Since she dare not knit and spin alway? O hunting and fishing is ever her play! And, heigh! that her huntsman I might be! I’d hunt and fish right merrily! Be silent, heart!
And it chanced that, after this some time,— Rohtraut, Beauty Rohtraut,— The boy in the Castle has gained access, And a horse he has got and a huntsman’s dress, To hunt and to fish with the merry Princess; And, O! that a king’s son I might be! Beauty Rohtraut I love so tenderly. Hush! hush! my heart.
Under a grey old oak they sat, Beauty, Beauty Rohtraut! She laughs: ‘Why look you so slyly at me? If you have heart enough, come, kiss me.’ Cried the breathless boy, ‘kiss thee?’ But he thinks, kind fortune has favoured my youth; And thrice he has kissed Beauty Rohtraut’s mouth. Down! down! mad heart.
Then slowly and silently they rode home,— Rohtraut, Beauty Rohtraut! The boy was lost in his delight: ‘And, wert thou Empress this very night, I would not heed or feel the blight; Ye thousand leaves of the wild wood wist How Beauty Rohtraut’s mouth I kiss’d. Hush! hush! wild heart.’
A DOVE flew with an Olive Branch; It crossed the sea and reached the shore, And on a ship about to launch Dropped down the happy sign it bore.
‘An omen’ rang the glad acclaim! The Captain stooped and picked it up, ‘Be then the Olive Branch her name,’ Cried she who flung the christening cup.
The vessel took the laughing tides; It was a joyous revelry To see her dashing from her sides The rough, salt kisses of the sea.
And forth into the bursting foam She spread her sail and sped away, The rolling surge her restless home, Her incense wreaths the showering spray.
Far out, and where the riot waves Run mingling in tumultuous throngs, She danced above a thousand graves, And heard a thousand briny songs.
Her mission with her manly crew, Her flag unfurl’d, her title told, She took the Old World to the New, And brought the New World to the Old.
Secure of friendliest welcomings, She swam the havens sheening fair; Secure upon her glad white wings, She fluttered on the ocean air.
To her no more the bastioned fort Shot out its swarthy tongue of fire; From bay to bay, from port to port, Her coming was the world’s desire.