Down at the alter I kneeled soft, With love and prayer my heart allegiant: Upon the ceiling, far aloft, Was painted Heaven's resplendent pageant; But when again I lift mine eyes, Lo, the high vault has flown asunder! The upward gate wide open lies, And every veil unveils a wonder.
What gloriousness I then beheld With silent worship, speechless wonder; What blessed sounds upon me swelled, Like organs' and like trumpets' thunder-- No human words could ever tell!-- But who for such is sighing sorest, Let him give heed unto the bell That dimly soundeth in the forest.
In a garden sweet went walking Two lovers hand in hand; Two pallid figures, low talking, They sat in the flowery land.
They kissed on the cheek one another, And they kissed upon the mouth; They held in their arms each the other, And back came their health and youth.
Two little bells rang shrilly-- And the lovely dream was dead! She lay in the cloister chilly; He afar on his dungeon-bed.
LIEDER, IV. LYRISCHES INTERMEZZO, XXXVIII. " " XLI. " " XLV. " " LXIV. DIE HEIMKEHR, LX. " LXII. DIE NORDSEE, FIRST CYCLE, XII.
Thy little hand lay on my bosom, dear: What a knocking in that little chamber!--dost hear? There dwelleth a carpenter evil, and he Is hard at work on a coffin for me.
He hammers and knocks by night and by day; 'Tis long since he drove all my sleep away: Ah, haste thee, carpenter, busy keep, That I the sooner may go to sleep!
The phantoms of times forgotten Arise from out their grave, And show me how once in thy presence I lived the life it gave.
In the day I wandered dreaming, Through the streets with unsteady foot; The people looked at me in wonder, I was so mournful and mute.
At night, then it was better, For empty was the town; I and my shadow together Walked speechless up and down.
My way, with echoing footstep, Over the bridge I took; The moon broke out of the waters, And gave me a meaning look.
I stopped before thy dwelling, And gazed, and gazed again-- Stood staring up at thy window, My heart was in such pain.
I know that thou from thy window Didst often look downward--and Sawest me, there in the moonlight, A motionless pillar stand.
I dreamt of the daughter of a king, With white cheeks tear-bewetted; We sat 'neath the lime tree's leavy ring, In love's embraces netted.