TRANSLATIONS OF BÜRGER'S LENORE
111
His head became a naked skull;
Nor hair nor eyne had he:
His body grew a skeleton,
Whilome so blithe of ble.
Nor hair nor eyne had he:
His body grew a skeleton,
Whilome so blithe of ble.
And at his dry and boney heel
No spur was left to bee;
And in his witherd hand you might
The scythe and hour-glass see.
No spur was left to bee;
And in his witherd hand you might
The scythe and hour-glass see.
And lo! his steed did thin to smoke,
And charnel-fires outbreathe;
And pal'd, and bleachde, then vanishde quite
The mayd from underneathe.
And charnel-fires outbreathe;
And pal'd, and bleachde, then vanishde quite
The mayd from underneathe.
And hollow howlings hung in air,
And shrekes from vaults arose:
Then knewe the mayd she might no more
Her living eyes unclose.
And shrekes from vaults arose:
Then knewe the mayd she might no more
Her living eyes unclose.
But onward to the judgment-seat,
Thro' mist and moonlight dreare,
The ghostly crew their flight persewe,
And hollowe in her eare:
Thro' mist and moonlight dreare,
The ghostly crew their flight persewe,
And hollowe in her eare:
"Be patient; tho thyne heart should breke,
Arrayne not Heaven's decree;
Thou nowe art of thy bodie reft,
Thy soul forgiven bee!"
Arrayne not Heaven's decree;
Thou nowe art of thy bodie reft,
Thy soul forgiven bee!"
