Page:The Earliest English Translations of Bürger's Lenore - A Study in English and German Romanticism - Emerson (1915).djvu/80

"Ah, William! whither would'st thou speed,
What! where! this distant marriage bed?"
"Leonora, no delay.
'Tis far from hence; still—cold—and small;
Six planks, no more, compose it all;
Our guests await, away!"^[1]

She lightly on the courser sprung,
And her white arms round William flung,
Like to a lily wreath.
In swiftest gallop off they go,
The stones and sparks around they throw,
And pant the way for breath.^[2]

The objects fly on every side,
The bridges thunder as they ride:
"Art thou, my love, afraid?
Death swiftly rides, the moon shines clear,
The dead doth Leonora fear?"
"Ah, no!—why name the dead?"

Hark! as their rapid course they urge,
A passing bell, and solemn dirge;
Hoarse ravens join the strain.
They see a coffin on a bier,
A priest and mourners too appear,
Slow moving o'er the plain.^[3]

And sad was heard the funeral lay;
"What the Lord gives, he takes away;
Life's but a fleeting shade.
A tale that's told,—a flower that falls;
Death, when the least expected, calls,
And bears us to his bed."^[4]

"Forbear;"—imperious William cry'd,
I carry home a beauteous bride,
Come to our marriage feast;
Mourners, away, we want your song;
And as we swiftly haste along,
Give us your blessing, priest.^[5]

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1. Fourth line, from here.
2. Last lines,
   In thund'ring gallop off they flew
   While streams of fire their heels pursue,
   And soon they pant for breath.
   
   
   Manuscript correction of next to last line, while sparks of fire.
3. Fourth line, and a bier; fifth line, While priests.
4. Manuscript, first line, Thus sad.
5. Manuscript has two variations of last three lines:
   "Let midnight pass, the rites delay, All follow where I lead the way, To grace our marriage, Priest."
   
   
   and in another place,
   ""Mourners, away, we want a song,
   And quickly, as we haste along,
   Give us your blessing, Priest."