TRANSLATIONS OF BÜRGER'S LENORE
75
"Sing on, that life is like a shade,
A tale that's told, or flowers which fade;
Such strains will yield delight.
And, when we to our chamber go,
Bury your dead, with wail and woe;
The service suits the night."[1]
A tale that's told, or flowers which fade;
Such strains will yield delight.
And, when we to our chamber go,
Bury your dead, with wail and woe;
The service suits the night."[1]
While William speaks, they silent stand,
They run obedient to command.
But, on with furious bound,
The foaming courser forward flew,
Fire and stones his heels pursue,
Like whirlwinds dash'd around.[2]
They run obedient to command.
But, on with furious bound,
The foaming courser forward flew,
Fire and stones his heels pursue,
Like whirlwinds dash'd around.[2]
On right and left, on left and right,
Trees, hills, and towns flew past their sight,
As on they breathless prest;
"With the bright moon, like death we speed,
Dost Leonora fear the dead?"
"Ah! leave the dead at rest."[3]
Trees, hills, and towns flew past their sight,
As on they breathless prest;
"With the bright moon, like death we speed,
Dost Leonora fear the dead?"
"Ah! leave the dead at rest."[3]
Behold, where in the moon's pale beam,
As wheels and gibbets faintly gleam,
Join'd hand in hand, a crowd
Of imps and spectres hover high,
Or round a wasted wretch they fly,
When William calls aloud:
As wheels and gibbets faintly gleam,
Join'd hand in hand, a crowd
Of imps and spectres hover high,
Or round a wasted wretch they fly,
When William calls aloud:
"Hither, ye airy rabble, come,
And follow till I reach my home;
We want a marriage dance."
As when the leaves on wither'd trees,
Are rustled by an eddying breeze,
The muttering sprites advance.
And follow till I reach my home;
We want a marriage dance."
As when the leaves on wither'd trees,
Are rustled by an eddying breeze,
The muttering sprites advance.
- ↑ For the three stanzas preceding the first edition has only,In manuscript the third and following were changed to,I am carrying home a beauteous bride."
In voice imperious, William cried:
"Quick, priests, your service read;
And, mourners, chaunt a wedding song,
For yet to-night we haste along,
To reach our marriage bed.""The service must be read;
You, mourners, chaunt a wedding song,
And follow as we haste along. - ↑ The first lines read,Manuscript corrections not used are second line, And following close; third line, desperate bound.The dirges stopp'd, the priests obey'd:
As William bad, they sang and pray'd.
And on, with furious bound,
The breathless courser forward flew. - ↑ First line, and left and right; third line, As on the courser prest, the manuscript correcting to, As on they furious prest.
