Page:The Earliest English Translations of Bürger's Lenore - A Study in English and German Romanticism - Emerson (1915).djvu/82

But, soon with hurried steps, the crew
Rush'd prattling on, for William flew,
Clasp'd by the frighted fair;
Swifter than shafts, or than the wind,
While struck with earth, fire flash'd behind,
Like lightnings through the air."^[1]

Not only flew the landscape by,
The clouds and stars appear'd to fly.
"Thus over hills and heath
We ride like death; say, lovely maid,
By moon-light dost thou fear the dead?"
"Ah! speak no more of death."

"The cock hath crow'd.—Away! away!
The sand ebbs out: I scent the day.
On! on! away from here!
Soon must our destin'd course be run,
The dead ride swift,—hurrah! 'tis done,
The marriage bed is near."

High grated iron doors, in vain
Barr'd their way.—With loosened rein
Whil'st William urg'd his steed,
He struck the bolts;—they open flew,
A church yard drear appear'd in view;
Their path was o'er the dead."^[2]

As now, half veil'd by clouds, the moon
With feebler ray, o'er objects shone,
Where tomb-stones faint appear,
A grave new dug arrests the pair,
Cry'd William, and embraced the fair,
"Our marriage bed is here."^[3]

Scarce had he spoke, when, dire to tell,
His flesh like touchwood from him fell,
His eyes forsook his head.
A skull, and naked bones alone,
Supply the place of William gone,
'Twas Death that clasp'd the maid.

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1. Third line and following,
   Thundering o'er the ground,
   Swift as a shaft, or as the wind,
   While streams of fire he left behind.
   And dash'd the stones around.
   
   
   Manuscript, last two lines,
   While streams of fire were left behind,
   Like lightning in the air.
   
   
2. Third line, no Whil'st.
3. Fifth line, William turned round, and clasp'd the fair.