The Earliest English Translations of Bürger's Lenore: a Study in English and German Romanticism/Chapter 8/Leonora by J. T. Stanley
For other English-language translations of this work, see Lenore (Bürger).
LEONORA
By J. T. Stanley.
"Ah, William! art thou false or dead?"
Cried Leonora from her bed.
"I dreamt thoud'st ne'er return."
William had fought in Frederick's host
At Prague, but what his fate—if lost
Or safe, she could not learn.[1]
Cried Leonora from her bed.
"I dreamt thoud'st ne'er return."
William had fought in Frederick's host
At Prague, but what his fate—if lost
Or safe, she could not learn.[1]
Hungaria's Queen and Prussia's King,
Wearied, at length, with bickering,
Resolv'd to end the strife;
And homewards, then, their separate routs
The armies took, with songs and shouts,
With cymbals, drum, and fife.[2]
Wearied, at length, with bickering,
Resolv'd to end the strife;
And homewards, then, their separate routs
The armies took, with songs and shouts,
With cymbals, drum, and fife.[2]
As deck'd with boughs they march'd along,
From ev'ry door, the old and young
Rush'd forth the troops to greet.
"Thank God," each child and parent cry'd.
And "welcome, welcome," many a bride,
As friends long parted meet.
From ev'ry door, the old and young
Rush'd forth the troops to greet.
"Thank God," each child and parent cry'd.
And "welcome, welcome," many a bride,
As friends long parted meet.
They joy'd, poor Leonora griev'd:
No kiss she gave, no kiss receiv'd;
Of William none could tell;
She wrung her hands, and tore her hair;
Till left alone, in deep despair,
Bereft of sense she fell.
No kiss she gave, no kiss receiv'd;
Of William none could tell;
She wrung her hands, and tore her hair;
Till left alone, in deep despair,
Bereft of sense she fell.
Swift to her aid, her mother came,
"Ah! say," she cried, "in mercy's name,
What means this frantic grief?"
"Mother, 'tis past—all hopes are fled,
God hath no mercy, William's dead,
My woe is past relief."[3]
"Ah! say," she cried, "in mercy's name,
What means this frantic grief?"
"Mother, 'tis past—all hopes are fled,
God hath no mercy, William's dead,
My woe is past relief."[3]
"Pardon, O pardon, Lord above!
My child, with pray'rs invoke his love,
The Almighty never errs;"
"O, mother! mother! idle prate,
Can he be anxious for my fate,
Who never heard my prayers?"[4]
My child, with pray'rs invoke his love,
The Almighty never errs;"
"O, mother! mother! idle prate,
Can he be anxious for my fate,
Who never heard my prayers?"[4]
"Be patient, child, in God believe,
The good he can, and will relieve,
To trust his power endeavour."
"O, mother! mother! all is vain,
What trust can bring to life again?
The past, is past, for ever."[5]
The good he can, and will relieve,
To trust his power endeavour."
"O, mother! mother! all is vain,
What trust can bring to life again?
The past, is past, for ever."[5]
"Who knows but that he yet survives;
Perchance, far off from hence he lives,
And thinks no more of you.
Forget, forget, the faithless youth,
Away with grief, your sorrow soothe,
Since William proves untrue."[6]
Perchance, far off from hence he lives,
And thinks no more of you.
Forget, forget, the faithless youth,
Away with grief, your sorrow soothe,
Since William proves untrue."[6]
"Mother, all hope has fled my mind,
The past, is past, our God's unkind;
Why did he give me breath?
Oh! that this hated loathsome light
Would fade for ever from my sight,
Come, death, come, welcome death!"[7]
The past, is past, our God's unkind;
Why did he give me breath?
Oh! that this hated loathsome light
Would fade for ever from my sight,
Come, death, come, welcome death!"[7]
"Indulgent Father, spare my child,
Her agony hath made her wild,
She knows not what she does.
Daughter, forget thy earthly love,
Look up to him who reigns above,
Where joys succeed to woes."[8]
Her agony hath made her wild,
She knows not what she does.
Daughter, forget thy earthly love,
Look up to him who reigns above,
Where joys succeed to woes."[8]
"Mother, what now are joys to me?
With William, Hell a Heaven could be,
Without him, Heaven a Hell.
Fade, fade away, thou hated light,
Death, bear me hence to endless night,
With love all hope farewell."[9]
With William, Hell a Heaven could be,
Without him, Heaven a Hell.
Fade, fade away, thou hated light,
Death, bear me hence to endless night,
With love all hope farewell."[9]
Thus rashly, Leonora strove
To doubt the truth of heavenly love.
She wept, and beat her breast;
She pray'd for death, until the moon
With all the stars in silence shone,
And sooth'd the world to rest.
To doubt the truth of heavenly love.
She wept, and beat her breast;
She pray'd for death, until the moon
With all the stars in silence shone,
And sooth'd the world to rest.
When hark! without what sudden sound!
She hears a trampling o'er the ground,
Some horseman must be near!
He stops, he rings. Hark! as the noise
Dies soft away, a well-known voice
Thus greets her list'ning ear.[10]
She hears a trampling o'er the ground,
Some horseman must be near!
He stops, he rings. Hark! as the noise
Dies soft away, a well-known voice
Thus greets her list'ning ear.[10]
"Wake, Leonora;—dost thou sleep,
Or thoughtless laugh, or constant weep,
Is William welcome home?"
"Dear William, you!—return'd, and well!
I've wak'd and wept—but why, ah! tell,
So late—at night you come?"[11]
Or thoughtless laugh, or constant weep,
Is William welcome home?"
"Dear William, you!—return'd, and well!
I've wak'd and wept—but why, ah! tell,
So late—at night you come?"[11]
"At midnight only dare we roam,
For thee from Prague, though late, I come."
"For me!—stay here and rest;
The wild winds whistle o'er the waste,
Ah, dearest William! why such haste?
First warm thee in my breast."
For thee from Prague, though late, I come."
"For me!—stay here and rest;
The wild winds whistle o'er the waste,
Ah, dearest William! why such haste?
First warm thee in my breast."
"Let the winds whistle o'er the waste,
My duty bids me be in haste;
Quick, mount upon my steed:
Let the winds whistle far and wide,
Ere morn, two hundred leagues we'll ride,
To reach our marriage bed."[12]
My duty bids me be in haste;
Quick, mount upon my steed:
Let the winds whistle far and wide,
Ere morn, two hundred leagues we'll ride,
To reach our marriage bed."[12]
"What, William! for a bridal room,
Travel to-night so far from home?"
"Leonora, 'tis decreed.
Look round thee, love, the moon shines clear,
The dead ride swiftly; never fear,
We'll reach our marriage bed."[13]
Travel to-night so far from home?"
"Leonora, 'tis decreed.
Look round thee, love, the moon shines clear,
The dead ride swiftly; never fear,
We'll reach our marriage bed."[13]
"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!"[14]
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!"[14]
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.[15]
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.[15]
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?"
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.[16]
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.[16]
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."[17]
"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."[17]
"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.[18]
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.[18]
"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."[19]
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."[19]
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.[20]
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.[20]
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."[21]
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."[21]
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.
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."[22]
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."[22]
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 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."
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."[23]
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."[23]
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."[24]
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."[24]
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.
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.
Wild, snorting fire, the courser rear'd,
As wrapp'd in smoke he disappear'd,
Poor Leonora fell;
The hideous spectres hover round,
Deep groans she hears from under ground,
And fiends ascend from hell.
As wrapp'd in smoke he disappear'd,
Poor Leonora fell;
The hideous spectres hover round,
Deep groans she hears from under ground,
And fiends ascend from hell.
They dance, and cry, in dreadful howl,
"She asks no mercy for her soul;
Her earthly course is done.
When mortals, rash and impious! dare
Contend with God, and court despair,
We claim them as our own."[25]
"She asks no mercy for her soul;
Her earthly course is done.
When mortals, rash and impious! dare
Contend with God, and court despair,
We claim them as our own."[25]
"Yet," thus was heard, in milder strains,
"Call on the Lord, while life remains,
Unite your heart to his;
When Man repents and is resign'd,
God loves to soothe his suff'ring mind,
And grant him future bliss."[26]
"Call on the Lord, while life remains,
Unite your heart to his;
When Man repents and is resign'd,
God loves to soothe his suff'ring mind,
And grant him future bliss."[26]
"We claim as ours, who impious dare
Contend with God, and court despair;"
Again the spectres cry'd.
"Fate threats in vain, when man's resign'd,
God loves to soothe the sufFring mind,"
The gentler voice reply'd."[27]
Contend with God, and court despair;"
Again the spectres cry'd.
"Fate threats in vain, when man's resign'd,
God loves to soothe the sufFring mind,"
The gentler voice reply'd."[27]
Leonora, ere her sense was gone,
Thus faint exclaim'd,—"Thy will be done,
"Lord, let thy anger cease."
Soft on the wind was borne the pray'r;
The spectres vanish'd into air,
And all was hushed in peace.
Thus faint exclaim'd,—"Thy will be done,
"Lord, let thy anger cease."
Soft on the wind was borne the pray'r;
The spectres vanish'd into air,
And all was hushed in peace.
Now redd'ning tints the skies adorn,
And streaks of gold proclaim the morn;
The night is chas'd away.
The sun ascends, new warmth he gives,
New hope, new joy; all nature lives,
And hails the glorious day.[28]
And streaks of gold proclaim the morn;
The night is chas'd away.
The sun ascends, new warmth he gives,
New hope, new joy; all nature lives,
And hails the glorious day.[28]
No more are dreadful phantoms near;
Love, and his smiling train appear;
They cull each sweetest flow'r,
To scatter o'er the path of youth,
To deck the bridal bed, when Truth
And Beauty own their pow'r.
Love, and his smiling train appear;
They cull each sweetest flow'r,
To scatter o'er the path of youth,
To deck the bridal bed, when Truth
And Beauty own their pow'r.
Ah,—could your pow'r avert the blast
Which threatens Bliss!—could passion last!
Ye dear enchanters tell;
What purer joy could Heaven bestow,
Than when with shar'd affection's glow,
Our panting bosoms swell?[29]
Which threatens Bliss!—could passion last!
Ye dear enchanters tell;
What purer joy could Heaven bestow,
Than when with shar'd affection's glow,
Our panting bosoms swell?[29]
Sweet spirits! wave the airy wand,
Two faithful hearts your care demand;
Lo! bounding o'er the plain,
Led by your charm, a youth returns;
With hope, his breast impatient burns;
Hope is not always vain.
Two faithful hearts your care demand;
Lo! bounding o'er the plain,
Led by your charm, a youth returns;
With hope, his breast impatient burns;
Hope is not always vain.
"Wake, Leonora—wake to love!
For thee, his choicest wreath he wove."
Death vainly aim'd his Dart.
The Past was all a dream; she woke—
He lives;—'twas William's self who spoke,
And clasp'd her to his Heart.[30]
For thee, his choicest wreath he wove."
Death vainly aim'd his Dart.
The Past was all a dream; she woke—
He lives;—'twas William's self who spoke,
And clasp'd her to his Heart.[30]
- ↑ First edition,Slight differences in punctuation are not noted, and two or three misprints are corrected. The stanzas in both editions are numbered with Roman numerals above.As Leonora left her bed,
"Wiliam," she cried, "art false or dead!
I dreamt thou'd ne'er return." - ↑ Second line, Wearied with their long bickering; fourth, no and; sixth, cymbal.
- ↑ Second line, Heaven's; fifth line, God hath no Mercy.
- ↑ First line, "Oh! mercy, mercy, Lord above!
- ↑ First line, Forbear—forbear—in God believe; fifth, No trust.
- ↑ First line, My child, who knows, he yet survives.
- ↑ Fourth and fifth lines, Would that this hated loathsome light Could.
- ↑ Sixth line, There.
- ↑ The stanza reads:In his manuscript corrections the second line reads, would be; the fourth and fifth,"Oh! mother, mother, Hell or Heaven
Woe or joy, are now all even:
William was Heaven alone.
Fade from my eyes, thou hated light,
Descend, my soul, to endless night,
For love and hope are flown.""Come friendly Death, I hate the light,
Bear me away to endless night." - ↑ Second line, What trampling hears she on the ground; manuscript corrects what of first line to a.
- ↑ First two lines,Fourth line, thou; last lines,"Awake! awake! arise my dear.
Can Leonora sleep? I'm here.Manuscript correction of first lines,"What joy? But whence, and why, ah! tell
At night—so late— you come?"with further variant of the second line, Or wake, or doth she laugh or weep."Rise, Leonora, dost thou sleep,
Or laughs my love, or doth she weep; - ↑ Fifth line, an hundred.
- ↑ Second line, this night.
- ↑ Fourth line, from here.
- ↑ Last lines,Manuscript correction of next to last line, while sparks of fire.In thund'ring gallop off they flew
While streams of fire their heels pursue,
And soon they pant for breath. - ↑ Fourth line, and a bier; fifth line, While priests.
- ↑ Manuscript, first line, Thus sad.
- ↑ Manuscript has two variations of last three lines:and in another place,"Let midnight pass, the rites delay, All follow where I lead the way, To grace our marriage, Priest."""Mourners, away, we want a song,
And quickly, as we haste along,
Give us your blessing, Priest." - ↑ 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.
- ↑ Third line and following,Manuscript, last two lines,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.While streams of fire were left behind,
Like lightning in the air. - ↑ Third line, no Whil'st.
- ↑ Fifth line, William turned round, and clasp'd the fair.
- ↑ Second and third lines,Manuscript of same lines,"Ask Heaven for mercy on her soul,
"Thy earthly course is done."Let Heaven have mercy on thy soul,
The destin'd course is done. - ↑ The stanza reads:This stanza closes the poem in the first and second editions. The remaining stanzas appeared first in the third, or "new" edition only."Who call on God, when press'd with grief,
Who trust his love for kind relief,
Ally his heart to his:
When Man will bear, and be resign'd,
God ever soothes his suffering mind,
And grants him future bliss." - ↑ Manuscript version of last three lines,"God only soothes the patient mind,
And grants him bliss, when Man's resign'd,"
Again a voice replied. - ↑ Manuscript, in fourth line, life for warmth.
- ↑ Manuscript, first line, their power; second line, When Bliss awaits.
- ↑ The manuscript alterations of the first edition would seem to indicate that the two stanzas preceding the last were not at first intended to be a part of the poem. The last, as we have it above, immediately followed that beginning,Later the following stanza was pencilled after that beginning, "Wake, Leonora":
No more are dreadful phantoms near.
Still later this was expanded into two stanzas, and they were placed before that which now closes the poem.Lo, when from far a youth returns,
Led by your charms his bosom burns,
Sweet spirit, wave your wands;
Can heaven a purer bliss bestow,
Than when with shar'd affection's glow
The panting heart expands?