WE SAT IN A LITTLE BOAT, LOVE. We sat in a little boat, love, Together side by side; And through the night did float, love, Over the waters wide. The spirit-island so fair, love, In moonlight glimmering hung; Sweet songs resounded there, love, The mist-dance swayed and swung. 'Twas sweet, and yet more sweet, love, And still swayed to and fro, But we o'er the waters fleet, love, Drifted in hopeless woe. I SEE THEE OFT IN DREAMS AGAIN. I SEE thee oft in dreams again, And see thee greet me kindly; And weeping loudly, I cast me then Before thy sweet feet blindly. Thou gazest at me mournfully, Thy golden tresses shaking, And from thy gentle eyes I see The pearly tear-drops breaking. Thou giv'st me a branch of the cypress drear, One word thou whisperest, lowly : I wake the branch is no longer here, And the word I've forgotten wholly. I DREAMED. I DREAMÉD of a royal maid, So tearful, pale, and slender, We sat beneath the lime-tree, clasped In love's embraces tender. 'I would not have thy father's throne, His crown of diamonds rarest ; I would not have his sceptre's state, But thee thyself, thou fairest.' 'That cannot be,' she answered then, 'For in my grave I'm lying; And only at night I come to thee, Because of my love undying.' SONG. I STOOD and leant against the mast, Counted each wavelet's swell; The ship it sails so fast, too fast; Dear Fatherland, farewell! My fair-love's house I glide before, Her casements catch the sun, With gazing long my eyes are sore, But greeting waves me none. Ye welling tears, keep from mine eyes, Lest I in darkness go; And break not thou, my weary heart, With all too bitter woe! J. O L. |