1. The castled crag of Drachenfels (11) Frowns o'er the wide and winding Rhine, 2. And peasant girls, with deep blue eyes, Walk smiling o'er this paradise; Above, the frequent feudal towers Through green leaves lift their walls of gray, And many a rock which steeply lours, And noble arch in proud decay, Look o'er this vale of vintage-bowers; But one thing want these banks of Rhine, Thy gentle hand to clasp in mine! 3. I send the lilies given to me; Though long before thy hand they touch, I know that they must wither'd be, And offer'd from my heart to thine! 4. The river nobly foams and flows, And all its thousand turns disclose Some fresher beauty varying round; Nor could on earth a spot be found To nature and to me so dear, Could thy dear eyes in following mine Still sweeten more these banks of Rhine! LVI. By Coblentz, on a rise of gentle ground, Our enemy's, but let not that forbid Honour to Marceau! o'er whose early tomb Tears, big tears, gush'd from the rough soldier's lid, Lamenting and yet envying such a doom, Falling for France, whose rights he battled to resume. LVII. Brief, brave, and glorious was his young career,— wept. (12) LVIII. Here Ehrenbreitstein, (13) with her shatter'd wall Black with the miner's blast, upon her height A tower of victory! from whence the flight LIX. Adieu to thee, fair Rhine! How long delighted The stranger fain would linger on his way! Thine is a scene alike where souls united Is to the mellow Earth as Autumn to the year. LX. Adieu to thee again! a vain adieu! There can be no farewell to scene like thine; And if reluctantly the eyes resign Their cherish'd gaze upon thee, lovely Rhine! "Tis with the thankful glance of parting praise; More mighty spots may rise-more glaring shine, The brilliant, fair, and soft,—the glories of old days, LXI. The negligently grand, the fruitful bloom A race of faces happy as the scene, Whose fertile bounties here extend to all, Still springing o'er thy banks, though Empires near them fall. VOL. I. S |