And bethinks him of his bride;

And ere long, while onward going,
Chances past a fair to ride;

In the booths he forthwith buys him
For his mistress many a pledge;

But, alas! some Jews surprise him,
And long-standing debts allege.

And the courts of justice duly
Send the knight to prison straight.

Oh accursed story, truly!
For a hero, what a fate!

Can my patience such things weather?
Great is my perplexity.

Women, debts, and foes together,--
Ah, no knight escapes scot free!

1803.*
-----

WEDDING SONG.
THE tale of the Count our glad song shall record

Who had in this castle his dwelling,
Where now ye are feasting the new-married lord,

His grandson of whom we are telling.
The Count as Crusader had blazon'd his fame,

Through many a triumph exalted his name,
And when on his steed to his dwelling he came,

His castle still rear'd its proud head,
But servants and wealth had all fled.

'Tis true that thou, Count, hast return'd to thy home,
But matters are faring there ill.

The winds through the chambers at liberty roam,
And blow through the windows at will

What's best to be done in a cold autumn night?
Full many I've pass'd in more piteous plight;

The morn ever settles the matter aright.
Then quick, while the moon shines so clear,

To bed on the straw, without fear,
And whilst in a soft pleasingslumber he lay,

A motion he feels 'neath his bed.
The rat, an he likes it, may rattle away!

Ay, had he but crumbs there outspread!
But lo! there appears a diminutive wight,

A dwarf 'tis, yet graceful, and bearing a light,
With orator-gestures that notice invite,

At the feet of the Count on the floor
Who sleeps not, though weary full sore.

"We've long been accustom'd to hold here our feast,
Since thou from thy castle first went;

And as we believed thou wert far in the East,
To revel e'en now we were bent.

And if thou'lt allow it, and seek not to chide,
We dwarfs will all banquet with pleasure and pride,

To honour the wealthy, the beautiful bride
Says the Count with a smile, half-asleep;--

"Ye're welcome your quarters to keep!"
Three knights then advance, riding all in a group,

Who under the bed were conceal'd;
And then is a singing and noise-making troop

Of strange little figures reveal'd;
And waggon on waggon with all kinds of things--

The clatter they cause through the ear loudly rings--
The like ne'er was seen save in castles of kings;

At length, in a chariot of gold,
The bride and the guests too, behold!

Then all at full gallop make haste to advance,
Each chooses his place in the hall;

With whirling and waltzing, and light joyous dance,
They begin with their sweethearts the ball.

The fife and the fiddle all merrily sound,
Thy twine, and they glide, and with nimbleness bound,

Thy whisper, and chatter, and, chatter around;
The Count on the scene casts his eye,

And seems in a fever to lie.
They hustle, and bustle, and rattle away

On table, on bench, and on stool;
Then all who had joined in the festival gay

With their partners attempt to grow cool.
The hams and the sausages nimbly they bear,

And meat, fish, and poultry in plenty are there,
Surrounded with wine of the vintage most rare:

And when they have revell'd full long,
They vanish at last with a song.

* * * * * *
And if we're to sing all that further occurr'd,

Pray cease ye to bluster and prate;
For what he so gladly in small saw and heard

He enjoy'd and he practis'd in great.
For trumpets, and singing, and shouts without end

On the bridal-train, chariots and horsemen attend,
They come and appear, and they bow and they bend,

In merry and countless array.
Thus was it, thus is it to-day.

1802.
-----

THE TREASURE-DIGGER
ALL my weary days I pass'd

Sick at heart and poor in purse.
Poverty's the greatest curse,

Riches are the highest good!
And to end my woes at last,

Treasure-seeking forth I sped.
"Thou shalt have my soul instead!"

Thus I wrote, and with my blood.
Ring round ring I forthwith drew,

Wondrous flames collected there,
Herbs and bones in order fair,

Till the charm had work'd aright.
Then, to learned precepts true,

Dug to find some treasure old,
In the place my art foretold

Black and stormy was the night.
Coming o'er the distant plain,

With the glimmer of a star,
Soon I saw a light afar,

As the hour of midnight knell'd.
Preparation was in vain.

Sudden all was lighted up
With the lustre of a cup

That a beauteous boy upheld.
Sweetly seem'd his eves to laugh

Neath his flow'ry chaplet's load;
With the drink that brightly glow'd,

He the circle enter'd in.
And he kindly bade me quaff:

Then methought "This child can ne'er,
With his gift so bright and fair,

To the arch-fiend be akin."
"Pure life's courage drink!" cried he:

"This advice to prize then learn,--
Never to this place return

Trusting in thy spells absurd;
Dig no longer fruitlessly.

Guests by night, and toil by day!
Weeks laborious, feast-days gay!

Be thy future magic-word!
1797.

-----
THE RAT-CATCHER.

I AM the bard known far and wide,
The travell'd rat-catcher beside;

A man most needful to this town,
So glorious through its old renown.

However many rats I see,
How many weasels there may be,

I cleanse the place from ev'ry one,
All needs must helter-skelter run.

Sometimes the bard so full of cheer
As a child-catcher will appear,

Who e'en the wildest captive brings,
Whene'er his golden tales he sings.

However proud each boy in heart,
However much the maidens start,

I bid the chords sweet music make,
And all must follow in my wake.

Sometimes the skilful bard ye view
In the form of maiden-catcher too;

For he no city enters e'er,
Without effecting wonders there.

However coy may be each maid,
However the women seem afraid,

Yet all will love-sick be ere long
To sound of magic lute and song.

[Da Capo.] 1803.*
-----

THE SPINNER.
As I calmly sat and span,

Toiling with all zeal,
Lo! a young and handsome man

Pass'd my spinning-wheel.
And he praised,--what harm was there?--

Sweet the things he said--
Praised my flax-resembling hair,

And the even thread.
He with this was not content,

But must needs do more;
And in twain the thread was rent,

Though 'twas safe before.
And the flax's stonelike weight

Needed to be told;
But no longer was its state

Valued as of old.
When I took it to the weaver,

Something felt I start,
And more quickly, as with fever,

Throbb'd my trembling heart.
Then I bear the thread at length

Through the heat, to bleach;
But, alas, I scarce have strength

To the pool to reach.
What I in my little room

Span so fine and slight,--
As was likely. I presume--

Came at last to light.
1800.*

-----
BEFORE A COURT OF JUSTICE.

THE father's name ye ne'er shall be told
Of my darlingunborn life;

"Shame, shame," ye cry, "on the strumpet bold!"
Yet I'm an honest wife.

To whom I'm wedded, ye ne'er shall be told,
Yet he's both loving and fair;

• mistress [´mistris] n.女主人；情妇；女能手 (初中英语单词)
• patience [´peiʃəns] n.忍耐(力)；耐心；坚韧 (初中英语单词)
• triumph [´traiəmf] n.胜利 vi.得胜，战胜 (初中英语单词)
• dwelling [´dweliŋ] n.住所；寓所 (初中英语单词)
• wealth [welθ] n.财富，财产 (初中英语单词)
• slumber [´slʌmbə] v.&n.睡眠；沉睡状态 (初中英语单词)
• rattle [´rætl] n.嘎吱声 (初中英语单词)
• graceful [´greisfəl] a.优美的，流畅的 (初中英语单词)
• wealthy [´welθi] a.富有的；丰富的 (初中英语单词)
• welcome [´welkəm] a.受欢迎的；可喜的 (初中英语单词)
• waggon [´wægən] n.运货马车；货车 (初中英语单词)
• gallop [´gæləp] n.&v.奔驰；急速行进 (初中英语单词)
• whisper [´wispə] v.耳语 n.低语；沙沙声 (初中英语单词)
• chatter [´tʃætə] vi.&n.饶舌；闲聊 (初中英语单词)
• vanish [´væniʃ] vi.消失；消散；消灭 (初中英语单词)
• midnight [´midnait] n.午夜；漆黑 (初中英语单词)
• circle [´sə:kəl] n.圆圈 v.环绕；盘旋 (初中英语单词)
• glorious [´glɔ:riəs] a.光荣的；辉煌的 (初中英语单词)
• captive [´kæptiv] n.俘虏；捕获物 (初中英语单词)
• calmly [´kɑ:mli] ad.平静地；无风浪地 (初中英语单词)
• scarce [skeəs, skers] a.缺乏的；稀有的 (初中英语单词)
• darling [´dɑ:liŋ] n.爱人 a.亲爱的 (初中英语单词)
• onward [´ɔnwəd] ad.&a.向前(的) (高中英语单词)
• forthwith [fɔ:θ´wið] ad.立刻 (高中英语单词)
• knight [nait] n.骑士；爵士 (高中英语单词)
• whilst [wailst] conj.当...时候；虽然 (高中英语单词)
• pleasing [´pli:ziŋ] a.使人愉快的；合意的 (高中英语单词)
• motion [´məuʃən] n.手势 vt.打手势 (高中英语单词)
• bearing [´beəriŋ] n.举止；忍耐；关系 (高中英语单词)
• banquet [´bæŋkwit] n.宴会，盛宴 (高中英语单词)
• clatter [´klætə] n.&v.喧嚷；骚动 (高中英语单词)
• chariot [´tʃæriət] n.古时双轮战车 (高中英语单词)
• joyous [´dʒɔiəs] a.充满快乐的 (高中英语单词)
• merrily [´merili] ad.欢乐地；愉快地 (高中英语单词)
• bustle [´bʌsəl] v.(使)匆忙 n.匆忙 (高中英语单词)
• festival [´festivəl] n.节日；庆祝；欢庆 (高中英语单词)
• poultry [´pəultri] n.&v.家禽 (高中英语单词)
• gladly [´glædli] ad.愉快地，高兴地 (高中英语单词)
• countless [´kauntlis] a.无数的 (高中英语单词)
• learned [´lə:nid] a.有学问的，博学的 (高中英语单词)
• brightly [´braitli] ad.明亮地；聪明地 (高中英语单词)
• cleanse [klenz] vt.使清洁；净化 (高中英语单词)
• loving [´lʌviŋ] a.爱的，有爱情的 (高中英语单词)
• accursed [ə´kə:sid] a.被诅咒的；可憎的 (英语四级单词)
• grandson [´grænsʌn] n.孙子；外孙子 (英语四级单词)
• fiddle [´fidl] n.小提琴 v.拉提琴 (英语四级单词)
• hustle [´hʌsəl] v.猛挤；催促 n.乱堆 (英语四级单词)
• glimmer [´glimə] n.&vi.闪光 (英语四级单词)
• wedded [´wedid] a.(已)结婚的；献身的 (英语四级单词)
• crusader [kru:´seidə] n.十字军参加者 (英语六级单词)
• diminutive [di´minjutiv] a.非常小的；小型的 (英语六级单词)
• bluster [´blʌstə] v.(风)狂吹 n.狂风声 (英语六级单词)
• beauteous [´bju:tiəs] a.美的，美丽的 (英语六级单词)
• methought [mi´θɔ:t] methinks的过去式 (英语六级单词)
• laborious [lə´bɔ:riəs] a.吃力的 (英语六级单词)
• unborn [,ʌn´bɔ:n] a.未生的；将来的 (英语六级单词)