The Knight, he stands at the iron gate, 
The Maiden so sweet and fair looks out. 

“Dear Knight, however can I come down?” 
And silence and darkness reign all round. 

“Catch this I throw, and it shall be 
Your rescue’s sweetest surety. 
Up there you can firmly bind the end, 
And by the rope you may descend.” 

“Ah, Knight, I fly like a thief to you, 

Ah, Knight, for love what won’t I do!” 
“Dear love, you take but what’s your own, 
We'll flee like shadows that dance and are gone!” 

“Ah, Knight, the darkness yawns below, 
My senses reel, I dare not go!” 
“Then you refuse; my life I’'d stake, 
And yet at empty terrors you quake!” 

“Ah, Knight, ah, Knight, you play with fire, 

Yet you alone are my heart’s desire! 
Farewell, ye Halls, forever and ay, 

Where never again my feet shall stray. 

537 

“What lures me on I cannot fight; 

Ye loved ones all, I bid good-night!” 
No more she demurs and plays for time, _ 
She clutches the rope for the downward climb. 

No sooner has she slid halfway, 

Than she takes fright, her glances stray. 
Her arms grow weak, she must let go 
To fall on the breast of Death below. 

“Ah, Knight, warm me once more, and I 
Blissfully in your arms may die, 
Let me but breathe your every kiss, 
And I'll fade into sweet nothingness.” 

The Knight embraces her trembling form, 

And to his bosom he presses her, warm. 
And as their souls together strain, 
He too is pierced by mortal pain. 

“Farewell, my Love, so true, so kind!” 
“Stay, and I'll follow close behind!” 

A flash, as of eternal fire,— 

Their souls depart and they expire. 

YEARNING 

A Romance 

“Why sighs your breast, why glows your gaze, 
Why are your veins all burning, 

As if Night weighs, as if Fate flays 
Down into storm your yearning?” 

“Show me the eyes, like ringing bells, 
That glow in rainbows high, 

Where brightness streams, where music swells, 
Where stars go swimming by. 

“I dreamed this dream, so troublesome, 
Past all elucidating. 

My head is void, my heart is numb, 
My grave shall soon be waiting.” 

Early Literary Experiments 

“What dream you here, what dream you there, 
What lures to distant lands? 

Here booms the Tide, here Hope rides fair, 
Here’s fire in True Love’s bonds.” 

“Here naught rides fair, here is no fire, 
But see what glimmers yonder, 

I’m blinded, burning with desire, 
And I would fain sink under.” 

He stares aloft, his eyes shine bright, 
He shakes in every limb. 

His sinews swell, his heart’s alight, 
His soul departs from him.