FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   406   407   408   409   410   411   412   413   414   415   416   417   418   419   420   421   422   423   424   425   426   427   428   429   430  
431   432   433   434   435   436   437   438   439   440   441   442   443   444   445   446   447   448   449   >>  
r feeling. Rest may night itself deny thee, and may day to thee be terror! Be thy face before thy husband as a thing of nameless loathing! May his eye avoid thee ever, flee the splendor of thy beauty! May he ne'er, in gladsome gathering, stretch his hand to thee for partner! Never gird himself with girdle which for him thy hand embroidered! Let his heart, thy love forsaking, in another love be fettered; The love-tokens of another may his scutcheon flame in battle, While behind thy grated windows year by year, away thou mournest! To thy rival may he offer prisoners that his hand has taken! May the trophies of his victory on his knees to _her_ be proffered! May he hate thee! and thy heart's faith to him be but thing accursed! These things, aye and more still! be thy cure for all my sting and sorrow!" Silent now goes Abensaid, unto Xeres, in the midnight; Dazzling shone the palace, lighted, festal for the loathsome marriage, Richly-robed Moors were standing 'neath the shimmer of the tapers, On the jubilant procession of the marriage-part proceeded. In the path stands Abensaid, frowning, as the bridegroom nears him; Strikes the lance into his bosom, with the rage of sharpest vengeance. 'Gainst the heaven rings a loud cry, those at hand their swords are baring-- But he rushes through the weapons, and in safety gains his own hearth. Translation through the German, in the metre of the original, by E. Irenaeus Stevenson. THE VILLAGE SCHOOLMASTER[17] From "Country Life" There he sits; his figure and his rigid bearing Let us know most clearly what is his ideal:-- Confidence in self, in his lofty standing; Thereto add conceit in his own great value. Certain, he can read--yes, and write and cipher; In the almanac no star-group's a stranger. In the church he, faithful, leads the pious chorus; Drums the catechism into young ones' noddles. Disputation to him's half the joy of living; Even though he's beaten, he will not give over. Watch him, when he talks, in how learned fashion! Drags on every word, spares no play of muscle. Ah, what pains he takes to forget no syllable-- Consonants and vowels rightly wei
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   406   407   408   409   410   411   412   413   414   415   416   417   418   419   420   421   422   423   424   425   426   427   428   429   430  
431   432   433   434   435   436   437   438   439   440   441   442   443   444   445   446   447   448   449   >>  



Top keywords:

Abensaid

 

standing

 

marriage

 
VILLAGE
 
SCHOOLMASTER
 

original

 

Irenaeus

 
Stevenson
 

Country

 

figure


bearing

 

forget

 

German

 
swords
 

Gainst

 

heaven

 

rightly

 
baring
 

syllable

 
Consonants

hearth

 
Translation
 

Confidence

 

safety

 
rushes
 

vowels

 

weapons

 

Disputation

 

noddles

 

catechism


fashion

 

living

 

beaten

 

learned

 
chorus
 

Certain

 
muscle
 
conceit
 
Thereto
 

stranger


spares

 

church

 

faithful

 
vengeance
 

cipher

 

almanac

 

tokens

 
scutcheon
 

battle

 
fettered