Bringing forth tones shrill and wailing;
Then around his mouth there played a
Sweet strange smile of melancholy.

Silent through the forest's thicket
On he rode, while often roving
Were his glances--as the case is,
When a wanderer for the first time
Over unknown roads is travelling.
Rough the path--the poor horse often
In the snow was nearly sinking,
And o'er gnarl'd and tangled branches
Of the knotted pine-roots stumbling.
And the rider, in ill-humour,
Said: "Sometimes it is quite tedious,
Through the world alone to travel.
There are times, 'mid gloomy forests,
When one longeth for companions.
Since I bade farewell this morning
To the good monks of St. Blasien,
Lonely was the road and dreary.
Scattered here and there, a peasant,
Through the snow-storm running swiftly,
Hardly did my greeting notice.
Then a pair of coal-black ravens,
Who with hoarse discordant croakings,
O'er a dead mole fiercely quarrelled;
For the past two hours, however,
I not once have had the honour
To behold one living being.
And in this lone forest district,
Where the lofty snow-clad pine-trees
Look as if in shrouds enveloped,
I should like to have some comrades.
Were they even rogues or gipsies,
Or those two suspicious fellows
Who escorted the old knight once
Through the forest's gloom and thicket;
Then appeared as Death and Devil,
Grinning in his face with scorn!
I should rather ride with them now--
Rather fight them, or play lively
Dances for them, than so lonely
Thus to trot through this dense forest."

All comes to an end, however,
Even riding through the forests.
Round the trunks it grew much lighter,
Storm and snow-clouds were receding,
And the blue sky smiled benignant
Through the dense shade of the pine-woods.
Thus the miner, looking upward.
Sees, far at the pit's mouth shining.
Like a star, the distant daylight,
Which he greets with joyful shouting.
Likewise such a cheerful feeling
Brightens up our riders face.
So he reached the forest's border,
And his eyes, so long restricted
By dark woods to narrow prospects,
Gladly swept the wide horizon.

O how lovely w