Romantic Ballads, Tr. from the Dan., and Miscellaneous Pieces (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: FRIDLEIF AND HELGA. FROM THE DANISH OF OEHLENSLEGER. The woods were in leaf, and they cast a sweet shade; Among them walk'd Helga, the beautiful maid. The water is dashing o'er yon little stones; She sat down beside it, and rested her bones. She sat down, and soon, from a bush that was near, Sir Fridleif approach'd her with sword and with spear: " Ah, pity me, Helga, and fly me not now, I live, only live, on the smile of thy brow: " In thy father's whole garden is found not a rose, Which bright as thyself, and as beautiful grows." " Sir Fridleif, thy words are but meant to deceive, Yet tell me what brings thee so late here at eve." " I cannot find rest, and I cannot find ease, Though sweet sing the linnets among the wild trees; " If thou wilt but promise, one day to be mine, No more shall I sorrow, no more shall I pine." She sank in his arms, and her cheeks were as red As the sun when he sinks in his watery bed; But soon she arose from his loving embrace; He walk'd by her side, through the wood, for a space. " Now listen, young Fridleif, the gallant and bold, Take off from my finger this ring of red gold, Take off from my finger this ring of red gold, And part with it not, till in death thou art cold." Sir Fridleif stood there in a sorrowful plight, Salt tears wet his eyeballs, and blinded his sight. " Go home, and I '11 come to thy father with speed, And claim thee from him, on my mighty grey steed." Sir Fridleif, at night, through the thick forest rode, He fain would arrive at his lov'd one's abode; % His harness was clanking, his helm glitter'd sheen, His horse was so swift, and himself was so keen: He reach'd the proud castle, and jump'd on the ground, His horse to the branch of a linden he bound; He shoul...