Landon in The Literary Gazette 1835/Pauline’s Price
ORIGINAL POETRY.
VERSIONS FROM THE GERMAN.
(Second Series.)
Pauline's Price.—Goethe.
Sweet Pauline, could I buy thee
With gold or its worth,
I would not deny thee
The wealth of the earth.
They talk of the pleasure
That riches bestow—
Without thee, my treasure,
What joy could I know?
Did I rule Europe over,
Thy price it should be;
Let them leave, for thy lover,
A cottage with thee,
Where a pear-tree is stooping
With fruit at the door,
And the green vine is drooping
Each dark lattice o'er.
If my life-breath could be, love,
A ransom for thine,
I'd yield it for thee, love,
With all that is mine.
Ah! had I the power,
I'd count as time flown
A year for each hour
That thou wert mine own.