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PART V

GERMAN FABLES

THE FIR-TREE AND THE PALM

A LONELY Fir-tree standeth,
On a height where north winds blow;
It sleepeth, with whitened garment,
Enshrouded by ice and snow.

It dreameth of a Palm-tree,
That far in the Eastern land
Lonely and silent mourneth
On its burning shelf of sand.

(Heinrich Heine. Translated by W. W. Story.)


THE COCK AND THE RAVEN

A RAVEN rather thievishly inclined,
Went hopping here and there to pilfer
Such little god-sends, both of gold and silver
As he could find.
With seals, and watch-chains, trinkets, rings,
And fifty other pretty little things.
At last a grave old Cock, who saw,
At sundry times.
Our black transgressor of the law,

Commit these crimes;

419