Translations from Heine.
177
The old dream comes again to me:
With May-night stars above,
We two sat under the linden-tree
And swore eternal love.
Again and again we plighted troth,
We chattered, and laughed, and kissed;
To make me well remember my oath
You gave me a bite in the wrist.
O darling with the eyes serene,
And with the teeth so white!
The vows were proper to the scene,
Superfluous was the bite.
My darling, we sat together,
We two in our frail boat;
The night was calm o'er the wide sea
Whereon we were afloat.
The Spectre-Island, the lovely,
Lay dim in the moon's mild glance;
There sounded sweetest music,
There waved the shadowy dance.
