Poems (Hooper)/"Fair Hedwig"
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"FAIR HEDWIG."
Im Kreise der Vasallen sitzt.
Surrounded by his vassels, sits
The young and valiant knight,
With glowing cheek and dark bright eye,
That gleams with fiery thoughts and high,
As if he sought the fight.
The young and valiant knight,
With glowing cheek and dark bright eye,
That gleams with fiery thoughts and high,
As if he sought the fight.
Forth steps a gentle maid to him,
And fills his cup with wine;
Then modestly she glides away;
Upon her brow the fairest ray
Of morning seems to shine.
And fills his cup with wine;
Then modestly she glides away;
Upon her brow the fairest ray
Of morning seems to shine.
But quickly doth the young knight seize
Her hand so snowy white;
Her azure eye, so pure and clear,
She bends on earth, as if in fear,
Then lifts with changeless light.
Her hand so snowy white;
Her azure eye, so pure and clear,
She bends on earth, as if in fear,
Then lifts with changeless light.
"Fair Hedwig, who before me stand'st,
Three things now tell me free:
Whence dost thou come? where dost thou go?
Why follow'st thou my footsteps so?
These are my questions three."
Three things now tell me free:
Whence dost thou come? where dost thou go?
Why follow'st thou my footsteps so?
These are my questions three."
"Whence do I come? I come from God,
They told me in past years,
When, once pursued by mocking scorn,
For father, mother, still unknown,
I asked with bitter tears.
They told me in past years,
When, once pursued by mocking scorn,
For father, mother, still unknown,
I asked with bitter tears.
"Where do I go? Naught drives me forth,
The world is far too wide;
Why should I wander here and there?
The world, the world is everywhere;
Joy dwells on every side.
The world is far too wide;
Why should I wander here and there?
The world, the world is everywhere;
Joy dwells on every side.
"Why do I follow at thy sign?
Say, could I rest me? Never!
I pour the wine thou drink'st for thee;
I asked the task on bended knee;
Would it were mine forever
Say, could I rest me? Never!
I pour the wine thou drink'st for thee;
I asked the task on bended knee;
Would it were mine forever
"And now I ask, thou fairest child,
A fourth last thing of thee;
Then will my questioning be o'er.
Quick! answer me; I ask no more.
Say, maiden, lov'st thou me?"
A fourth last thing of thee;
Then will my questioning be o'er.
Quick! answer me; I ask no more.
Say, maiden, lov'st thou me?"
At first she stands amazed and mute,
Then casts around her gaze
Upon each circling knightly guest;
Then folds her hands upon her breast—
"'I love thee," soft she says.
Then casts around her gaze
Upon each circling knightly guest;
Then folds her hands upon her breast—
"'I love thee," soft she says.
"But now I know that far away
I must from hence be gone;
In truth, 'tis clear within my breast,
The veil, since I have this confessed,
Befits me now alone."
I must from hence be gone;
In truth, 'tis clear within my breast,
The veil, since I have this confessed,
Befits me now alone."
"And when thou say'st thou com'st from God,
I feel thou speak'st aright;
His dearest child, I lead thee forth,
In spite of scorn and hate, my troth
At altar foot to plight.
I feel thou speak'st aright;
His dearest child, I lead thee forth,
In spite of scorn and hate, my troth
At altar foot to plight.
"Unto the chapel, noble guests,
I pray you follow me.
Brave knights and proud, ye, at my call,
Come hither to a festival;
My fairest it shall be."
Hebbel.
I pray you follow me.
Brave knights and proud, ye, at my call,
Come hither to a festival;
My fairest it shall be."
Hebbel.