Poems (Hooper)/The Minstrel's Song

by Lucy Hamilton Hooper

TRANSLATIONS

FROM THE GERMAN. 

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 THE MINSTREL'S SONG.

Und legt ihr zwischen mich und sie
Auch Strom und Thal und Hügel.

Though now there lie, 'twixt thee and me,
 The vale, the hill, the river,
They part us not, those mighty ones,
 For song hath pinions ever.
I am a minstrel, widely known,
 While on my way I'm wending,
Through every land and every clime
 One song to Heav'n I'm sending:
   I've loved thee well, thou sweetest,
    Through joy and pain untold;
   I've loved thee well, and greet thee
    A thousand, thousandfold.

When through the leafy wood I go
 Where finch and thrush are singing,
My song the wingéd people learn;
 Soon from their throats 'tis ringing.
The wind doth joyful spread his wings
 When from the heath he heareth,
And swift my song, o'er mount and stream,
 And farther still, he beareth:
   I've loved thee well, thou sweetest,
    Through joy and pain untold;
   I've loved thee well, and greet thee
    A thousand, thousandfold.

Through town and village still I play,
 And over field and mountain,
Till, with her pitcher, sings the maid
 My song beside the fountain;
The hunter hums it to himself
 While through:the beech-wood going;
The fisher, to his rudder's creak,
 Sings, while his net he's throwing:
   I've loved thee well, thou sweetest,
    Through joy and pain untold;
   I've loved thee well, and greet thee
    A thousand, thousandfold.

And coolest wind and forest bird,
 And fisher, hunter, maiden,
They all my messengers must be
 With word to thee, love, laden.
And so in earnest or in jest
 At last thine ear it greeteth;
Thou know'st the sender as thou hear'st,
 Thy heart so wildly beateth:
   I've loved thee well, thou sweetest,
    Through joy and pain untold;
   I've loved thee well, and greet thee
    A thousand, thousandfold.
Geibel.