From the German of
Goethe
Know’st thou the land where the
lemon-tree flowers;
The orange glows gold in the darkness
of bowers,
Out of blue heaven a softer zephyr blows,
And still the myrtle, tall the laurel
grows?
Know’st it indeed?
Thither,
ah, me! ah, me!
Would I with thee, O my beloved, flee.
Know’st thou the house? Columns
support its beams,
Its long hall glitters and its gallery
gleams;
And sculpture glows and asks, in marble
mild,
“What have they done to thee, thou
poor, poor child?”
Know’st it indeed?
Thither,
ah, me! ah, me!
Would I with thee, O my protector, flee.
Know’st thou the mountain and its
cloud-built bridge?
In mist the mule treads cautiously its
ridge;
The dragon’s ancient brood still
haunts its caves;
Down the loud crag the plunging torrent
raves.
Know’st it indeed?
Thither,
ah, me! ah, me!
Our pathway leads! O father, let
us flee!