(no subject)

[shaffy024]

These are incredibly gorgeous from a book of German poetry and songs from 1863

"Union"

Give me thy hand, in faithful token
     That thou my friend wilt always be;
Now never may the chain be broken,
      Which links my heart this day to thee;
One place of prayer, our passions stilling --
      One home, where pleasant hours shall flee --
One joy, our bosoms gently thrilling --
      One heaven, at last, for thee and me.

"Spring Evening"

What more fine can be,
       What more full of glee,
Than in spring, when day's declining, --
        When the blossoms fair
        Perfume all the air,
And the western clouds are shining, --
When the birds so fondly twitter,
And the sharp, shrill crickets titter,
        Honey-laden bees
        Murmur with the breeze, --
O, what time for thought is fitter?

Then we leave our home,
        To the fields we roam,
And we sit amongst the haying, --
        Hear the pleasant sound
       Of the birds around,
Or some far-off flute that's playing, --
Hear the frogs croak out their chorus
From the sedgy marsh before us!
         How the shrill, clear notes
         From their dewy throats
Back to summer thoughts restore us!

But 'tis night! away!
         For we must not stay
Chatting here so late together.
         Yet 'twere sweet to stay
         'Mid the new-mown hay,
All night long, this summer weather:
Time is o'er for chat and dancing;
Now the gentle moon, advancing,
          Calls the stars out, all,
          Sets them, great and small,
In the clear, blue heavens glancing.