Oh far too haughty are these lips, They can but kiss and jest.

They speak perchance a scornful word, While my heart breaks in my breast.

LVI.

Dearest friend, thou art in love, Tortured with new woes thou art; Darker grows it in thy brain, Lighter grows it in thy heart.

Dearest friend, thou art in love, Though thou hast not yet confessed.

I can see thy flaming heart Burn already through thy vest.

LVII.

I fain by thee would tarry, To rest there and to woo; But thou away must hurry, Thou hadst too much to do.

I told thee that my spirit Was wholly bound to thee, And thou didst laugh to hear it, And curtsy low to me.

Yea, thou did'st much misuse me, In all my love's distress, And even didst refuse me At last the parting kiss.

I will not for thy glory Go drown, when all is o'er; My dear, this same old story Befell me once before.

LVIII.

Sapphires are those eyes of thine, So lovely and so sweet, Thrice blessed is the happy man Whom they with love will greet.

Thy heart, it is a diamond, That sheds a splendid light.

Thrice blessed is the happy man For whom it glows so bright.

As red as rubies are thy lips, Naught fairer can I prove.

Thrice blessed is the happy man To whom they whisper love.

Oh, knew I but that happy man, Could I at last discover, Deep in the greenwood, all alone-- His bliss were quickly over.

LIX.

Lovers' vows, wherefrom thou turnest, Bound me closely to thy heart, Now my jest grows sober earnest, I am pierced by mine own dart.

Laughingly thou stand'st before me-- If thou leave me in my need, All the powers of h.e.l.l come o'er me, I shall shoot myself indeed.

LX.

Our life and the world have too fragment-like grown; To the German Professor I'll hie me anon Who sets in straight order all things overhurled.

He will draw up a sensible system, I think, With his nightcap and nightgown he'll stop every c.h.i.n.k In this tumble-down edifice known as the world.

LXI.

Long through my racked and weary brain Did endless thoughts and dreams revolve; But now thy lovely eyes, my dear, Have brought me to a firm resolve.

Within their radiance wise and kind, Where'er thine eyes shine, I remain.

I could not have believed it true That I should ever love again.

LXII.

To-night they give a party, The house is all a-glow.

Above, in the lighted window, Moves a shadow to and fro.

Thou see'st me not in the darkness, I stand below, apart.

Still less, my dear, thou seeest Within my gloomy heart.

My gloomy heart it loves thee; It breaks for love of thee, It breaks, and yearns, and bleedeth, Only thou wilt not see.

LXIII.

I fain would outpour all my sorrows In a single word to-day.

To the merry winds I would trust it, They would merrily bear it away.

They would bear it to thee, my darling, The word of sorrowful grace.

Thou should'st hear it at every hour, Thou shouldst hear it in every place.

And scarce in the midnight darkness Shouldst thou close thine eyes in sleep, Ere my whispered word, it would follow, Though thy dream were ever so deep.

LXIV.

Thou hast diamonds, and pearls and jewels, All thy heart covets in store, And the loveliest eyes under heaven-- My darling, what wouldst thou more?

Upon thine eyes, so lovely, Have I written o'er and o'er Immortal songs and sonnets-- My darling, what wouldst thou more?

And with thine eyes so lovely Thou hast stung me to the core, And hast compa.s.sed my undoing-- My darling, what wouldst thou more?

LXV.

He who for the first time loves, E'en rejected, is a G.o.d.

He who loves a second time, Unrequited, is a fool.

Such a fool am I, in loving Once again with no return.

Sun and moon and stars are laughing; I am laughing too--and dying.

LXVI.

They gave me advice, they counseled sense, They overpowered with compliments.