A German Legend

Round thy steep castle walls, Who seeks thy love must ride, Who from their dizzy summit falls, Must death abide. O Lady proud and fair, 'Tis not too much; Gladly that death I dare Thy lovely lips to touch. Tears in thy blue eyes springing, Gathering I see, Thou kneel'st thy white hands wringing For me!—is it for me? Fear not—I shall return, For one so blest as I, Whom thou couldst love and mourn, He cannot die. Give me one kiss—one kiss, And so farewell, From yonder dread abyss That be my spell. Steady, good steed and true, One false step were thy last, Which thou and I should rue, Down to perdition cast. Steady, my gallant gray, Paw not the ground, To tilt or tourney gay We are not bound. Many a field of death Have we gone o'er, But such a dreadful path Never before. Toss not thy noble mane, Champ not the bit, Lightly I guide thy rein And lightly, lightly sit. Now, now the hideous round Is almost won, Now one more step—one bound, O God, 'tis done! Hence not thy smiles to meet, Have I that doom defied, It was to spurn thee from my feet Not clasp thee as my bride. Fiend with an angel's face And heart of stone, In thy perfidious grace Woman alone. Hurl'd from thy cruel cursed wall, My brother met his fate; Thou had'st his love—his life—his all: Thou hast my scorn, my hate. Oh, never on thy flinty breast May loyal lover lie! By baby lips ne'er be it prest: Live lonely—lonely die! Well done, good gallant gray! Thou shalt be shod with gold, And thy brave ride to-day In song and story told. Now from this fatal place Speed like the wind, Gallop apace, apace, And leave this slaughter-house behind.