The following version of Auld Robin Gray' is a curiosity in its way-both as an illustration of the diversity of national character, and as being from the hand of Florian: "LE VIEUX ROBIN GRAY. ROMANCE. Quand les moutons sont dans la bergerie, Et près de moi dort mon bon vieux époux. Il s'embarqua dans la seule espérance A tant d'amour de joindre un peu de bien. Après un an notre vache est volée, Le bras cassé mon père rentre un jour,— Et Robin Gray vint me faire la cour. Mon père alors parla du mariage,— Un mois après, devant ma porte assise, Ah! que de pleurs ensemble nous versâmes! Je ne vis plus, j'écarte de mon ame Je veux tâcher d'être une bonne femme, No. XLVIII.-PAGE 334. Versions from the German, by Lady Margaret Lindsay, by marriage Fordyce. I. ELEONORA. (By BÜRGER.) Red glow'd the morn, when, sprung from bed, -Now William, with King Frederick's might, Ne word had sent, ne line had written, To say if he were well or smitten! Frederick, and eke the Empress Queen, Agreed on gentle peace at length. To meet them o'er each dale or hill, "Praise God!” cried mother, wife, and child, But, woe is me! for Eleonora, Ne kiss, ne bliss, but dole and sorrow! As up and down the lines she flew, Breathless and cold, she ask'd each one If any aught of William knew? But word or tidings gat she none. When all were pass'd, all hush'd and still, Her mother, at the mournful noise, "Oh mother! mother! all is gone! "Help, gracious Lord of power and might! Let's kneel, my child, and say a prayer; What God has done must still be right, "Tis for our good He sends us care." -"Mother, such prejudice is vain— God neither heeds nor spares my pain! "Help, Jesus! thou the cup of woc Thy sacramental blood did flow, No sacrament, alas! can cure; "Yet listen, child! for men are light, -"Oh, mother! what is gone is gone, Go out, go out, life's weary light! Go out in black and dismal night! For me, for me, with God Almighty There's neither grace, nor hope, nor pity!" "Mercy, kind Heaven! nor sin in aught Forget, my child, thy earthly grief, Shall to thy fainting soul be given." "Mother, heaven's bliss is but a sound, All wild with grief's intemperance, Her brain ybrent, her blood inflamed, And till the night her mantle gray With glittering stars made sheen and gay. When hark! without- tramp! tramp! tramp! tramp! Like horse's iron hoofs harsh sounding, Like rider's jingle-horse's champ, All o'er the balustrade resounding; And hark, and hark, the door-bell's ring— Quite slow and low-cling! cling! cling! cling! And ere that any one appear'd, Through the keyhole these words she heard : "Holla! holla! ope, ope the door! Wake ye, my love, or do ye sleep? Think ye of me as heretofore? Or do ye laugh, or do ye weep?" "My love! my love! my William! you? Oh! I have watch'd and wept till now! Suffer'd-God knows! but now, all's well; Yet why so late, sweet William, tell ?” "We saddle still! i' th' dead of night From far Bohemia I be rode; Late I gat up, and ere 'tis light I'll carry you to my abode." - First, oh, my love! from horse descend; Bleak through the hawthorn blows the wind; Come to my arms-there nought shall harm thee, And in my bosom rest and warm thee!" -"Let the bleak wind blow through the haws, My black horse champs his bit, and paws- Spring up behind-come, come, despatch! A hundred miles I have to ride Before my bed receives my bride!” "What! ere the morn a hundred miles, -"Look there! look here! the moon shines clear! Thou to the bridal bed art borne!" —“Oh, say, where are thy bridesmen all, The lovely damsel lightly sprung, And lighted on the horse behind him, Clasping her true love as she flung Her lily arms around to bind him. Then on and onward-trot, trot, trot, Swung the black horse and halted not, Snorting full loud, as on he bicker'd, While from his hoofs red sparkles flicker'd. Far to the left hand and the right, Flew woods and lawns, and dykes and ditches; Too quick almost for thought or sight, They thunder'd o'er the roads and bridges. "Shudders my love? the moon shines clearHurrah! the dead ride fast! dost fear To bide with the dead, my lovely one?" 16 What tolling bells, what deadly knells! |