Page:Masterpieces of German literature volume 5.djvu/205



"And fearest thou, thou hast slept away

Thy faith and honor too,

I say I'll wed thee yet, my dear,

So thou shalt never rue."

Who was it sang this little lay,

And sang it o 'er with cheer?

On St. Annenberg by the town,

It was the mountaineer.

He sang it there right gaily,

Drank mead and cool red wine,

Beside him sat and listened

Three dainty damsels fine.

As many as sand-grains in the sea,

As many as stars in heaven be,

As many as beasts that dwell in fields,

As many as pence which money yields,

As much as blood in veins will flow,

As much as heat in fire will glow,

As much as leaves in woods are seen

And little grasses in the green,

As many as thorns that prick on hedges,

As grains of wheat that harvest pledges,

As much as clover in meadows fair,

As dust a-flying in the air,

As many as fish in streams are found,

And shells upon the ocean's ground,

And drops that in the sea must go,

As many as flakes that shine in snow—

As much, as manifold as life abounds both far and nigh,

So much, so many times, for e'er, oh thank the Lord on high!