Page:Masterpieces of German literature volume 5.djvu/569

 Rh He bids the boy in slumber:

"O dwarf, go up this hour,

And see if still the ravens

Are flying round the tower;

And if the ancient ravens

Still wheel above us here.

Then must I sleep enchanted

For many a hundred year."

FROM MY CHILDHOOD DAYS* (1817. 1818)

Fkom my childhood days, from my childhood days, Rings an old song's plaintive tone —

Oh, how long the ways, oh, how long the ways I since have gone!

"What the swallow sang, what the swallow sang,

In spring or in autumn warm — Do its echoes hang, do its echoes hang

About the farm?

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When I went away, when I went away. Full coffers and chests were there ;

When I came today, when I came today. All, all was bare ! ' '

Childish lips so wise, childish lips so wise.

With a lore as rich as gold. Knowing all birds' cries, knowing all birds' cries.

Like the sage of old! This is a working-over of an old popular song in imitation of the swallow's cry, found in various dialect-forms in different parts of Germany. The most widespread version is:
 * Translator: A. I. du P. Coleman.

Wenn ieh wegzieh', wenn ich wegzieh',

Sind Kisten und Kasten vol! J ' Wann ieh wiederkomm', wann ich wiederkomm', 1st alles verzehrt.