LUDWIG TIECK. [1773-1853.] AUTUMN SONG. A BIRD flew fast the field along, And in the sunshine sang its song, 'Farewell, farewell! I fly away. I go to-day.' I listened as the song drew near, With strange delight, and yet with fear, With mournful joy, with glad unrest, Rose eager now, and sank my breast. Heart, heart, Art thou with joy or grief oppressed? But when I saw the leafless bough, I said, 'Alas! 'tis autumn now, The summer guests, the swallows, fly, Perchance thus love and longing hie; Far, far With time they fly.' But once again the sun shone bright, And close to me the bird did light; It saw my tears and sang to me, 'There is no winter, love, for thee; No, no! Spring it is, and e'er will be.' Through joy and pain I go. Ye golden stars, so bright and free, Ye are for ever far from me, Yes, far from me, Yet all my trust in you shall be. And lo! a sound rings on the air, Light on the darkness breaks; His heart no more is weighed with care, And all his spirit wakes. 'Oh, man! we are both far and nigh ; Thou art not lonely here. Oh, trust to us! full oft thine eye Has watched our light so clear. We golden stars, so bright and free, Are not for ever far from thee. For gladly we, The golden stars, oft think of thee.' CLEMENS BRENTANO. [1777 - 1842.] I SOUGHT TO BIND A POSY. I SOUGHT to bind a posy, But night sank o'er the lea, And I could find no flower, Else had I brought it thee. My tears fell fast and faster Into the clover sweet, And there I saw a flower, That blossomed at my feet. For thee would I have plucked it Down in the clover low, |