 | The Poetical Works of James Gates Percival |  |
XII. The Boatmen of the Rhine.
“Ein Leben, wie im Paradies.”—
Hölty.
Hölty.
A joyous life, like Paradise,
We lead along the Rhine,
From where it springs 'mid glacier ice,
To where it meets the brine.
By mountain farm, and moated tower,
By ancient town, we glide:
By vine-clad hill, and fabled bower,
By castled rock, we ride.
We lead along the Rhine,
From where it springs 'mid glacier ice,
To where it meets the brine.
By mountain farm, and moated tower,
By ancient town, we glide:
By vine-clad hill, and fabled bower,
By castled rock, we ride.
'Mid Alpine song we float along;
Through field and meadow stray:
Where grows the vine, in purple twine,
We win our easy way.
We left the free, brave Tell, with thee,
Their earliest rights to keep:
Now through a realm, that once was free,
We hasten to the deep.
Through field and meadow stray:
Where grows the vine, in purple twine,
We win our easy way.
354
Their earliest rights to keep:
Now through a realm, that once was free,
We hasten to the deep.
| The Poetical Works of James Gates Percival | |