Xeniola Poems, including Translations from Schiller and De la Motte Fouqube. By John Anster |
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THE FIVE OAKS OF DALLWITZ. |
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168
THE FIVE OAKS OF DALLWITZ.
'Tis evening: in the silent west,
The rosy hues of day-light fade,
And here I lay me down to rest,
Beneath your venerable shade,
Bright records of a better day,
Aged,—but sacred from decay—
Still in your stately forms reside,
Of ages past the grace and pride!
The rosy hues of day-light fade,
And here I lay me down to rest,
Beneath your venerable shade,
Bright records of a better day,
Aged,—but sacred from decay—
Still in your stately forms reside,
Of ages past the grace and pride!
The brave hath died—the good hath sunk,
The beautiful hath past away—
Yet green each bough and strong each trunk
That smiles in evening's farewell ray!
Storms blew in vain—the leaves still spread
A bright crown on each aged head—
And yet, methinks the branches sigh
“Farewell, the Great of Earth must die!”
The beautiful hath past away—
Yet green each bough and strong each trunk
That smiles in evening's farewell ray!
Storms blew in vain—the leaves still spread
A bright crown on each aged head—
And yet, methinks the branches sigh
“Farewell, the Great of Earth must die!”
169
But ye have stood! still bold and high,
And fresh and strong, and undecayed,
When hath the pilgrim wandered by,
Nor rested in your quiet shade;—
Ye mourn not, when the sere leaves fall
At coming Winter's icy call!—
They perish in their parent earth,
They nurse the tree that gave them birth!
And fresh and strong, and undecayed,
When hath the pilgrim wandered by,
Nor rested in your quiet shade;—
Ye mourn not, when the sere leaves fall
At coming Winter's icy call!—
They perish in their parent earth,
They nurse the tree that gave them birth!
Emblems of ancient Saxon faith!
Our fathers, in our country's cause,
Thus died the patriot's holy death,
Died for her freedom and her laws!
In vain they died!—the storm hath past
O'er Germany:—her oaks stand fast—
Her people perished in the blast!
Our fathers, in our country's cause,
Thus died the patriot's holy death,
Died for her freedom and her laws!
In vain they died!—the storm hath past
O'er Germany:—her oaks stand fast—
Her people perished in the blast!
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