The castle windows stream with light,
And far around the music fails
Out upon the shadowy night,
Echoing from the golden halls,
And floating o'er the silver tide,
Where, gentle Spree! thy waters glide.
And scarcely, since, thy waves have seen,
Within the walls, a brighter train,
When pleasure wakes, and hope is high,
And reigns the royal revelry.
And sight it was for sovereign meet,
Where, in the dance, those airy feet
Lightly flew, as Zephyr sweet.
If, for a moment, tired, perchance,
E'en youth and beauty, of the dance,
Or age, or sadness, found the ball
Too hot, too dazzling, lo! a hall
Enchanted rose, a forest shade,
With mossy bank and shadowy glade;
From the wet rock a fountain play'd,
With dewy sparkles washed the ground,
And breathed a cooling air around;
And, through the heavy foliage, shone
The mimic moonlight softly down,
And Indian plants and palm-trees stood,
As in some Asian solitude,
Where Ganges' sacred waters flowed.
Loit'ring to this fairy grove,
Count Rudolph and his young wife rove.
Loving and fair was Emiline—
So leans upon the oak, the vine.
And where the ball-room splendor blazed,
Old Rosenberg, attentive, gazed
At Ulric, who, admiring, led
Along the dance a beauteous maid.
"We mark thy nephew, Count, and sooth!
Not I have seen a nobler youth.
But faith! 'tis time he yield to fate,
And put on Hymen's sober state.”
"True! true!" Count Rosenberg replied,
"Oft his unwilling heart I chide!"
"And that young maiden at his side!
The pretty Countess Ravenstein—
With lips as sweet as muscadine,
And cheeks as bright, and eyes as blue,
As lover's heart did e'er undo,
Or pierced a soldier's corslet through.
A richer heiress none can see,
Or lovelier, in all Germany.
And, by our Lady! were not I
Too fast, ha! ha! my chance to try,
Despite the snow that many a year,
Confound the thing! has sprinkled here,
Myself, ha! ha! would break a lance,
To lead such maiden down life’s dance."
Mused Rosenberg: "Thy words are just;
Marry he ought, and marry must.
He shall be wived without delay,
Ere slip another year away.
Nor fear I, surely, blood of mine
To mix with that of Ravenstein.
But, reap we not before we sow?
Love, Ulric's breast did never know!
More than such clouds as lightly rise,
And pass as light in summer skies.
'Tis strange a heart so warm and free"—
"Tush!" Hubert laughed—"leave that to me!"
"'Tis well!" the aged uncle said;
"I am resolved—the boy shall wed!
The last descendant of a line
I would not gladly see decline!"
"But," added gentle Emiline,
"We must not let the victim know
What net around his feet we throw!"
Said Hubert, "At our old chateau,
A month or two, upon the Rhine,
We'll have the pretty Ravenstein.
And kneel he shall at beauty's shrine.
Leave me to tame his savage mood;
Send him to us, and, by the rood!
The youthful fox! the wary trout!
We'll find a way to tire him out!
And strong the game, and swift of pace,
That 'scapes me in the merry chase!"