Part 24 (2/2)

And the Prince looked so grand and proud, And waved his hand thus to the crowd That gazed and shouted from the sh.o.r.e, All down the river, long and loud.

_Ursula._ We shall behold our child once more; She is not dead! She is not dead!

G.o.d, listening, must have overheard The prayers, that, without sound or word, Our hearts in secrecy have said!

O, bring me to her; for mine eyes Are hungry to behold her face; My very soul within me cries; My very hands seem to caress her, To see her, gaze at her, and bless her; Dear Elsie, child of G.o.d and grace!

(_Goes out toward the garden._)

_Forester._ There goes the good woman out of her head; And Gottlieb's supper is waiting here; A very capacious flagon of beer, And a very portentous loaf of bread.

One would say his grief did not much oppress him.

Here's to the health of the Prince, G.o.d bless him!

(_He drinks._)

Ha! it buzzes and stings like a hornet!

And what a scene there, through the door!

The forest behind and the garden before, And midway an old man of threescore, With a wife and children that caress him.

Let me try still further to cheer and adorn it With a merry, echoing blast of my cornet!

(_Goes out blowing his horn._)

THE CASTLE OF VAUTSBERG ON THE RHINE.

PRINCE HENRY _and_ ELSIE _standing on the terrace at evening. The sound of bells heard from a distance._

_Prince Henry._ We are alone. The wedding guests Ride down the hill, with plumes and cloaks, And the descending dark invests The Niederwald, and all the nests Among its h.o.a.r and haunted oaks.

_Elsie._ What bells are those, that ring so slow, So mellow, musical, and low?

_Prince Henry._ They are the bells of Geisenheim, That with their melancholy chime Ring out the curfew of the sun.

_Elsie._ Listen, beloved.

_Prince Henry._ They are done!

Dear Elsie! many years ago Those same soft bells at eventide Rang in the ears of Charlemagne, As, seated by Fastrada's side At Ingelheim, in all his pride He heard their sound with secret pain.

_Elsie._ Their voices only speak to me Of peace and deep tranquillity, And endless confidence in thee!

_Prince Henry._ Thou knowest the story of her ring, How, when the court went back to Aix, Fastrada died; and how the king Sat watching by her night and day, Till into one of the blue lakes, That water that delicious land, They cast the ring, drawn from her hand; And the great monarch sat serene And sad beside the fated sh.o.r.e, Nor left the land forever more.

_Elsie._ That was true love.

_Prince Henry._ For him the queen Ne'er did what thou hast done for me.

_Elsie._ Wilt thou as fond and faithful be?

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