THE DEAD. FROM THE GERMAN OF KLOPSTOCK. How they so softly rest, All, all the holy dead, Unto whose dwelling-place Now doth my soul draw near! How they so softly rest, All in their silent graves, Deep to corruption Slowly down-sinking! And they no longer weep, Here, where complaint is still! And they no longer feel, Here, where all gladness flies! And by the cypresses Softly o'ershadowed, Until the Angel Calls them, they slumber! THE BIRD AND THE SHIP. FROM THE GERMAN OF MÜLLER. THE rivers rush into the sea, By castle and town they go ; The winds behind them merrily Their noisy trumpets blow. The clouds are passing far and high, We little birds in them play; And every thing, that can sing and fly, Goes with us, and far away. I greet thee, bonny boat! Whither, or whence, With thy fluttering golden band? I greet thee, little bird! To the wide sea, I haste from the narrow land. Full and swollen is every sail; I have trusted all to the sounding gale, And wilt thou, little bird, go with us? For full to sinking is my house With merry companions all. — I need not and seek not company, High over the sails, high over the mast, Who shall gainsay these joys? When thy merry companions are still, at last, Thou shalt hear the sound of my voice. Who neither may rest, nor listen may, I dart away, in the bright blue day, Thus do I sing my weary song, And this same song, my whole life long, |