The Works of J. W. von Goethe/Volume 9/The Bridegroom

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THE BRIDEGROOM[1]

I slept,—'twas midnight,—in my bosom woke,
As though 'twere day, my love-o'erflowing heart;
To me it seemed like night, when day first broke;
What is't to me, whate'er it may impart?

She was away; the world's unceasing strife
For her alone I suffered through the heat
Of sultry day; oh, what refreshing life
At cooling eve!—my guerdon was complete.

The sun now set, and wand'ring hand in hand,
His last and blissful look we greeted then;
While spake our eyes, as they each other scanned:
"From the far east, let's trust, he'll come again!"

At midnight!—the bright stars, in vision blest,
Guide to the threshold where she slumbers calm;
Oh, be it mine, there too at length to rest,—
Yet howsoe'er this prove, life's full of charm!

  1. Not in the English sense of the word, but the German, where it has the meaning of betrothed.