The Works of J. W. von Goethe/Volume 9/The Page and the Miller's Daughter

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1482523The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 9 — The Page and the Miller's DaughterJohann Wolfgang von Goethe


THE PAGE AND THE MILLER'S DAUGHTER

PAGE.

Where goest thou? Where?
Miller's daughter so fair!
Thy name, pray?—

MILLER'S DAUGHTER.

'Tis Lizzy.

PAGE.

Where goest thou? Where?
With the rake in thy hand?

MILLER'S DAUGHTER.

Father's meadows and land
To visit, I'm busy.

PAGE.

Dost go there alone?

MILLER'S DAUGHTER

By this rake, sir, 'tis shown
That we're making the hay;
And the pears ripen fast
In the garden at last,
So I'll pick them to-day.

PAGE.

Is't a silent thicket I yonder view?

MILLER'S DAUGHTER

Oh, yes! there are two;
There's one on each side.

PAGE.

I'll follow thee soon;
When the sun burns at noon,
We'll go there, ourselves from his rays to hide,
And then in some glade all-verdant and deep—

MILLER'S DAUGHTER

Why, people would say—

PAGE.

Within mine arms thou gently wilt sleep.

MILLER'S DAUGHTER.

Your pardon, I pray!
Whoever is kissed by the miller-maid,
Upon the spot must needs be betrayed.
'Twould give me distress
To cover with white
Your pretty dark dress.

Equal with equal! then all is right!
That's the motto in which I delight.
I am in love with the miller-boy;
He wears nothing that I could destroy.