(19)
Still on she went, and hand in hand
The lovers reached the yellow sand.
The lovers reached the yellow sand.
"Ascend this steed with me, my dear!
We needs must cross the streamlet here:
Ride boldly in; it is not deep;
The winds are hushed, the billows sleep."
We needs must cross the streamlet here:
Ride boldly in; it is not deep;
The winds are hushed, the billows sleep."
Thus spoke the water-king. The maid
Her traitor bride-groom's wish obeyed:
And soon she saw the courser lave
Delighted in his parent wave.
Her traitor bride-groom's wish obeyed:
And soon she saw the courser lave
Delighted in his parent wave.
"Stop! stop! my love! The waters blue
E'en now my shrinking foot bedew."
"Oh! lay aside your fears, sweet heart!
We now have reached the deepest part."
E'en now my shrinking foot bedew."
"Oh! lay aside your fears, sweet heart!
We now have reached the deepest part."
"Stop! stop! my love! For now I see
The waters rise above my knee."
"Oh! lay aside your fears, sweet heart!
We now have reached the deepest part."
The waters rise above my knee."
"Oh! lay aside your fears, sweet heart!
We now have reached the deepest part."
"Stop! stop! for God's sake, stop!
For, oh! The waters o'er my bosom flow!"—
Scarce was the word pronounced, when knight
And courser vanished from her sight.
For, oh! The waters o'er my bosom flow!"—
Scarce was the word pronounced, when knight
And courser vanished from her sight.
She shrieks, but shrieks in vain; for high
The wild winds rising dull the cry;
The wild winds rising dull the cry;
