Or let it be thy chancellor's prize,
Amid his heaps to feast liis eyes;
Its yellow glance will please him.
"'I sing but as the linnet sings,
That on the green bough dwelleth;
A rich reward his music brings,
As from his throat it swelleth:
Yet might I ask, I'd ask of thine
One sparkling draught of purest wine,
To drink it here before you.'
"He viewed the wine; he quaffed it up.
'O draught of sweetest savour!
O happy house, where such a cup
Is thought a little favour!
If well you fare, remember me,
And thank kind Heaven, from envy free.
As now for this I thank you.'"
When the harper, on finishing his song, took up a glass of wine that stood poured out for him, and, turning with a friendly mien to his entertainers, drank it off, a buzz of joyful approbation rose from all the party. They clapped hands, and wished him health from that glass, and strength to his aged limbs. He sang a few other ballads, exciting more and more hilarity among the company.
"Old man," said Philina, "dost thou know the tune, 'The shepherd decked him for the dance?'"[1]
"Oh, yes!" said he: "if you will sing the words, I shall not fail for my part of it."
Philina then stood up, and held herself in readiness. The old man commenced the tune; and she sang a song, which we cannot impart to our readers, lest they might think it insipid, or perhaps undignified.
Meanwhile the company were growing merrier and merrier: they had already emptied several flasks of wine, and were now beginning to get very loud. But
- ↑ "Der Schafer putzte sich zum Tanz,"—a song of Goethe's.—Ed.
