PARADISE. FROM THE GERMAN OF RÜCKERT.

Oh! Paradise must show more fair Than any earthly ground, And therefore longs my spirit there Right quickly to be found. II. In Paradise a stream must flow Of everlasting love: Each tear of longing shed below Therein a pearl will prove. III. In Paradise a breath of balm All anguish must allay, Till every anguish growing calm, Even mine shall flee away. IV. And there the tree of stillest peace In verdant spaces grows: Beneath it one can never cease To dream of blest repose. V. A cherub at the gate must be, Far off the world to fray, That its rude noises reach not me, To fright my dream away. VI. My heart, that weary ship, at last Safe haven there will gain, And on the breast will slumber fast The wakeful infant, Pain. VII. For every thorn that pierced me here The rose will there be found, With joy, earth’s roses brought not near, My head will there be crowned. VIII. There all delights will blossom forth, That here in bud expire, And from all mourning weeds of earth Be wove a bright attire. IX. All here I sought in vain pursuit, Will freely meet me there, As from green branches golden fruit, Fair flowers from gardens fair. X. My youth, that by me swept amain, On swift wing borne away, And Love that suffered me to drain Its nectar for a day,— XI. These, never wishing to depart, Will me for ever bless, Their darling fold unto the heart, And comfort and caress. XII. And there the Loveliness, whose glance From far did on me gleam, But whose unveilèd countenance Was only seen in dream, XIII. Will, meeting all my soul’s desires, Unveil itself to me, When to the choir of starry lyres Shall mine united be.