Part 4 — SCENE XII.—A by-street. JULIAN walking home very weary. The child in his arms, her head lying on his shoulder. An Organ-boy with a monkey, sitting on a door-step. He sings in a low voice.
Reading edition
Julian. Look at the monkey, Lily.
Lily. No, dear father; I do not like monkeys.
Julian. Hear the poor boy sing.
[They listen. He sings.]
SONG.
Wenn ich höre dich mir nah', Stimmen in den Blättern da; Wenn ich fühl' dich weit und breit, Vater, das ist Seligkeit.
Nun die Sonne liebend scheint, Mich mit dir und All vereint; Biene zu den Blumen fliegt, Seel' an Lieb' sich liebend schmiegt.
So mich völlig lieb du hast, Daseyn ist nicht eine Last; Wenn ich seh' und höre dich, Das genügt mir inniglich.
Lily. It sounds so curious. What is he saying, father?
Julian. My boy, you are not German?
Boy. No; my mother Came from those parts. She used to sing the song. I do not understand it well myself, For I was born in Genoa.—Ah! my mother!
[Weeps.]
Julian. My mother was a German, my poor boy; My father was Italian: I am like you.
[Giving him money.]
You sing of leaves and sunshine, flowers and bees, Poor child, upon a stone in the dark street!
Boy. My mother sings it in her grave; and I Will sing it everywhere, until I die.