The Grateful Lover

My lady will reward me,—she
Whom I have served this long time past.
You all must thank her now for me,
Since she has proved so kind at last.
She wants me first to turn the Rhine
Away from where Coblentz doth stand,
And then she'll own herself for mine.
If I can bring her that sea-sand
From where the sun goes down afar
To rest, she'll yield me all I crave.
Hard by that spot there stands a star,
And this my lady needs must have.
I hold this view,—
Whatever she do,
I can't but think it fit and due.
To guard herself from me, 'tis true, she hath striven.
Save for God in Heaven
There's no one knows to whom my love is given.

If I'm to win her, from the moon
I first must steal its light away.
Let me dig up the earth, and soon
My service she will richly pay.
If like a starling I could fly,
She'd do my pleasure, it appears;
If eagle-like I soared on high,
Or if I broke a thousand spears
At once, like Gahmuret of yore
In that great joust at Kanvoleis,
She'd grant me all that I implore
And I should win a precious prize.
I hold this view,—
Whate'er she do,
I can't but think it fit and due.
To guard herself from me, 'tis true, she hath striven.
Save for God in Heaven
There's no one knows to whom my love is given.

If I can steal the water's rush
From Elbe, she says, she will be kind;
If roaring Danube I can hush,
The goodness of her heart I'll find.
I first must fetch—'tis her decree—
The salamander from the fire;
My lady then will smile on me
And grant me all my heart's desire.
If rain and snow I can compel
To cease,—I have her word for this—
And summer and the flowers as well,
I may attain to perfect bliss.
I hold this view,—
Whate'er she do,
I can't but think it fit and due.
To guard herself from me, 'tis true, she hath striven.
Save for God in Heaven
There's no one knows to whom my love is given.