The arms that would embrace her clasp the void: This feverish breast no phantom-bliss can cool. O, waft her here, the true, the living one!

Let but my hand her hand, the tender, feelThe very shadow of her robe alone!—"

See, where the vision into life doth steal!

And light, as comes, when least we ween,
From heaven the hour of bliss,

All gently came the maid, unseen;—
He waked beneath her kiss!

A

THE SECRET.

ND not a word by her was spoken;
For many a listener's ear was by,
But sweetly was the silence broken,
For eye could well interpret eye.
Soft to thy green pavilion stealing,
Fair Beech, thy stilly shades I gain;
Oh, veil with boughs that droop concealing,
Two lovers from the world profane!

Far off, with dull, unquiet clamor,
Labors the vexed and busy day;
And, through the hum, the sullen hammer
Comes heaving down its heavy way.

Thus man pursues his weary calling,
And wrings the hard life from the sky,
While unbought happiness is falling
Down from God's bosom silently.

The charm to us in secret granted
May never mortal step destroy!
For they whom joy has ne'er enchanted
Are still the jealous foes of joy.
Bliss as a boon the world denieth,
And thou must chase her as the prey;
Insnare or seize her as she flieth,
Ere Envy snatch the prize away.

Soft, upon tiptoe, coyly stealing,

She loves the silence and the night;
From spies that watch, her steps concealing;
And seen,—to vanish from the sight.
O, gird us round, thou softest river,'
With broader waters clasp us round,
And let thy threatening waves forever
Protect Love's sanctuary ground.

1 Probably the river Saale, on the banks of which Schiller was ac customed to meet his Charlotte.

A

TO EMMA.

MIDST the cloud-gray deeps afar
The Bliss departed lies;

Yet linger on one lonely star

The loving wistful eyes!
Alas-a star in truth!-the light
Shines but a signal of the night!

If lock'd within the icy chill
Of the long sleep, thou wert-
My faithful grief could find thee still
A life within my heart;-
But, oh, the worse despair to see

Thee live to earth, and die to me!

Can those sweet longing hopes, which make

Love's essence, thus decay?

Can that be love which doth forsake?—
That love-which dies away?

That earthly blessings fade, I knew—
Is light from Heaven as fading too?

SINK,

EVENING;

FROM A PICTURE.

INK, shining god—the parchëd fields are thirsting For the fresh dews; man faints with labor wearied.

Falter thy languid steeds;

Let thy car sink below!

See, who from out the ocean's crystal waters Beckons thee smiling!-Does thy heart discern her? Swifter the steeds fly on:

'Tis Thetis beckons thee!

Swift from the car springs to her lov'd embraces
The charioteer-the reins are seized by Cupid.
Still halt the guideless steeds,

And drink the cooling wave.

Upward in heaven, with noiseless steps ascending, Comes balmy Night; sweet Love her footsteps follows

To all be rest and love!

Phoebus the lover rests.

HE

THE SHARING OF THE EARTH.

ERE, take the world!" cried Jove from out his
heaven

To mortals-"Be you of this earth the heirs ;
Free to your use the heritage is given;
Brother-like choose the shares."

Then every hand stretch'd eager in its greed,
And busy was the work with young and old;
The Tiller settled upon glebe and mead,

The Hunter, wood and wold.

The Merchant grip'd the store, and lock'd the

ware

The Abbot chose the gardens of the vineThe King barr'd up the bridge and thoroughfare, And cried, "The tolls are mine!"

And when the earth was thus divided, came
Too late the Poet from afar, to see

That all had proffer'd and had seiz'd their claim“And is there naught for me?

"Shall I, thy truest son, be yet of all

Thy human children portionless alone?" Thus went his cry, and Jove beheld him fall Before the heavenly throne.

"If in the land of dreams thou wert abiding,"

Answered the God, "why murmurest thou at ME?