The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 57

[_THEKLA turns away from him with a quick motion._

What say you then, dear lady?

_Thekla (without looking at him)._ Nothing. Go! 20

_Max._ Can I, when you are angry----

[_He draws up to her, their eyes meet, she stands silent a moment, then throws herself into his arms; he presses her fast to his heart._

_Countess._ Off! Heavens! if any one should come!

Hark! What's that noise? It comes this way.----Off!

[_MAX tears himself away out of her arms, and goes. The COUNTESS accompanies him. THEKLA follows him with her eyes at first, walks restlessly across the room, then stops, and remains standing, lost in thought. A guitar lies on the table, she seizes it as by a sudden emotion, and after she has played a while an irregular and melancholy symphony, she falls gradually into the music and sings._

_Thekla (plays and sings)._

The cloud doth gather, the greenwood roar, The damsel paces along the sh.o.r.e; 25 The billows they tumble with might, with might; And she flings out her voice to the darksome night;

Her bosom is swelling with sorrow; The world it is empty, the heart will die, There's nothing to wish for beneath the sky: 30 Thou Holy One, call thy child away!

I've lived and loved, and that was to-day-- Make ready my grave-clothes to-morrow.[653:1]

FOOTNOTES:

[653:1] I found it not in my power to translate this song with _literal_ fidelity, preserving at the same time the Alcaic Movement, and have therefore added the original with a prose translation. Some of my readers may be more fortunate.

_Thekla (spielt und singt)._

Der Eichwald brauset, die Wolken ziehn, Das Magdlein wandelt an Ufers Grun, Es bricht sich die Welle mit Macht, mit Macht, Und sie singt hinaus in die finstre Nacht, Das Auge von Weinen getrubet: Das Herz ist ges...o...b..n, die Welt ist leer, Und weiter giebt sie dem Wunsche nichts mehr.

Du Heilige, rufe dein Kind zuruck, Ich habe genossen das irdische Gluck, Ich habe gelebt und geliebet.

LITERAL TRANSLATION.

_Thekla (plays and sings)._

The oak-forest bellows, the clouds gather, the damsel walks to and fro on the green of the sh.o.r.e; the wave breaks with might, with might, and she sings out into the dark night, her eye discoloured with weeping: the heart is dead, the world is empty, and further gives it nothing more to the wish. Thou Holy One, call thy child home. I have enjoyed the happiness of this world, I have lived and have loved.

I cannot but add here an imitation of this song, with which the author of _The Tale of Rosamond Gray and Blind Margaret_ has favoured me, and which appears to me to have caught the happiest manner of our old ballads.

The clouds are black'ning, the storms threat'ning, The cavern doth mutter, the greenwood moan; Billows are breaking, the damsel's heart aching, Thus in the dark night she singeth alone, Her eye upward roving: The world is empty, the heart is dead surely, In this world plainly all seemeth amiss; To thy heaven, Holy One, take home thy little one, I have partaken of all earth's bliss, Both living and loving.

The text of Lamb's version as printed in _Works_, 1818, i. 42 is as follows:

BALLAD.

FROM THE GERMAN.

The clouds are blackening, the storms threatening, And ever the forest maketh a moan: Billows are breaking, the damsel's heart aching, Thus by herself she singeth alone, Weeping right plenteously.

The world is empty, the heart is dead surely, In this world plainly all seemeth amiss: To thy breast, holy one, take now thy little one, I have had earnest of all earth's bliss Living most lovingly.

_Spring, 1800._

LINENOTES:

[1] _Countess (in a pressing manner)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[3]

The latest, &c. [_They not appearing to attend to what she says, she steps between them._

1800, 1828, 1829.

[9] _that_ 1800, 1828, 1829.

[15] _Thekla (with energy)._ 1800, 1828, 1829.

SCENE VII

_COUNTESS (returns), THEKLA._

_Countess._ Fie, lady niece! to throw yourself upon him, Like a poor gift to one who cares not for it, And so must be flung after him! For you, Duke Friedland's only child, I should have thought It had been more beseeming to have shewn yourself 5 More chary of your person.

_Thekla._ And what mean you?

_Countess._ I mean, niece, that you should not have forgotten Who you are, and who he is. But perchance That never once occurred to you.

_Thekla._ What then?

_Countess._ That you're the daughter of the Prince-Duke Friedland. 10

_Thekla._ Well--and what farther?

_Countess._ What? a pretty question!

_Thekla._ He was born that which we have but become.

He's of an ancient Lombard family, Son of a reigning princess.

_Countess._ Are you dreaming?

Talking in sleep? An excellent jest, forsooth! 15 We shall no doubt right courteously entreat him To honour with his hand the richest heiress In Europe.

_Thekla._ That will not be necessary.

_Countess._ Methinks 'twere well though not to run the hazard.

_Thekla._ His father loves him, Count Octavio 20 Will interpose no difficulty----