Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888.
To My Mother (II.)Heinrich Heine (1797–1856)
Translated by Stratheir
I
Throughout the ends of the wide earth to wander,
To seek a love that I might meet with fonder,
And clasp it with love’s own ecstatic burning.
Through every path I followed love with yearning,
With out-stretched hands before each door-step yonder,
I begged a dole of love that men do squander,—
Yet met with but cold hate and laughter spurning.
Still ever roamed I in love’s quest, and ever
I followed love, and yet did find love never,
And home returned again, heart-sick and rueing.
But thou didst come in welcome forth to meet me,
And, oh! within thy swimming eyes did greet me
The sweet love I had been so long pursuing.