Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893.
TranslationsFrom the German. Annie of Tharaw
By Simon Dach
A
She is my life, and my goods, and my gold.
To me has surrendered in joy and in pain.
Thou, O my soul, my flesh, and my blood!
We will stand by each other, however it blow.
Shall be to our true love as links to the chain.
The more the hail beats, and the more the rains fall,—
Through crosses, through sorrows, through manifold wrong.
In a desolate land where the sun is scarce known,—
Through ice, and through iron, through armies of foes.
The threads of our two lives are woven in one.
Whatever forbidden thou hast not gainsaid.
Where there is not one heart, and one mouth, and one hand?
Like a dog and a cat live such man and wife.
Thou art my lambkin, my chick, and my dove.
I am king of the household, and thou art its queen.
That makes of us twain but one soul in one breast.
While wrangling soon changes a home to a hell.