II. Unacknowledged and Uncollected Translations. A Soldier’s Song

Paraphrase of a Neapolitan popular song.

“WHO knocks,—who knocks at my door.

Who knocks, and who can it be?”

“Thy own true lover, betrothed forever,

So open the door to me.”

“My mother is not at home,

So I cannot open to thee.”

“Why make me wait so long at the gate,

For mercy’s sake open to me.”

“Thou canst not come in so late,

From the window I ’ll listen to thee.”

“My cloak is old, and the wind blows cold,

So open the door to me.”