Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Germany: Vols. XVII–XVIII. 1876–79.

Göttingen

Song of One Eleven Years in Prison

By George Canning (1770–1827)

WHENE’ER with haggard eyes I view

This dungeon that I ’m rotting in,

I think of those companions true

Who studied with me at the U—

—niversity of Göttingen—

—niversity of Göttingen.

Sweet kerchief, checked with heavenly blue,

Which once my love sat knotting in!—

Alas! Matilda then was true!

At least I thought so at the U—

—niversity of Göttingen—

—niversity of Göttingen.

Barbs! barbs! alas! how swift you flew

Her neat post-wagon trotting in!

Ye bore Matilda from my view;

Forlorn I languished at the U—

—niversity of Göttingen—

—niversity of Göttingen.

This faded form! this pallid hue!

This blood my veins is clotting in,

My years are many,—they were few

When first I entered at the U—

—niversity of Göttingen—

—niversity of Göttingen.

There first for thee my passion grew,

Sweet! sweet Matilda Pottingen!

Thou wast the daughter of my tu—

—tor, law professor at the U—

—niversity of Göttingen—

—niversity of Göttingen.

Sun, moon, and thou vain world, adieu,

That kings and priests are plotting in:

Here doomed to starve on water gru—

—el, never shall I see the U—

—niversity of Göttingen—

—niversity of Göttingen.