Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
Poems of Fancy: II. Fairies: Elves: SpritesThe Lore-Lei
Heinrich Heine (17971856)Anonymous translation from the German
I
This thought so full of woe;—
But a tale of times departed
Haunts me—and will not go.
And calmly flows the Rhine;
The mountain peaks are sparkling
In the sunny evening-shine.
The fairest of the fair;
With gold is her garment glittering,
And she combs her golden hair.
And a wild song singeth she,
That melts the heart with a wondrous
And powerful melody.
With a nameless longing move;
He sees not the gulfs before him,
His gaze is fixed above,
The Rhine’s deep waters run;
And this with her magic singing
The Lore-Lei hath done!