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| OH, love as long as you can love, | |
| Oh, love as long as love you may! | |
| The hour will come, the hour will come: | |
| By graves lamenting you will stay. | |
| |
| And ever keep your heart aglow, | 5 |
| And let it foster love with care, | |
| As long as still another heart | |
| Beats with it warmly anywhere. | |
| |
| If one unseals his breast to you, | |
| Ah, do him all the good you can— | 10 |
| And all his hours with gladness fill, | |
| And grieve him not for one hour’s span! | |
| |
| Your tongue—ah, hold it well in check!— | |
| Is quick to say an evil word. | |
| Oh God, it was not meant so ill! | 15 |
| Yet pained he turns away who heard. | |
| |
| Oh, love as long as you can love, | |
| Oh, love as long as love you may! | |
| The hour will come, the hour will come: | |
| By graves lamenting you will stay. | 20 |
| |
| Then you kneel down before the grave, | |
| And hide your tearful eyes—alas! | |
| They see the loved one now no more— | |
| In long and dewy graveyard grass, | |
| |
| And say: “Look down upon me here | 25 |
| Who by your grave am weeping still; | |
| Forgive that I have given pain: | |
| Oh God, it was not meant so ill!” | |
| |
| He sees you not and hears you not, | |
| And seeks not your embrace—ah, no, | 30 |
| The lips that kissed you oft, no more | |
| Say: “I forgave you long ago.” | |
| |
| He did forgive you long ago, | |
| And hot fell many a tear as toll | |
| For you and for your bitter word— | 35 |
| But hush!—He’s resting at his goal. | |
| |
| Oh, love as long as you can love, | |
| Oh, love as long as love you may! | |
| The hour will come, the hour will come: | |
| By graves lamenting you will stay! | 40 |
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