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Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring
IN the Château Blay still see we | |
| Tapestry the walls adorning, | |
| Worked by Tripoli’s fair countess’ | |
| Own fair hands, no labor scorning. | |
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| Her whole soul was woven in it, | 5 |
| And with loving tears and tender | |
| Hallowed is the silken picture, | |
| Which the following scene doth render: | |
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| How the Countess saw Rudél | |
| Dying on the strand of ocean, | 10 |
| And the ideal in his features | |
| Traced of all her heart’s emotion. | |
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| For the first and last time also | |
| Living saw Rudél and breathing | |
| Her who in his every vision | 15 |
| Intertwining was and wreathing. | |
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| Over him the Countess bends her, | |
| Lovingly his form she raises, | |
| And his deadly-pale mouth kisses, | |
| That so sweetly sang her praises. | 20 |
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| Ah! the kiss of welcome likewise | |
| Was the kiss of separation, | |
| And they drained the cup of wildest | |
| Joy and deepest desolation. | |
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| In the Château Blay at night-time | 25 |
| Comes a rushing, crackling, shaking; | |
| On the tapestry the figures | |
| Suddenly to life are waking. | |
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| Troubadour and lady stretch their | |
| Drowsy, ghostlike members yonder, | 30 |
| And from out the wall advancing, | |
| Up and down the hall they wander. | |
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| Whispers fond and gentle toying, | |
| Sad-sweet secrets, heart-enthralling, | |
| Posthumous, gallant, soft speeches, | 35 |
| Minnesingers’ times recalling: | |
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| “Geoffry! at thy voice’s music | |
| Warmth is in my dead heart glowing, | |
| And I feel once more a glimmer | |
| In the long-quenched embers growing!” | 40 |
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| “Melisanda! I awaken | |
| Unto happiness and gladness, | |
| When I see thine eyes; dead only | |
| Is my earthly pain and sadness.” | |
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| “Geoffry! once we loved each other | 45 |
| In our dreams; now, cut asunder | |
| By the hand of death, still love we,— | |
| Amor ’t is that wrought this wonder!” | |
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| “Melisanda! what are dreams? | |
| What is death? Mere words to scare one! | 50 |
| Truth in love alone e’er find we, | |
| And I love thee, ever fair one!” | |
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| “Geoffry! O, how sweet our meetings | |
| In this moonlit chamber nightly, | |
| Now that in the day’s bright sunbeams | 55 |
| I no more shall wander lightly.” | |
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| “Melisanda! Foolish dear one! | |
| Thou art light and sun, thou knowest! | |
| Love and joys of May are budding, | |
| Spring is blooming, where thou goest!” | 60 |
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| Thus those tender spectres wander | |
| Up and down, and sweet caresses | |
| Interchange, whilst peeps the moonlight | |
| Through the window’s arched recesses. | |
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| But at length the rays of morning | 65 |
| Scare away the fond illusion; | |
| To the tapestry retreat they, | |
| On the wall, in shy confusion. | |
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