Vineta. Wilhelm Muller (1794-1827). Rugen, the Island. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. 1876-79. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes. Germany: Vols. XVII-XVIII

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

Rügen, the Island

Vineta

Wilhelm Müller (1794–1827)


Translated by W. W. Story PEALING from the ocean’s deep foundations,
Faint and hollow sound the evening bells,
And its strange and wondrous revelations
Of the fair old wonder-city tells.

Deep beneath the gleaming surface sunken,	5
Ruins of that city still remain,
On its turrets sparks of golden splendor
From the mirror glimmer back again.

And the mariner, to whom appeareth
In the evening light its magic glow,	10
To the selfsame spot forever steereth,
Though the rocks lie threatening below.

From the heart’s deep, deep foundations swelling,
Bells are sounding mournfully and low,
Ah! I hear them, wondrous tales revealing,	15
Of the love it knew so long ago.

Sunken there a world of beauty lieth;
Far below, its ruins still remain,
Golden gleams from heaven are thence reflected
In the mirror of my dreams again.	20

Then, into the fair reflection falling,
Would I sink within those silent deeps,
And I seem to hear an angel calling
Down to where that wonder-city sleeps.