Ballads: The King on the Tower

The King on the Tower

FROM UHLAND.

"Da liegen sie alle, die grauen H�hen."

The cold gray hills they bind me around,
  The darksome valleys lie sleeping below,
But the winds as they pass o'er all this ground,
  Bring me never a sound of woe!
Oh! for all I have suffered and striven,
  Care has embittered my cup and my feast;
But here is the night and the dark blue heaven,
  And my soul shall be at rest.
O golden legends writ in the skies!
  I turn towards you with longing soul,
And list to the awful harmonies
  Of the Spheres as on they roll.
My hair is gray and my sight nigh gone;
  My sword it rusteth upon the wall;
Right have I spoken, and right have I done:
  When shall I rest me once for all?
O blessed rest!  O royal night!
  Wherefore seemeth the time so long
Till I see you stars in their fullest light,
And list to their loudest song?

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