Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
France: Vols. IX–X. 1876–79.
Geoffry Rudél and Melisanda of Tripoli
By Heinrich Heine (1797–1856)I
Tapestry the walls adorning,
Worked by Tripoli’s fair countess’
Own fair hands, no labor scorning.
And with loving tears and tender
Hallowed is the silken picture,
Which the following scene doth render:
Dying on the strand of ocean,
And the ideal in his features
Traced of all her heart’s emotion.
Living saw Rudél and breathing
Her who in his every vision
Intertwining was and wreathing.
Lovingly his form she raises,
And his deadly-pale mouth kisses,
That so sweetly sang her praises.
Was the kiss of separation,
And they drained the cup of wildest
Joy and deepest desolation.
Comes a rushing, crackling, shaking;
On the tapestry the figures
Suddenly to life are waking.
Drowsy, ghostlike members yonder,
And from out the wall advancing,
Up and down the hall they wander.
Sad-sweet secrets, heart-enthralling,
Posthumous, gallant, soft speeches,
Minnesingers’ times recalling:
Warmth is in my dead heart glowing,
And I feel once more a glimmer
In the long-quenched embers growing!”
Unto happiness and gladness,
When I see thine eyes; dead only
Is my earthly pain and sadness.”
In our dreams; now, cut asunder
By the hand of death, still love we,—
Amor ’t is that wrought this wonder!”
What is death? Mere words to scare one!
Truth in love alone e’er find we,
And I love thee, ever fair one!”
In this moonlit chamber nightly,
Now that in the day’s bright sunbeams
I no more shall wander lightly.”
Thou art light and sun, thou knowest!
Love and joys of May are budding,
Spring is blooming, where thou goest!”
Up and down, and sweet caresses
Interchange, whilst peeps the moonlight
Through the window’s arched recesses.
Scare away the fond illusion;
To the tapestry retreat they,
On the wall, in shy confusion.