"When once her large eyes rest on thee, With chains thou art bounden fast; 'Twas only in sorest need I chanced To flee from her hill at last. "From her hill at last I have escaped, But through all the livelong day, Those beautiful eyes still follow me. 'Come back!' they seem to say. "A lifeless ghost all day I pine, But at night I dream of my bride, And then my spirit awakes in me. She laughs and sits by my side. "How hearty, how happy, how reckless her laugh! How the pearly white teeth outpeep! Ah! when I remember that laugh of hers, Then sudden tears must I weep. "I love her, I love her with all my might, And nothing my love can stay, 'Tis like to a rushing cataract, Whose force no man can sway. "For it dashes on from cliff to cliff, And roareth and foameth still. Though it break its neck a thousand times, Its course it would yet fulfill. "Were all of the boundless heavens mine, I would give them all to her, I would give her the sun, I would give her the moon And each star in its shining sphere. "I love her, I love her with all my might, With a flame that devoureth me. Can these be already the fires of hell, That shall glow eternally? "Oh, holy Father, Pope Urbain, Who canst bind and loose as well, Now save me from the evil one, And from the pains of hell!" Sadly the Pope upraised his hand, And sadly began to speak: "Tannhaeuser, most wretched of all men, This spell thou canst not break. "The devil called Venus is the worst Amongst all we name as such. And nevermore canst thou be redeemed From the beautiful witch's clutch. "Thou with thy spirit must atone For the joys thou hast loved so well; Accursed art thou! thou are condemned Unto everlasting hell!" III. So quickly fared Sir Tannhaeuser,-- His feet were bleeding and torn-- Back to the Venusberg he came, Ere the earliest streak of morn. Dame Venus, awakened from her sleep, From her bed upsprang in haste. Already she hath with her arms so white Her darling spouse embraced. Forth from her nose outstreams the blood, The tears from her eyelids start; She moistens the face of her darling spouse With the tears and blood of her heart. The knight lay down upon her bed, And not a word he spake; Dame Venus to the kitchen went A bowl of broth to make. She gave him broth, she gave him bread, She bathed his wounded feet; She combed for him his matted hair, And laughed so low and sweet: "My noble knight, my Tannhaeuser, Long hast thou left my side. Now tell me in what foreign lands So long thou couldst abide." "Dame Venus, loveliest of dames, I tarried far from home. In Rome I had some business, dear, But quickly back have come.