A MAIDEN proudly thus the sun accosted: “Sun! I am fairer far than thou,—far fairer; Fairer than is thy sister {127a} or thy brethren,— Fairer than yon bright moon at midnight shining, Fairer than yon gay star in heav’n’s arch twinkling, That star, all other stars preceding proudly, As walks before his sheep the careful shepherd.” The sun complain’d to God of such an insult: “What shall be done with this presumptuous maiden?” And to the sun God gave a speedy answer: “Thou glorious Sun! thou my beloved daughter! {127b} Be joyous yet! say, why art thou dejected? Wilt thou reward the maiden for her folly— Shine on, and burn the maiden’s snowy forehead. But I a gloomier dowry yet will give her; Evil to her shall be her husband’s brother; Evil to her shall be her husband’s father. Then shall she think upon the affront she gave thee.” THE MAIDEN’S WISH. IF I had, ah Laso! All the emp’ror’s treasures, Well I know, ah Laso! What with these I’d purchase; I would buy, ah Laso! Garden on the Sava; Well I know, ah Laso! What my hands would plant there; I would plant, ah Laso! Hyacinths, carnations. If I had, ah Laso! All the emp’ror’s treasures, Well I know, ah Laso! What with these I’d purchase; I would buy, ah Laso! I would purchase Laso, He should be, ah Laso! Gardener in my garden. THE FALCON. THE falcon soars both far and high, He spreads his pinions in the sky; Then from his cloudy heights he lowers, And seats him on the city’s towers: He sees a laughing girl of grace, In crystal water bathe her face; And looks with open, eager eye Upon her neck of ivory: White as the snow upon the mountain; And there he hears a youth recounting His tale of love.—“Now bend thy head Upon thy snowy neck,” he said; “Its whiteness is too bright for me: And ’neath it sorrowing heart may be.” HEROES SERVED. UPON the silent Danube’s shore, When ev’ning wastes, ’tis sweet to see (Their golden wine cups flowing o’er); Our heroes in their revelry. A youthful beauty pours the wine, And each will pledge a cup to her; And each of charms that seem divine, Would fain become a worshiper. “Nay! heroes, nay!” the virgin cried, “My service—not my love—I give: For one alone—for none beside: For one alone I love and live.” YOUTH AND AGE.