Once more behind thee thou wert looking, Swiftly as thou didst past me glide, With open mouth, as if inquiring, And in thy look a stormy pride. O that I ne’er had sought to grasp it, That flowing robe of snowy white! The little foot’s enchanting traces, O that they ne’er had met my sight! Thy wildness now indeed hath vanish’d, Like other women tame art thou, And mild, and somewhat over-civil, And, ah, thou even lov’st me now. 3. I’ll not credit, youthful beauty, What thy bashful lips may say; Eyes so black and large and rolling Are not much in virtue’s way. Strip away this brown-striped falsehood-- Well and truly love I thee; Let thy white heart kiss me, dearest-- White heart, understand’st thou me? 4. Upon her mouth I give a kiss, And close her either eye; She gives me now no peace for this, But asks the reason why. From night to morn, because of this, This is her constant cry: “When on my mouth thou giv’st a kiss, “Why close my either eye?” I tell her not the cause of this, Nor know the reason why, Yet on her mouth I give a kiss, And close her either eye. 5. When I am made blest with kisses delicious, And lie in thine arms, O in that happy season Thou ne’er must discourse of Germany, dearest,-- It spoils my digestion,--there’s plenty of reason. With Germany leave me in peace, I implore thee, Thou must not torment me with question on question Of home and relations and manner of living,-- There’s plenty of reason,--it spoils my digestion. The oaks there are green, and blue are the dear eyes Of German women; they sigh as they please on The blisses of love and of hope and religion,-- It spoils my digestion,--there’s plenty of reason. 6. Whilst I after other people And their treasures have been prying, And with ever-restless yearning, At strange doors of love been spying, Probably those other people Have been taking their own pleasure Similarly, and been ogling At my window my own treasure. This is human! God in heaven In our every action guard us! God in heaven give us blessings, And with happiness reward us! 7. O yes, thou art my ideal forsooth, I’ve often confirmed it till dizzy With kisses and oaths unnumber’d in truth;-- To-day I however am busy. Return to-morrow between two and three, And then a fresh-kindled passion Shall prove my love, and afterwards we Will dine in a friendly fashion. And if I in time the tickets receive, We’ll join in a merry revel, And go to the Opera, where I believe They’re playing Robert the Devil. A wondrous magic play is here, With devils’ loves and curses; The music is by Meyerbeer; By Scribe the wretched verses. 8.