On my newly-tuned guitar I Play new tunes that seem much fitter Old the text is, for the words are Solomon’s: A woman’s bitter. To her husband she is faithless, And she treats her friend with malice; Wormwood are the last remaining Drops in love’s once-golden chalice. Tell me, is the ancient legend Of the curse of sin no libel? Did the serpent bring it on thee, As recorded in the Bible? Creeping on the earth, the serpent Lurks in every bush around thee, Still, as formerly, caresses, And her hisses still confound thee. Ah, how cold and dark ’tis growing! Round the sun the ravens hover Croakingly, and love and rapture Now for evermore are over. 6. The bliss that thou didst falsely pledge For but a short time cheated; Thine image, like a vision false, Soon from my bosom fleeted. The morning came, the mist soon fled Before the sun’s rays splendid; And wellnigh ere it had commenced, Our passing fondness ended. 5. CLARISSA. 1. All my charming loving offers Thou art eagerly declining; If I say: “Is this refusal?” Thou at once beginnest whining. Seldom pray I, but now hear me, Gracious God! O help this maiden! Dry her sweet tears, and enlighten Her poor brains so sorrow-laden! 2. Wheresoever thou mayst wander, Thou dost every hour behold me, And I love thee all the fonder, When thou dost rebuke and scold me. Charming malice will ensnare me, While I hate a kindly action; And the surest way to scare me, Is to love me to distraction. 3. May the devil take thy mother And thy father, for their cruel Conduct at the play, in hiding Thee from me, my precious jewel! There they sat, their spreading dresses Leaving but few spaces only Through the which to spy thee sitting In the box’s rear, all lonely. There they sat, and saw two lovers Both destroy’d, with eyes admiring; And they clapp’d a loud approval When they saw them both expiring. 4. Go not through the naughty quarters Where the pretty eyes are living; Ah, they fain would spare their lightnings With a semblance of forgiving. From the high bow-window looking In a loving way they greet thee, Smiling kindly (death and devil!) Sisterlike their glances meet thee. But thou’rt on thy way already, And in vain is all thy striving; Thou wilt have a very breastful Of distress, when home arriving. 5. It comes too late, thy present smiling, It comes too late, thy present sigh! The feelings all long since have perish’d That thou didst spurn so cruelly. Too late has come thy love responsive, My heart thou vainly seek’st to stir With burning looks of love, all falling Like sunbeams on a sepulchre.