---

Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton - The German Student’s Love-Song
Work rating: Low

I.

BY the rush of the Rhine`s broad stream, 
Down whose rapid tide 
We sailed as in some sweet dream 
Sitting side by side; 
By the depth of its clear blue wave 
And the vine-clad hills, 
Which gazed on its heart and gave 
Their tribute rills; 

By the mountains, in purple shade, 
And those valleys green 
Where our bower of rest was made, 
By the world unseen; 
By the notes of the wild free bird, 
Singing over-head 
When nought else in the sunshine stirr`d 
Round our flowery bed; 

By these, and by Love`s power divine, 
I have no thought but what is thine! 
II.

By the glance of thy radiant eyes, 
Where a glory shone 
That was half of the summer skies 
And half their own; 
By the light and yet fervent hold 
Of thy gentle hand,-- 
(As the woodbines the flowers enfold 
With their tender band 

By thy voice when it breathes in song, 
And the echo given 
By lips that to Earth belong, 
Float up to Heaven; 
By the gleams on thy silken hair 
At the sunset hour, 
And the breadth of they forehead fair 
With its thoughtful power; 

By these, and by Love`s soul divine, 
I have no hope but what is thine! 
III.

By the beauty and stilness round 
When the lake`s lone shore 
Scarce echoed the pleasant sound 
Of the distant oar; 
By the moonlight which softly fell 
On all objects near, 
And thy whisper seemed like a spell 
In thy Lover`s ear; 

By the dreams of the restless past, 
And the hope that came 
Like sunshine in shadow cast 
With thy gentle name; 
By the beat of thy good true heart 
Where pure thoughts have birth; 
By thy tears, when Fate bade us part, 
And thy smiles of mirth; 

By these, and by Love`s power divine, 
I have no hope but what is thine! 
IV.

By the gloom of those holy fanes 
Where the light stream`d through 
Dim orange and purple panes 
On the aisles below; 
By the ruin`d and roofless wall 
Of that castle high, 
With its turrets so grey and tall 
In the clear blue sky; 

By beauty, because its light 
Should thy portion be, 
And whatever is fair and bright 
Seems a part of thee; 
And by darkness and blank decay, 
Because they tell 
What the world would be, THOU away, 
Whom I love so well; 

By these, and by Love`s power divine, 
My heart, my soul, my life, are thine!
Source
The script ran 0.001 seconds.