Poem by William Cullen Bryant

A Northern Legend

From the German of Uhland

There sits a lovely maiden,
    The ocean murmuring nigh;
She throws the hook, and watches;
    The fishes pass it by.

A ring, with a red jewel,
    Is sparkling on her hand;
Upon the hook she binds it,
    And flings it from the land.

Uprises from the water
    A hand like ivory fair.
What gleams upon its finger?
    The golden ring is there.

Uprises from the bottom
    A young and handsome knight;
In golden scales he rises,
    That glitter in the light.

The maid is pale with terror—
    "Nay, Knight of Ocean, nay,
It was not thee I wanted;
    Let go the ring, I pray."

"Ah, maiden, not to fishes
    The bait of gold is thrown;
The ring shall never leave me,
    And thou must be my own."

1. William Tell
2. The Skies
3. The Old Man's Funeral
4. Earth's Children Cleave to Earth
5. The Hunter's Vision

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