THEKLA
A SWEDISH SAGA.
THE TEMPTATION.
OON the green sward Thekla's lying,Summer winds are round her sighing,At her feet the ocean plays;In that mirror idly gazingShe beholds, with inward praising,Her own beauty in amaze.
OON the green sward Thekla's lying,Summer winds are round her sighing,At her feet the ocean plays;In that mirror idly gazingShe beholds, with inward praising,Her own beauty in amaze.
OON the green sward Thekla's lying,Summer winds are round her sighing,At her feet the ocean plays;In that mirror idly gazingShe beholds, with inward praising,Her own beauty in amaze.
O
ON the green sward Thekla's lying,Summer winds are round her sighing,At her feet the ocean plays;In that mirror idly gazingShe beholds, with inward praising,Her own beauty in amaze.
And with winds and waves attuningHer low voice, in soft communingSaid: "If truly I'm so fair,Might the best in our Swedish landDie all for love of my white hand,Azure eyes and golden hair."
And with winds and waves attuningHer low voice, in soft communingSaid: "If truly I'm so fair,Might the best in our Swedish landDie all for love of my white hand,Azure eyes and golden hair."
And with winds and waves attuningHer low voice, in soft communingSaid: "If truly I'm so fair,Might the best in our Swedish landDie all for love of my white hand,Azure eyes and golden hair."
And with winds and waves attuningHer low voice, in soft communingSaid: "If truly I'm so fair,Might the best in our Swedish landDie all for love of my white hand,Azure eyes and golden hair."
And fair Thekla bent down gazing,Light her golden curls upraisingFrom her bosom fair to see,Which, within the azure ocean,Glittered back in soft commotion,Like a lotus tremblingly.
And fair Thekla bent down gazing,Light her golden curls upraisingFrom her bosom fair to see,Which, within the azure ocean,Glittered back in soft commotion,Like a lotus tremblingly.
And fair Thekla bent down gazing,Light her golden curls upraisingFrom her bosom fair to see,Which, within the azure ocean,Glittered back in soft commotion,Like a lotus tremblingly.
And fair Thekla bent down gazing,Light her golden curls upraisingFrom her bosom fair to see,Which, within the azure ocean,Glittered back in soft commotion,Like a lotus tremblingly.
Saying soft, with pleasure trembling,"If so fair is the resembling,How much fairer I must be!Rose-lipped shadow, smiling brightly,Are we angels floating lightlyThrough the azure air and sea?
Saying soft, with pleasure trembling,"If so fair is the resembling,How much fairer I must be!Rose-lipped shadow, smiling brightly,Are we angels floating lightlyThrough the azure air and sea?
Saying soft, with pleasure trembling,"If so fair is the resembling,How much fairer I must be!Rose-lipped shadow, smiling brightly,Are we angels floating lightlyThrough the azure air and sea?
Saying soft, with pleasure trembling,"If so fair is the resembling,How much fairer I must be!Rose-lipped shadow, smiling brightly,Are we angels floating lightlyThrough the azure air and sea?
"Oh! that beauty never faded,That years passing never shadedYouthful cheek with hues of age!Oh! thou fairest crystal form,Can we not time's hand disarm?"Hark! the winds begin to rage;
"Oh! that beauty never faded,That years passing never shadedYouthful cheek with hues of age!Oh! thou fairest crystal form,Can we not time's hand disarm?"Hark! the winds begin to rage;
"Oh! that beauty never faded,That years passing never shadedYouthful cheek with hues of age!Oh! thou fairest crystal form,Can we not time's hand disarm?"Hark! the winds begin to rage;
"Oh! that beauty never faded,That years passing never shadedYouthful cheek with hues of age!Oh! thou fairest crystal form,Can we not time's hand disarm?"Hark! the winds begin to rage;
And with onward heaving motionRise the waves in wild commotion—Spirits mournfullest they seemRound the crystal shadow plaining,Shivered, shattered, fades it waningFrom the maiden like a dream.
And with onward heaving motionRise the waves in wild commotion—Spirits mournfullest they seemRound the crystal shadow plaining,Shivered, shattered, fades it waningFrom the maiden like a dream.
And with onward heaving motionRise the waves in wild commotion—Spirits mournfullest they seemRound the crystal shadow plaining,Shivered, shattered, fades it waningFrom the maiden like a dream.
And with onward heaving motionRise the waves in wild commotion—Spirits mournfullest they seemRound the crystal shadow plaining,Shivered, shattered, fades it waningFrom the maiden like a dream.
And from midst the drooping oziersOf the sunny banks' enclosuresRose a woman weird to see:Strange her mein and antique vesture,Yet with friendly look and gestureTo the trembling girl spake she.
And from midst the drooping oziersOf the sunny banks' enclosuresRose a woman weird to see:Strange her mein and antique vesture,Yet with friendly look and gestureTo the trembling girl spake she.
And from midst the drooping oziersOf the sunny banks' enclosuresRose a woman weird to see:Strange her mein and antique vesture,Yet with friendly look and gestureTo the trembling girl spake she.
And from midst the drooping oziersOf the sunny banks' enclosuresRose a woman weird to see:Strange her mein and antique vesture,Yet with friendly look and gestureTo the trembling girl spake she.
"As the cruel winds bereft theeOf the shadow that hath left thee,Maiden, will thy children stealOne by one these treasures from thee,Till all beauty hath foregone thee:Mother's woe is children's weal.
"As the cruel winds bereft theeOf the shadow that hath left thee,Maiden, will thy children stealOne by one these treasures from thee,Till all beauty hath foregone thee:Mother's woe is children's weal.
"As the cruel winds bereft theeOf the shadow that hath left thee,Maiden, will thy children stealOne by one these treasures from thee,Till all beauty hath foregone thee:Mother's woe is children's weal.
"As the cruel winds bereft theeOf the shadow that hath left thee,Maiden, will thy children stealOne by one these treasures from thee,Till all beauty hath foregone thee:Mother's woe is children's weal.
"For the beauty of the motherIs the children's—sister, brother,As she fades away, will bloom.Mother's eyes grow dim by weeping,Wan her cheek, lone vigils keeping:Youthful virgin, 'ware your doom!
"For the beauty of the motherIs the children's—sister, brother,As she fades away, will bloom.Mother's eyes grow dim by weeping,Wan her cheek, lone vigils keeping:Youthful virgin, 'ware your doom!
"For the beauty of the motherIs the children's—sister, brother,As she fades away, will bloom.Mother's eyes grow dim by weeping,Wan her cheek, lone vigils keeping:Youthful virgin, 'ware your doom!
"For the beauty of the motherIs the children's—sister, brother,As she fades away, will bloom.Mother's eyes grow dim by weeping,Wan her cheek, lone vigils keeping:Youthful virgin, 'ware your doom!
"Wifely name is sweet from lover,Yet ere many years are over,From the fatal day you wed,Sore you'll rue the holy altar,And the salt sea will grow salterFor the bitter tears you'll shed.
"Wifely name is sweet from lover,Yet ere many years are over,From the fatal day you wed,Sore you'll rue the holy altar,And the salt sea will grow salterFor the bitter tears you'll shed.
"Wifely name is sweet from lover,Yet ere many years are over,From the fatal day you wed,Sore you'll rue the holy altar,And the salt sea will grow salterFor the bitter tears you'll shed.
"Wifely name is sweet from lover,Yet ere many years are over,From the fatal day you wed,Sore you'll rue the holy altar,And the salt sea will grow salterFor the bitter tears you'll shed.
"See the pallid cheek reflected,Hollow, sunken eyes dejected,Look of weary, wasting pain;All changed for thy beauty rarest:Maiden, tell me, if thou darestThen come here, and look again.
"See the pallid cheek reflected,Hollow, sunken eyes dejected,Look of weary, wasting pain;All changed for thy beauty rarest:Maiden, tell me, if thou darestThen come here, and look again.
"See the pallid cheek reflected,Hollow, sunken eyes dejected,Look of weary, wasting pain;All changed for thy beauty rarest:Maiden, tell me, if thou darestThen come here, and look again.
"See the pallid cheek reflected,Hollow, sunken eyes dejected,Look of weary, wasting pain;All changed for thy beauty rarest:Maiden, tell me, if thou darestThen come here, and look again.
"But should lovers' pleading gain thee,Haste thee quick and I will sain theeEre the marriage vows are said;By the might of magic power,I can save thee from the hourOf a mother's anguish dread."
"But should lovers' pleading gain thee,Haste thee quick and I will sain theeEre the marriage vows are said;By the might of magic power,I can save thee from the hourOf a mother's anguish dread."
"But should lovers' pleading gain thee,Haste thee quick and I will sain theeEre the marriage vows are said;By the might of magic power,I can save thee from the hourOf a mother's anguish dread."
"But should lovers' pleading gain thee,Haste thee quick and I will sain theeEre the marriage vows are said;By the might of magic power,I can save thee from the hourOf a mother's anguish dread."
Answered Thekla: "Save me! save me!Witch or woman, then I crave thee,From a mother's fated doom!So my beauty never fadingThou canst make with magic aiding,Fatal Mother, I shall come."
Answered Thekla: "Save me! save me!Witch or woman, then I crave thee,From a mother's fated doom!So my beauty never fadingThou canst make with magic aiding,Fatal Mother, I shall come."
Answered Thekla: "Save me! save me!Witch or woman, then I crave thee,From a mother's fated doom!So my beauty never fadingThou canst make with magic aiding,Fatal Mother, I shall come."
Answered Thekla: "Save me! save me!Witch or woman, then I crave thee,From a mother's fated doom!So my beauty never fadingThou canst make with magic aiding,Fatal Mother, I shall come."