Classic Poem

Ich bin die Prinzessin Ilse

I am the Princess Ilse
And I dwell at Ilsenstein.
Come with me to my castle,
Thou shalt be blest — and mine.

There I shall bathe thy forehead
With waters clear and glad,
Until thy pain shall vanish,
Thou sick and sorrowing lad.

With my white arms about thee
Upon my breast thou'lt be;
And thou shalt lie there dreaming
Of faery legendry.

And I shall kiss and hold thee
As I would kiss and hold
My lover, dear King Heinrich,
Who now lies dead and cold.

The dead stay dead forever,
Only the living live;
My laughing heart is leaping,
I've youth and joy to give.

Then come down to my castle,
Come to my crystal halls;
The knights and maidens are dancing,
Happy are all my thralls.

There's rustling of silk and clatter
Of spurs, and the bright air hums.
The nimble dwarfs are playing
On fiddles and horns and drums.

But always my arms shall enfold thee
And I shall keep thee enthralled;
As I stopped the ears of King Heinrich
When the brazen trumpets called.