Castled Crag of Drachenfels

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h1>The castled crag of Drachenfels</h1><br/> Frowns o'er the wide and winding Rhine.<br/> Whose breast of waters broadly swells<br/> Between the banks which bear the vine,<br/> And hills all rich with blossomed trees,<br/> And fields which promise corn and wine,<br/> And scattered cities crowning these,<br/> Whose far white walls along them shine,<br/> Have strewed a scene, which I should see<br/> With double joy wert THOU with me!<br/> <br/> And peasant girls, with deep blue eyes,<br/> And hands which offer early flowers,<br/> Walk smiling o'er this paradise;<br/> Above, the frequent feudal towers<br/> Through green leaves lift their walls of grey,<br/> And many a rock which steeply lours,<br/> And noble arch in proud decay,<br/> Look o'er this vale of vintage bowers:<br/> But one thing want these banks of Rhine,&mdash;<br/> Thy gentle hand to clasp in mine!<br/> <br/> I send the lilies given to me;<br/> Though long before thy hand they touch,<br/> I know that they must withered be,<br/> But yet reject them not as such;<br/> For I have cherished them as dear,<br/> Because they yet may meet thine eye,<br/> And guide thy soul to mine e'en here,<br/> When thou behold'st them drooping nigh,<br/> And know'st them gathered by the Rhine,<br/> And offered from my heart to thine!<br/> <br/> The river nobly foams and flows,<br/> The charm of this enchanted ground,<br/> And all its thousand turns disclose<br/> Some fresher beauty varying round;<br/> The haughtiest breast its wish might bound<br/> Through life to dwell delighted here;<br/> Nor could on earth a spot be found<br/> To Nature and to me so dear,<br/> Could thy dear eyes in following mine<br/> Still sweeten more these banks of Rhine!<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />