Classic Poem

What shoutings and songs are rending the air?
Throw open the windows, ye maidens fair!
The student is leaving his native town,
He and his comrades the street go down.

The others are waving their caps in air,
Ribands and flowers they round them wear;
Small joy in the custom the student knows,
Silent and pale in the midst he goes.

The cups are clinking, and gleams the wine.
" Drink all, drink once and again, brother mine! "
" With the parting-cup might the pain but go,
That here within me doth burn and glow! "

And lo! from the very last house of all,
Looks down from the window a maiden tall;
'Mid roses and wall-flowers round her set
She seeketh to hide that her cheeks are wet.

And when to this house he came at last,
Then upward his eyes the student cast;
Then cast them downward with bitter smart,
And layeth his hand on his swelling heart.

" Still hast thou, brother, no flowerets fair?
See those that are winking and waving there!
What ho! thou fairest and best of all!
Now let from thy window a garland fall! "

" My brothers, what use were those flowers to me?
No kind dear sweet-heart have I , as ye!
They soon would fade in the sun's hot ray,
The wind would scatter them far away. "

Onward and onward with shout and song!
The maiden gazes and listens long.
" Alas! I see him from hence depart
Whom ever I loved in my secret heart.

Here stand I, alas! with this love of mine;
Gay roses and wall-flowers round me shine,
Whilst he to whom I would gladly yield
All, all that I have, is far a-field. "