" Love of sister unto brother
Render I again;
Cease, sir knight, demanding other,
For it gives me pain.
Calmly let me bear our parting,
Calm be you as I;
For those tears so sadly starting
I have no reply. "
Mute he hears with sorrow laden,
Sore his heart doth bleed,
Warmly once he clasps the maiden,
Leaps upon his steed.
Called from every Switzer valley
All his liegemen haste,
To the Holy Land they rally,
With the cross on breast.
Mighty feats on field of battle
Wrought those heroes stout,
And their helmets glance and rattle
'Mid the foeman's rout.
Every Pagan hears with quaking
Toggenburg's dread name,
But his faithful heart is aching,
Pining still the same.
For a year with grief he's striven,
But at length must yield;
To his breast no peace is given,
And he leaves the field.
Sees a ship off Joppa lying,
Bending to the gale;
For his dear one's presence dying
Homeward he doth sail.
Knocking now the pilgrim under
Her tall portal waits,
But with news like sudden thunder
Comes one to the gates.
" She you seek is wed to Heaven;
'Neath the veil hath sworn;
To the Bridegroom was she given
Even yestermorn. "
To his father's towers for ever,
Now he bids adieu;
Look[s] upon his weapons never,
Nor his charger true.
From old Toggenburg unheeded
Wendeth he adown;
For his noble limbs are weeded
With a hairy gown.
There a lowly hut he reareth
Hard beside the glade,
Where the cloister dimly peereth
Thro' the linden shade.
Waiting from the daylight's breaking
Till the sun was gone,
Hopeful courage ne'er forsaking,
Sat he there alone.
Gazed upon the cloister shady,
Gazed the whole day through,
Till the casement of his lady
Clinking open flew;
Till he saw the vision holy
Of his love appear
Towards the valley bending lowly,
Calm, with angel's cheer.
Then he sank to rest light-hearted,
Slumber'd free from pain,
Rising gladsome when morn brightened
O'er him once again.
Many years without complaining
Sat he, ever true,
Till the casement at day's waning
Clinking open flew.
Till he saw the vision holy
Of his love appear
Towards the valley bending lowly,
Calm, with angel's cheer.
And one morning found him sitting,
Still and deathly cold,
On the casement, all unwitting,
Gazing as of old.
Render I again;
Cease, sir knight, demanding other,
For it gives me pain.
Calmly let me bear our parting,
Calm be you as I;
For those tears so sadly starting
I have no reply. "
Mute he hears with sorrow laden,
Sore his heart doth bleed,
Warmly once he clasps the maiden,
Leaps upon his steed.
Called from every Switzer valley
All his liegemen haste,
To the Holy Land they rally,
With the cross on breast.
Mighty feats on field of battle
Wrought those heroes stout,
And their helmets glance and rattle
'Mid the foeman's rout.
Every Pagan hears with quaking
Toggenburg's dread name,
But his faithful heart is aching,
Pining still the same.
For a year with grief he's striven,
But at length must yield;
To his breast no peace is given,
And he leaves the field.
Sees a ship off Joppa lying,
Bending to the gale;
For his dear one's presence dying
Homeward he doth sail.
Knocking now the pilgrim under
Her tall portal waits,
But with news like sudden thunder
Comes one to the gates.
" She you seek is wed to Heaven;
'Neath the veil hath sworn;
To the Bridegroom was she given
Even yestermorn. "
To his father's towers for ever,
Now he bids adieu;
Look[s] upon his weapons never,
Nor his charger true.
From old Toggenburg unheeded
Wendeth he adown;
For his noble limbs are weeded
With a hairy gown.
There a lowly hut he reareth
Hard beside the glade,
Where the cloister dimly peereth
Thro' the linden shade.
Waiting from the daylight's breaking
Till the sun was gone,
Hopeful courage ne'er forsaking,
Sat he there alone.
Gazed upon the cloister shady,
Gazed the whole day through,
Till the casement of his lady
Clinking open flew;
Till he saw the vision holy
Of his love appear
Towards the valley bending lowly,
Calm, with angel's cheer.
Then he sank to rest light-hearted,
Slumber'd free from pain,
Rising gladsome when morn brightened
O'er him once again.
Many years without complaining
Sat he, ever true,
Till the casement at day's waning
Clinking open flew.
Till he saw the vision holy
Of his love appear
Towards the valley bending lowly,
Calm, with angel's cheer.
And one morning found him sitting,
Still and deathly cold,
On the casement, all unwitting,
Gazing as of old.