Seven narrow paths has the Milky Way. At the parting of the ways a young shepherd sits and plays. At his side stands a young queen full of yearning, enshrouded in a silver veil .
Upon the seven paths seven knights are erring. Each is clad in armor and has a shining sword at his side, and each could easily find his way, but for the white queen at the parting of the ways .

Husbands and brothers draw your sword and fight
Beneath this banner to defend our right;
Think of the hearts that for your glory sigh;
Think of the angel leaning from the sky.

Come, thou best of painters, prithee listen to my sprightly lyre,
Paint upon the speaking canvas such fair things as I desire:
First depict me smiling cities, strong with ramparts, towers and walls,
And the wild flute-mellowed revels of the sportive Bacchanals.
Limn me, then, the joys of lovers, paint me Paphian delights,
Bridal torches, merry dancers, secret hymeneal rites.

I love a cheerful old fellow,
When his age has made him mellow,
And a light-hearted youth I love.
But when an old man appears
In the dance despite his years,
Though the whiteness of his tresses
That his youth has fled confesses,
His antics a young heart prove.

The dead make rules, and I obey.
I too shall be dead some day.

Youth and maid who, past my death,
Have within your nostrils breath,

I pray you, for my own pain's sake,
Break the rules that I shall make!

Every day there is an hour: I doff the royal clothes, take in hand the wanderer's staff and leave my own room .
I meander through the market places and streets, past fenced-in houses; every urchin throws a stone, every dog barks at me .
Strange door-latches burn, scald; sharp stones cause wounds — more than one king has already roamed about incognito .

My seas are calm, my ships go far. My ships will arrive in due time .
God leads them on calm ways, God knows well the ways. Why then shall I be worried? — Everything will turn out well .

I walk through the bustling streets, it is already six o'clock after noon — in dark rows Jewish daughters drag along harassed .
O Jewish daughters of the factories! In your gaze I see hidden the charm of the small Jewish town, the glimmer of the faraway home .
You stride upon stony streets, where sky and earth are concealed from your eyes — but your skirts still retain the aroma of your native field .
And when I observe you more closely I behold much more: The ancient crowns of milleniums are shining through the yoke .

Gigantic towers and skies of smoke, racket of frenzied tramcars. Paving stones here in the street shriek together with the people.
Flashes here and flashes there; everywhere fire and fire. Just like a watchful dog the river lies close to the rim of the city.

Nature to bulls has given horns, and hoofs to steeds,
To lions a gaping chasm of teeth to prey on weaker breeds;
To birds to fly, to fish to swim in stream and sea,
Swiftness to hares, and strength to men to battle valiantly.
No more such gifts she had for woman. What did she do?
She gave her beauty, mightiest dower and best in lieu
Of all our spears and swords, that, yielding, 'fore her fall,
For lovely woman with her charms can conquer all.