Rhine Wine in Rhineland.
Back into Rhineland, back into the May-time,1
Apple and cherry blossoming above ;2
Out of grey London, gloomy in mid-day time,3
Into a land of laughter and of love.4
Glad with the sense of sunshine and of summer,5
Gaily last year we drank the Rhenish wine ;6
Singing our praises of the sweet new-comer,7
May—’neath the walls of Eltville on the Rhine.8
Sang we the songs and legends of the river9
Swelling beneath us, jubilantly free,10
Into the sunset flowing on for ever,11
Bearing our jests and fancies to the sea.12
Rang the old walls of Eltville to our laughter,13
Shed the pink blossoms softly to our feet.14
Ah ! tho’ Life’s tears, like raindrops, follow after,15
Spring, in the Rhineland, whispers “ It is sweet ! ”16
Summer crept on—the Sun God with full quiver17
Smiting the hills to purple, green, and blue ;18
In the deep glades of Biebrich on the river19
Scarcely the plane trees let the sunbeams through.20
Mid garden-groves, where music loved to linger,21
We in enchantment drank the Rhenish wine,22
Until the moon rose, and with magic finger23
Touched the broad bosom of the sleeping Rhine.24
Ah, golden Dreams, September-crowned with glory !25
As by steep paths we climbed the vineyard ways,26
There was no peak, however grim and hoary,27
But gave its fulness in those autumn days.28
Merry at heart, we laboured morn and even,29
Piled the deep vats, and wreathed the patient kine ;30
Till, when the white stars made the stream a heaven,31
Restful we sat and drank the Rhenish wine.32
Friends in the Fatherland, who gave us greeting,33
Held out warm hands to strangers by the way :34
Drink, in your Christmas feasts, to our next meeting ;35
Think of us sometimes when your hearts are gay.36
God keep your homes from sighing and from sorrow,37
Send you all blessings on your corn and wine ;38
That, while Time lasts, the wanderer may borrow39
Sunshine and gladness from the German Rhine.40