St. George

Summary

And calling for him through the long night, she

had knelt and prayed — a young girl weak and slight:

“this dragon eyes me with his monstrous sight!

I do not know why he is watching me.”

Then, on his charger, he burst from the dawn,

his helmet and his hauberk all aglow.

He sees her thralled and plaintive, marked with woe,

as from her knees, she gazes on

the shining splendor that he is.

And bathed in brilliance, he raced down the land,

his heavy sword erect within his hand,

into those naked menaces

so dangerous (and yet his heart's desire).

She kneels still with her hands clasped tight in prayer —

that he will win, and stand beside her there.

For she's forgotten Him who's always by her,

within her readiness, her deep heart, or

her purity — a guardian that she tore

from Heaven's light. Beside this dragon war,

her answered prayer, He could not tower higher.

Dame auf einem Balkon

Plötzlich tritt sie, in den Wind gehüllt,

licht in Lichtes, wie herausgegriffen,

wahrend jetzt die Stube wie geschliffen

hinter ihr die Türe füllt

dunkel wie der Grund einer Kamee,

die ein Schimmern durchläßt durch die Ränder;

und du meinst der Abend war nicht, ehe

sie heraustrat, um auf das Geländer

noch ein wenig von sich fortzulegen,

noch die Hände, — um ganz leicht zu sein:

wie dem Himmel von den Häuserreihn

hingereicht, von allem zu bewegen.