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Forbear, if so you can,

Too long therein to scan,

Or joy may turn to mourning!

Full soon I learnt to rue

My too persistent peeping ;

I lost in depths of blue

My image-tell me true,

Dear, is it in thy keeping?

Vosz.-Das Augenbild.

BARTER.

(FREE.)

CALLISTA, Cold, yet loth

A stroke of trade to miss,

Obtained ten kids one day

From Damon for a kiss.

Next day for markets change-
He made a lighter bid,

And from the girl he gained
Ten kisses for a kid.

Next day, more tender grown,
She gladly bargained this:
That she herself should give

Ten kids for Damon's kiss.

Next day, with all her kids

And goats, she'd fain have bought

A kiss the graceless boy

Gave Lalage for nought.

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NIGHT RHYMES.

'GOOD evening to thee, dear Moonshine! How cordial is that glance of thine!

Now speak, nor tarry for more entreating, But tell me at once my darling's greeting

That haply thou hast brought!'

'How can I greetings bear to thee?

Thy darling is not aloft with me;

And as to what youths and poets prattle,

And women and girls about me tattle,
It enters not my thought.'

Discreetly said, my dear Moonshine, And sage, her embassies to decline;

But then, is it fair to be looking ever

Deep into her eyes, as if thou'dst never

Encountered orbs so dear?'

Ye who this ditty would divine

Must know it was sung in full moonshine,
And people who read it by candlelight

May fail perchance to read it aright;

And yet I vow 'tis clear.

WILHELM MÜLLER.-Abendreihn.

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