The Melody

The youth in the woods spent the whole day long,
     The whole day long;
For there he had heard such a wonderful song,
     Wonderful song.

Willow-wood gave him a flute so fair,
     A flute so fair,--
To try, if within were the melody rare,
     Melody rare.

Melody whispered and said: "I am here!"
     Said: "I am here!"
But while he was listening, it fled from his ear,
     Fled from his ear.

Oft when he slept, it to him crept,
     It to him crept;
And over his forehead in love it swept,
     In love it swept.

When he would seize it, his sleep took flight,
     His sleep took flight;
The melody hung in the pallid night,
     In the pallid night.

"Lord, O my God, take me therein,
     Take me therein!
The melody rare all my soul doth win,
     My soul doth win."

Answered the Lord: "'T is your friend alone,
     Your friend alone;
Though never an hour you it shall own,
     You it shall own."