The Poems of Schiller — Third period
them that say That falsehood dwells with thee! Ah! faithless is the race of man, And harsh a father's heart can prove; But thee, the gentle and the mild, The grief of love can move!"     "Within these hated walls of stone, Should I, repining, mourn alone, And fade in ceaseless care, But thou, though o'er thy giant tide, Nor bridge may span, nor boat may glide, Dost safe my lover bear. And darksome is thy solemn deep, And fearful is thy roaring wave; But wave and deep are won by love—     Thou smilest on the brave!"     "Nor vainly, sovereign of the sea, Did Eros send his shafts to thee What time the rain of gold, Bright Helle, with her brother bore, How stirred the waves she wandered o'er, How stirred thy deeps of old! Swift, by the maiden's charms subdued, Thou cam'st from out the gloomy waves, And in thy mighty arms, she sank Into thy bridal caves."     "A goddess with a god, to keep In endless youth, beneath the deep, Her solemn ocean-court! And still she smooths thine angry tides, Tames thy wild heart, and favoring guides The sailor to the port! Beautiful Helle, bright one, hear Thy lone adoring suppliant pray! And guide, O goddess—guide my love Along the wonted way!"     Now twilight dims the waters' flow, And from the tower, the beacon's glow Waves flickering o'er the main. Ah, where athwart the dismal stream, Shall shine the beacon's faithful beam The lover's eyes shall strain! Hark! sounds moan threatening from afar—     From heaven the blessed stars are gone—    More darkly swells the rising sea The tempest labors on! Along the ocean's boundless plains Lies night—in torrents rush the rains From the dark-bosomed cloud—    Red lightning skirs the panting air, And, loosed from out their rocky lair, Sweep all the storms abroad. Huge wave on huge wave tumbling o'er, The yawning gulf is rent asunder, And shows, as through an opening pall, Grim earth—the ocean under! Poor maiden! bootless wail or vow—    "Have mercy, Jove—be gracious, thou! Dread prayer was mine before!"    What if the gods have heard—and he, Lone victim of the stormy sea, Now struggles to the shore! There's not a sea-bird on the wave—     Their hurrying wings the shelter seek; The stoutest ship the storms have proved, Takes refuge in the creek.     "Ah, still that heart, which oft has braved The danger where the daring saved, Love lureth o'er the sea;—    For many a vow at parting morn, That naught but death should bar return, Breathed those dear lips to me; And whirled around, the while I weep, Amid the storm that rides the wave, The giant gulf is grasping down The 
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