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as if they passed away。
Nor dare to blame God's gifts for incompleteness； In that want their
beauty lies： they roll Towards some infinite depth of love and sweetness；
Bearing onward man's reluctant soul。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： A LEGEND OF
BREGENZ
Girt round with rugged mountains The fair Lake Constance lies； In her
blue heart reflected Shine back the starry skies； And； watching each white
cloudlet Float silently and slow； You think a piece of Heaven Lies on our
earth below！
Midnight is there： and Silence； Enthroned in Heaven； looks down
Upon her own calm mirror； Upon a sleeping town： For Bregenz； that
quaint city Upon the Tyrol shore； Has stood above Lake Constance； A
thousand years and more。
Her battlements and towers； From off their rocky steep； Have cast their
trembling shadow For ages on the deep： Mountain； and lake； and valley； A
sacred legend know； Of how the town was saved； one night； Three
hundred years ago。
Far from her home and kindred； A Tyrol maid had fled； To serve in the
Swiss valleys； And toil for daily bread； And every year that fleeted So
silently and fast； Seemed to bear farther from her The memory of the Past。
She served kind； gentle masters； Nor asked for rest or change； Her
friends seemed no more new ones； Their speech seemed no more strange；
And when she led her cattle To pasture every day； She ceased to look and
wonder On which side Bregenz lay。
She spoke no more of Bregenz； With longing and with tears： Her Tyrol
home seemed faded In a deep mist of years； She heeded not the rumours
Of Austrian war and strife； Each day she rose contented； To the calm toils
of life。
Yet； when her master's children Would clustering round her stand； She
sang them ancient ballads Of her own native land； And when at morn and
evening She knelt before God's throne； The accents of her childhood Rose
to her lips alone。
And so she dwelt： the valley More peaceful year by year； When
suddenly strange portents； Of some great deed seemed near。 The golden
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
corn was bending Upon its fragile stalk； While farmers； heedless of their
fields； Paced up and down in talk。
The men seemed stern and altered； With looks cast on the ground；
With anxious faces； one by one； The women gathered round； All talk of
flax； or spinning； Or work； was put away； The very children seemed afraid
To go alone to play。
One day； out in the meadow With strangers from the town； Some
secret plan discussing； The men walked up and down。 Yet； now and then
seemed watching； A strange uncertain gleam； That looked like lances 'mid
the trees； That stood below the stream。
At eve they all assembled； Then care and doubt were fled； With jovial
laugh they feasted； The board was nobly spread。 The elder of the village
Rose up； his glass in hand； And cried； 〃We drink the downfall 〃Of an
accursed land！
〃The night is growing darker； 〃Ere one more day is flown； 〃Bregenz；
our foemen's stronghold； 〃Bregenz shall be our own！〃 The women shrank
in terror； （Yet Pride； too； had her part；） But one poor Tyrol maiden Felt
death within her heart。
Before her； stood fair Bregenz； Once more her towers arose； What
were the friends beside her？ Only her country's foes！ The faces of her
kinsfolk； The days of childhood flown； The echoes of her mountains；
Reclaimed her as their own！
Nothing she heard around her； （Though shouts rang forth again；） Gone
were the green Swiss valleys； The pasture； and the plain； Before her eyes
one vision； And in her heart one cry； That said； 〃Go forth； save Bregenz；
And then； if need be； die！〃
With trembling haste and breathless； With noiseless step she sped；
Horses and weary cattle Were standing in the shed； She loosed the strong
white charger； That fed from out her hand； She mounted； and she turned
his head Towards her native land。
Outout into the darkness … Faster； and still more fast； The smooth
grass flies behind her； The chestnut wood is past； She looks up； clouds are
heavy： Why is her steed so slow？ … Scarcely the wind beside them； Can
pass them as they go。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
〃Faster！〃 she cries； 〃Oh faster！〃 Eleven the church…bells chime： 〃Oh
God；〃 she cries； 〃help Bregenz； And bring me there in time！〃 But louder
than bells' ringing； Or lowing of the kine； Grows nearer in the midnight
The rushing of the Rhine。
Shall not the roaring waters Their headlong gallop check？ The steed
draws back in terror； She leans upon his neck To watch the flowing
darkness； The bank is high and steep； One pausehe staggers forward；
And plunges in the deep。
She strives to pierce the blackness； And looser throws the rein； Her
steed must breast the waters That dash above his mane。 How gallantly；
how nobly； He struggles through the foam； And seein the far distance；
Shine out the lights of home！
Up the steep banks he bears her； And now； they rush again Towards the
heights of Bregenz； That tower above the plain。 They reach the gate of
Bregenz； Just as the midnight rings； And out come serf and soldier To
meet the news she brings。
Bregenz is saved！ Ere daylight Her battlements are manned；
Defiance greets the army That marches on the land。 And if to deeds heroic
Should endless fame be paid； Bregenz does well to honour The noble
Tyrol maid。
Three hundred years are vanished； And yet upon the hill An old stone
gateway rises； To do her honour still。 And there； when Bregenz women Sit
spinning in the shade； They see in quaint old carving The Charger and the
Maid。
And when； to guard old Bregenz； By gateway； street； and tower； The
warder paces all night long； And calls each passing hour； 〃Nine；〃 〃ten；〃
〃eleven；〃 he cries aloud； And then （Oh crown of Fame！） W