Nigh hugged my breath away.

On Tuesday, in the castle,
My maidens gave a ball.
The neighboring lords and ladies
Came riding one and all.

But I was not invited.
Amazed they all appeared;
The gossiping aunts and cousins
Remarked the fact, and sneered.

XVIII.

Upon the far horizon
Like a picture of the mist,
Appears the towered city
By the twilight shadows kissed.

The moist, soft breezes ripple
Our boat's wake gray and dark,
With mournful measured cadence
The boatman rows my bark.

The sun from clouds outshining,
Lights up once more the coast.
The very spot it shows me
Where she I loved was lost.

XIX.

All hail to thee, thou fairest
And most mysterious town!
That once inclosed my dearest
Within thy gateways brown.

Speak out, ye towers and portals!
My sweetheart, where is she?
I left her in your keeping;
Ye should my warders be.

The towers are not guilty,
For rooted fast were they.
When sweetheart, with trunks and luggage,
So quickly stole away.

The gates gave willing passage,
With noiseless bars and locks.
A door will always open,
When the adorer knocks.

XX.

I tread the dear familiar path,
The old road I have taken;
I stand before my darling's house,
Now empty and forsaken.

Oh far too narrow is the street,
The roofs seem tottering downward.
The very pavement burns my feet;
I hurry faster onward.

XXI.

Here to her vows I listened,
I tread the empty halls,
And where her tear-drops glistened,
The poisoned serpent crawls.

XXII.

The quiet night broods over roof-tree and steeple;
Within this house dwelt my treasure rare.
'Tis long since I left the town and its people,
But the house stands still on the self-same square.

Here stands, too, a man; toward heaven he gazes,
And he wrings his hands with a wild despair.
I shudder with awe when his face he raises,
For the moonlight shows me mine own self there.

Oh, pale sad creature! my ghost, my double,
Why dost thou ape my passion and tears,
That haunted me here with such cruel trouble,
So many a night in the olden years?

XXIII.

How can'st thou slumber calmly,
Whilst I alive remain?
My olden wrath returneth,
And then I snap my chain.

Know'st thou the ancient ballad
Of that dead lover brave,
Who rose