'Lady,' I said, 'this garland wear! <br />For thou wilt wear it gracefully; <br />And on thy brow 'twill sit so fair, <br />And thou wilt dance so light and free; <br />Had I a thousand gems, on thee, <br />Fair one! their brilliant light should shine: <br />Would'st thou such a gift accept from me,-- <br />O doubt me not,-- it should be thine. <br /> <br />'Lady, so beautiful thou art, <br />That I on thee the wreath bestow, <br />'Tis the best gift I can impart; <br />But whiter, rosier flowers, I know, <br />Upon the distant plain they're springing, <br />Where beauteously their heads they rear, <br />And birds their sweetest songs are singing: <br />Come! let us go and pluck them there!' <br /> <br />She took the beauteous wreath I chose, <br />And, like a child at praises glowing, <br />Her cheeks blushed crimson as the rose <br />When by the snow-white lily growing: <br />But all from those bright eyes eclipse <br />Received; and then, my toil to pay, <br />Kind, precious words fell from her lips: <br />What more than this I shall not say.<br /><br />Walther von der Vogelweide<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/tanzweise/
