The poems of Heine; Complete. Heinrich Heine

In my troubles and sad tribulation

       Thy comfort always was ready.

      Food and drink thou gav’st me in payment,

       And plenty of money didst lend me,

       And also a passport didst send me,

       As well as some changes of raiment.

      From heat and from coldness unpleasant

       May heaven, my dear one, long guard thee,

       And may it never reward thee

       The kindness shown me at present!

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      The earth had long been avaricious,

       But May, when she came, gave with great prodigality,

       And all things now smile with rapture delicious,

       But I for laughter have no partiality.

      The blue bells are ringing, their beauty displaying,

       The birds, as in fables, talk sentimentality;

       I take no pleasure in all they are saying,

       And I am quite wretched in sober reality.

      All men I detest, and now cannot meet one,

       Not even my friend, with the least cordiality,

       And this all because my amiable sweet one

       They “madam” entitle, with chilling formality.

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