Weeping, sighing by the Rhine calm and bright 
I wander'd and thought on my own true knight,
when hark! martial music! I glow'd with delight
and cried: 't is my hero, return'd from the fight!

Alas! They brought tidings of woe: He was slain
and I doom'd forever to heart-rending pain.
Then I sought the cold cloister, cut off my fair hair
and doun'd sadly the veil, the black veil of despair.

He came too late, found me heav'n's plighted bride;
ah, would, ere breathing that vow I had died!
Glance for glance, weeping, and sigh for sigh we gave;
would both we were sleeping in grief's best home, the grave!