The Melody (From Arne)

The youth in the woods spent the whole day long,         The whole day long;     For there he had heard such a wonderful song,         Wonderful song.     Willow-wood gave him a flute so fair,         A flute so fair, -     To try, if within were the melody rare,         Melody rare.     Melody whispered and said: "I am here!"         Said: "I am here!"     But while he was listening, it fled from his ear,         Fled from his ear.     Oft when he slept, it to him crept,         It to him crept;     And over his forehead in love it swept,         In love it swept.     When he would seize it, his sleep took flight,         His sleep took flight;     The melody hung in the pallid night,         In the pallid night.     "Lord, O my God, take me therein,         Take me therein!     The melody rare all my soul doth win,         My soul doth win."     Answered the Lord: "'T is your friend alone,         Your friend alone;     Though never an hour you it shall own,         You it shall own."