Adalbert von Chamisso: “The Widow’s Prayer”
Excerpt, “The Spirit of German Poetry: A Series of translations from the German Poets, with Critical and Biographical Notices.” Translated by Joseph Gostick. London: William Smith, 113 Fleet Street. 1845.

THE WIDOW’S PRAYER
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An old widow watches and prays alone,
In the deep dark night, by her lamp’s pale light,
” O Lord, who the prayer of the widow dost hear,
May his lordship be spared to rule over us here!
Thus sorrow has taught me to pray.”
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The lord of the soil stands listening there,
But cannot interpret the widow’s prayer;
To enter the cottage he bows his head,
And begs the old dame to explain what she said
” How has misery taught you to pray ?”
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” My lord, I had eight fine cows : one day,
The great lord, your grandfather, took one away;
The best of my cattle he carried from me,
Nor cared for my age and my poverty—
Oh, sorrow has taught me to pray !
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” I cursed him, my lord (’twas wicked and vain),
As I afterward found to my sorrow and pain;
For he died, and your father ruled over the land,
Who took two of my cows with a violent hand—
Oh sorrow has taught me to pray !
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” I cursed him, (I own to your lordship’s face),
And he soon broke his neck in pursuing the chase;
Then your lordship was heir to the property,
And four of my cows you have stolen from me,
And sorrow has taught me to pray.
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” If your son comes to rule in his father’s hall,
He will take the last cow that I have in the stall;
So I pray to the Lord, with fervour sincere,
May your lordship be spared to rule over us here !
Thus sorrow has taught me to pray !”