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1. A flower of wondrous beauty blooms in the Alpine mounts, / On rocky cliff, 'mid
snow and ice, near never resting founts |
2. And many a lady fair had offered gold in vain / To tempt her guide to risk
his life the lovely flower to gain |
3. But Carl Anspach was fearless,
and when he heard of the boon, / He vowed he would pluck the floweret before the
morrow noon |
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4. While thus in thought, Annette came forth from out her father's door, / 'What,
Carl!' she said, 'Art joyful then?' Why, what in fairy lore |
5. It gleamed upon the Edelweiss, and Carl who all alone / Had dared the
dreadful avalanche, had scaled the snow-clad cone |
6. The sun shone on another form scaling the ice-clad steep: / It was Annette!
for dreams had come forbidding her to sleep |
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7. For in a dream she thought she stood upon the awful height, / With Carl
suspended down below, in the early morning light |
8. The rope was fastened to a rock. Oh horror! at the edge / Its strands were
nearly cut in twain by the cruel rock ledge |
9. She woke, she dressed, she rushed without, regardless of the cold / For Carl
Ansprach would lose his life in gaining her the gold |
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10. For she saw the swinging, straining rope, she saw the parting strands, / She
saw, oh, horror! saw him fall! unhelped by human hand |
11. She reached the top! she ran! O, God! she seized the parting rope, / Her
dream was true! 'twas almost through! yet angels bade her hope |
12. 'Ten golden pounds! that is your worth! a gold piece every bud! / 'Twill
please Annette when I give -- What's this? A spot of blood! |
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13. Who calls? who calls Carl? and why should I be quick? I can see -- / Why,
what is this? a woman's head? Annette's? it cannot be! |
14. This misty sun is dazzling! it is fancy without doubt, / Again that cry! did
some one say, 'My wrists are giving out' ' |
15. Upwards he climbed, he gained the cliff, he kissed the bleeding wrists, /
But nevermore seeks Edelweiss among the mountain mists |
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