Passion-Flowers (Howe)/Gretchen to Goethe
GRETCHEN TO GOETHE.'Nicht küssen, es ist so rauh, aber lieben, wo's möglich ist.'
Nay, unhand me, gentle stranger,For my stainless maidenhoodBodes me some unproven dangerFrom a kiss abrupt and rude.
Well I know thou'rt far above me,Genius gives thee rank divine,But if thou wilt purely love me,All my grateful heart is thine.