HEINE'S “WIDOW OR DAUGHTER?”

Shall I woo the one or other?

Both attract me — more's the pity!

Pretty is the widowed mother,

And the daughter, too, is pretty.

When I see that maiden shrinking,

By the gods I swear I'll get‘ er!

But anon I fall to thinking

That the mother‘ ll suit me better!

So, like any idiot ass

Hungry for the fragrant fodder,

Placed between two bales of grass,

Lo, I doubt, delay, and dodder!