The Palatine Countess Jutta

Text by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)

Translated into English by Joseph Massaad 

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In a light boat over the Rhine,
The Palatine countess sails by moonshine.
The maid is rowing, the countess talks:
"Do you see the seven corpses,
Do you see them pass,
Floating downstream, behind us?
The swimming of the dead is so sad!

They were young men, full of lust –
They rested softly upon my breast
And swore loyalty – To guarantee
That they would not break their oath to me,
I had them rounded
And immediately drowned –
The swimming of the dead is so sad!"

The maid keeps rowing, the countess is laughing,
Her laugh through the night sounds mocking!
Surging out of the water, up to their hips,
The corpses appear, stretching high their fingers tips,
As if they wanted to swear –
They nod with a glassy stare –
The swimming of the dead is so sad!