GO, little book - the ancient phrase br And still the daintiest - go your ways, br My Otto, over sea and land, br Till you shall come to Nelly's hand. br br How shall I your Nelly know? br By her blue eyes and her black brow, br By her fierce and slender look, br And by her goodness, little book! br br What shall I say when I come there? br You shall speak her soft and fair: br See - you shall say - the love they send br To greet their unforgotten friend! br br Giant Adulpho you shall sing br The next, and then the cradled king: br And the four corners of the roof br Then kindly bless; and to your perch aloof, br Where Balzac all in yellow dressed br And the dear Webster of the west br Encircle the prepotent throne br Of Shakespeare and of Calderon, br Shall climb an upstart. br br There with these br You shall give ear to breaking seas br And windmills turning in the breeze, br A distant undetermined din br Without; and you shall hear within br The blazing and the bickering logs, br The crowing child, the yawning dogs, br And ever agile, high and low, br Our Nelly going to and fro. br br There shall you all silent sit, br Till, when perchance the lamp is lit br And the day's labour done, she takes br Poor Otto down, and, warming for our sakes, br Perchance beholds, alive and near, br Our distant faces reappear.