At my heart, at my breast

At my heart, at my breast,

thou my rapture, my happiness!

The joy is the love, the love is the joy,

I have said it, and won't take it back.

I've thought myself rapturous,

but now I'm happy beyond that.

Only she that suckles, only she that loves

the child, to whom she gives nourishment;

Only a mother knows alone

what it is to love and be happy.

O how I pity then the man

who cannot feel a mother's joy!

[Thou lookst at me and smiles,

Thou dear, dear angel thou]

At my heart, at my breast,

thou my rapture, my happiness!