海因里希·海涅（Heinrich Heine，1797-1856），德国著名抒情诗人，被称为“德国古典文学的最后一位代表”。
第一部诗集《诗歌集》(1827年)包含有《青春的苦恼》、《抒情插曲》、《还乡集》、《北海集》等组诗。
这首诗是1822年所著，海涅通过构架一个梦幻美好的世界，来逃离现实的悲痛、化解内心的苦楚。

The old dream comes again to me:
With May-night stars above,
We two sat under the linden tree
And swore eternal love.

Again and again we plighted troth,
We chattered, and laughed, and kissed;
To make me well remember my oath
You gave me a bite on the wrist.

O darling with these eyes serene,
And with the teeth so white!
The vows were proper to the scene,
Superfluous was the bite.