Ludwig Uhland's mysterious poem found at the beginning of the chapter 46 “Once and now” in “North and South” by Elizabeth Gaskell.

I'm currently reading “North and South”, very enjoyable novel I have to said, but what caught my attention is how every chapter starts with a piece of poetry or a quotation from someone (like Rollo, Duke of Normandy, at chapter 20 “Men and Gentlemen”) as a foreshadowing. Through my lecture is not that advanced, I found peeking around a couple of verses that I felt deep. The author is the German Romantic poet Ludwig Uhland, but I couldn’t find more on the extract of poetry given by Gaskell as a prologue of the chapter 46 "Once and now".

Once and now

So on those happy days of yore
Oft as I dare to dwell once more,
Still must I miss the friends so tried,
Whom Death has severed from my side.

But ever when true friendship binds,
Spirit it is that spirit finds;
In spirit then our bliss we found,
In spirit yet to them I'm bound.

UHLAND