s: The glad lark, soaring heavenward from the sod,


s: Up the swift spiral of its own song whirled,


s: As from my soul will break at thy feet, Lord,


s: Like a great tide from sea-heart shoreward hurled.


s: For then thou wilt be able, then at last,


s: Then shall thy life my heart all open find,


s: A thoroughfare to thy great spirit-wind;


s: And all creation rise in me created new.


s: What makes thy being a bliss shall then make mind


s: For I shall love as thou, and love in thee;


s: My every faintest wish being all divine;


s: Power thou wilt give me to work mightily,


s: Even as my Lord, leading thy low men nigher,


s: With dance and song to cast their best upon thy fire.


s: Then shall I live such an essential life


s: That a mere flower will then to me unfold


s: More bliss than now grandest orchestral strife--


s: I shall straight through its window God behold.


s: God, I shall feed on thee, thy creature blest


s: With very being--work at one with sweetest rest.


s: Give me a world, to part for praise and sunder.


s: Wake fife and flute and flageolet and voice;


s: The fire-shook earth itself be the great drum;


s: And let the air the region's bass out thunder;


s: The firs be violins; the reeds hautboys;


s: Rivers, seas, icebergs fill the great score up and under!


s: But rather dost thou hear the blundered words


s: Of breathing creatures; the music-lowing herds


s: Of thy great cattle; thy soft-bleating sheep;


s: O'erhovered by the trebles of thy birds,


s: Whose Christ-praised carelessness song-fills the deep;


s: Still rather a child's talk who apart doth hide him,


s: And make a tent for God to come and sit beside him.


s: This is not life; this being is not enough.


s: But thou art life, and thou hast life for me.


s: Thou mad'st the worm--to cast the wormy slough,


s: Thou hast me, statue-like, hewn in the rough,


s: Lord, thou hast called me fourth, I turn and call on thee.


s: 'Tis thine to make, mine to rejoice in thine.


s: As, hungering for his mother's face and eyes,


s: The child throws wide the door, back to the wall,


s: I run to thee, the refuge from poor lies:


s: Lean dogs behind me whimper, yelp, and whine;


s: Life lieth ever sick, Death's writhing thrall,


s: In slavery endless, hopeless, and supine.


s: The life that hath not willed itself to be,


s: Must clasp the life that willed, and be at peace;


s: Or, like a leaf wind-blown, through chaos flee;


s: And work their will, and drive it to and fro;


s: A thing that neither is, nor yet can cease,


s: But when I turn and grasp the making hand,


s: And will the making will, with confidence


s: Helpless no more, no more existence' slave;


s: In the heart of love's creating fire I stand,


s: And, love-possessed in heart and soul and sense,


s: Take up the making share the making Master gave.


s: That man alone who does the Father's works


s: Who with God wills not, is no son, not free.


s: O Father, send the demon-doubt that lurks


s: Who trusts in knowledge all its good shall miss.


s: Thy beasts are sinless, and do live before thee;


s: Thy child is sinful, and must run to thee.


s: Thy angels sin not and in peace adore thee;


s: I from thy heart came, how can I ignore thee?--


s: Back to my home I hurry, haste, and flee;


s: There I shall dwell, love-praising evermore thee.


s: Calm in thy bosom, which it cannot leave;


s: Hither and thither, gathering store to grieve--


s: Not now, O Father! now it mounts, it flies,


s: To join the true self in thy heart that waits,


s: And, one with it, be one with all the heavenly mates.


s: Trusting thee, Christ, I kneel, and clasp thy knee;


s: Cast myself down, and kiss thy brother-feet--


s: One self thou and the Father's thought of thee!


s: Ideal son, thou hast left the perfect home,


s: Ideal brother, to seek thy brothers come!


s: Thou know'st our angels all, God's children sweet,


s: And of each two wilt make one holy child complete.


s: Nor think such words often to write again--


s: Rather, as light the power to me affords,


s: Christ's new and old would to my friends unbind;


s: Through words he spoke help to his thought behind;


s: Unveil the heart with which he drew his men;


s: Set forth his rule o'er devils, animals, corn, and wind.


s: "God must be lonely--oh, so lonely lone!


s: Can reach the heart of his great loneliness!


s: My whole heart I will bring him, with a moan


s: That I may not come nearer; I will lie prone


s: Before the awful loveliness in loneliness' excess."


s: And lo! thou hast the Son-God to thy friend.


s: Thou honour'st his obedience, he thy law.


s: Thou fold'st him round in live love perfectly--


s: One two, without beginning, without end;


s: In love, life, strength, and truth, perfect without a flaw.


s: Thou hast not made, or taught me, Lord, to care


s: For times and seasons--but this one glad day


s: Is the blue sapphire clasping all the lights


s: That flash in the girdle of the year so fair--


s: When thou wast born a man, because alway


s: Thou wast and art a man, through all the flights


s: Of thought, and time, and thousandfold creation's play.


s: Shut in by itself, a sundered atom of thee.


s: No two yet loved themselves into a whole;


s: Of two to make one, which yet two shall be,


s: Is thy creation's problem, deep, and true,


s: To which thou only hold'st the happy, hurting clue.


s: As touch not in the sack two grains of seed,


s: Touch no two hearts in great worlds populous.


s: Him he has made our brother: homeward, thus,


s: To find our kin we first must turn our wandering feet.


s: Should absolutely meet the soul that makes;


s: Then, in that bearing soul, meet every other


s: There also born, each sister and each brother.


s: Lord, till I meet thee thus, life is delayed;


s: Not I until my consciousness eternal wakes.


s: Again I shall behold thee, daughter true;


s: The hour will come when I shall hold thee fast


s: In God's name, loving thee all through and through.


s: Somewhere in his grand thought this waits for us.


s: Then shall I see a smile not like thy last--


s: For that great thing which came when all was past,


s: Was not a smile, but God's peace glorious.


s: Gleam-faced, pure-eyed, strong-willed, high-hearted boy!


s: Hardly thy life clear forth of heaven was sent,


s: Ere it broke out into a smile, and went.


s: So swift thy growth, so true thy goalward bent,


s: Thou, child and sage inextricably blent,


s: Wilt one day teach thy father in some heavenly tent


s: Go, my beloved children, live your life.


s: Wounded, faint, bleeding, never yield the strife.


s: Stunned, fallen-awake, arise, and fight again.


s: Before you victory stands, with shining train


s: Beyond morass and mountain swells the star


s: Of perfect love--the home of longing heart and brain


s: There are few modern poems of any country so perfect in their


s: kind as the "Hermann and Dorothea" of Goethe. In clearness


s: of characterization, in unity of tone, in the adjustment of


s: background and foreground, in the conduct of the narrative,


s: it conforms admirably to the strict canons of art; yet it


s: preserves a freshness and spontaneity in its emotional appeal


s: that are rare in works of so classical a perfection in form.


s: the Archbishop of Salzburg drove out of his diocese a thousand


s: Protestants, who took refuge in South Germany, and among whom


s: was a girl who became the bride of the son of a rich burgher.


s: The occasion of the girl's exile was changed by Goethe to more


s: recent times, and in the poem she is represented as a German from


s: at one point, for example, in the characterization of Dorothea,


s: who before the time of her appearance in the poem has been


s: The characters of the father and the minister Goethe took over


s: from the original incident, the mother he invented, and the


s: apothecary he made to stand for a group of friends. But all of


s: these persons, as well as the two lovers, are recreated, and this


s: individuals, they are no less significant as permanent types of


s: human nature. The hexameter measure which he employed, and which


s: is retained in the present translation, he handled with such


s: charm that it has since seemed the natural verse for the domestic


s: features of the poem, in Longfellow's "Evangeline."


s: Taken as a whole, with its beauty of form, its sentiment, tender


s: yet restrained, and the compelling pathos of its story, "Hermann


s: and Dorothea" appeals to a wider public than perhaps any other


s: "Truly, I never have seen the market and street so deserted!


s: What will not curiosity do! here is every one running,


s: Hurrying to gaze on the sad procession of pitiful exiles.


s: Fully a league it must be to the causeway they have to pass over,


s: Over to us are coming, and through the prosperous corner


s: Roam of this our luxuriant valley, and traverse its windings.


s: Thereupon answered and said the prudent, intelligent housewife:


s: "Father, I am not inclined to be giving away my old linen:


s: Made of the finest of chintz, and lined with delicate flannel,


s: Gave I away: it was thin and old, and quite out of the fashion."


s: Real East-Indian stuff: I never shall get such another.


s: Well, I had given up wearing it: nowadays, custom compels us


s: Always to go in surtout, and never appear but in jacket;


s: "See!" interrupted the wife; "even now some are yonder returning,


s: We shall be bringing our grain in dry, as the hay was before it.


s: Not the least cloud to be seen, so perfectly clear is the heaven;


s: Constantly, while he thus spoke, the crowds of men and of women


s: Grew, who their homeward way were over the market-place wending;


s: Foremost merchant of all the town, their opulent neighbor,


s: Rapidly driving his open barouche,--it was builded in Landau.


s: Lively now grew the streets, for the city was handsomely peopled.


s: Under their doorway thus the affectionate couple were sitting,


s: Pleasing themselves with many remarks on the wandering people.


s: Finally broke in, however, the worthy housewife, exclaiming:


s: "Yonder our pastor, see! is hitherward coming, and with him


s: Comes our neighbor the doctor, so they shall every thing tell us;


s: Cordially then the two men drew nigh, and saluted the couple;


s: "Such is mankind, forsooth! and one man is just like another,


s: Now all are sallying forth to gaze on the need of these exiles,


s: Nor is there one who considers that he, by a similar fortune,


s: May, in the future, if not indeed next, be likewise o'ertaken.


s: Levity not to be pardoned, I deem; yet it lies in man's nature."


s: Thereupon answered and said the noble, intelligent pastor;


s: As they reveal man's destiny to us, and man's disposition;


s: Thoroughly versed, besides, in best of secular writings.


s: What understanding and reason may sometimes fail to accomplish,


s: Say, would he ever have learned how harmoniously fitted together


s: Worldly experiences are? For first what is novel he covets;


s: Then with unwearying industry follows he after the useful;


s: Finally longs for the good by which he is raised and ennobled.


s: While he is young, such lightness of mind is a joyous companion,


s: Traces of pain-giving evil effacing as soon as 'tis over.


s: He is indeed to be praised, who, out of this gladness of temper,


s: Has in his ripening years a sound understanding developed;


s: Who, in good fortune or ill, with zeal and activity labors:


s: Then broke familiarly in the housewife impatient, exclaiming:


s: "Tell us of what ye have seen; for that I am longing to hear of!"


s: "Hardly," with emphasis then the village doctor made answer,


s: Mournful it was to behold the most miscellaneous chattels,--


s: Always ready for use; for useful is each and important.--


s: Now these things to behold, piled up on all manner of wagons,


s: One on the top of another, as hurriedly they had been rescued.


s: Over the chest of drawers were the sieve and wool coverlet lying;


s: Twenty years since, will take from a man all power of reflection,


s: Pitiful trash, that only encumbered the horses and oxen;


s: Thus on the dusty road the crowded procession moved forward,


s: Cries of distress from the aged and sick, who aloft on the wagon,


s: Pressed at last from the rut and out to the edge of the highway,


s: Slipped the creaking wheel; the cart lost its balance, and over


s: Later the boxes were thrown and fell more near to the wagon.


s: Verily all who had witnessed the fall, expected to see them


s: Crushed into pieces beneath the weight of trunks and of presses.


s: So lay the cart all broken to fragments, and helpless the people.


s: Each thinking only of self, and carried away by the current.


s: Then we ran to the spot, and found the sick and the aged,--


s: Hastily sent we a mite from out of our super-abundance,


s: Knowing how readily fear steals into the heart of us mortals,


s: And anxiety, worse to me than the actual evil.


s: Come with me into the room behind, our cool little parlor,


s: Where no sunbeam e'er shines, and no sultry breath ever enters


s: Gleaming and round and brown, that on mighty feet was supported,


s: Joyously rang at once the glasses of landlord and pastor,


s: But his motionless held the third, and sat lost in reflection,


s: When he so hardly chastised us, he now is continually blessing,


s: Constantly shielding, as man the apple of his eye watches over,


s: Holding it precious and dear above all the rest of his members?


s: Shall he in time to come not defend us and furnish us succor?


s: Only when danger is nigh do we see how great is his power.


s: Shall he this blooming town which he once by industrious burghers


s: Cheerfully said in reply the excellent pastor, and kindly:


s: "Keep thyself firm in the faith, and firm abide in this temper;


s: Then made answer the landlord, with thoughts judicious and manly:


s: But I could never imagine its beautiful banks would so shortly


s: See! thus nature protects, the stout-hearted Germans protect us,


s: Would it might be that when that festival, ardently longed for,


s: But I observe with regret, that the youth so efficient and active


s: Little enjoyment he finds in going about among others;


s: Nay, he will even avoid young ladies' society wholly;


s: Shuns the enlivening dance which all young persons delight in."


s: Thus he spoke and listened; for now was heard in the distance


s: Now when of comely mien the son came into the chamber,


s: Turned with a searching look the eyes of the preacher upon him,


s: And, with the gaze of the student, who easily fathoms expression,


s: Then with a smile he spoke, and said in words of affection:


s: "Truly a different being thou comest! I never have seen thee


s: Cheerful as now, nor ever beheld I thy glances so beaming.


s: Quietly then, and with serious words, the son made him answer:


s: "If I have acted as ye will commend, I know not; but I followed


s: That which my heart bade me do, as I shall exactly relate you.


s: Thou wert, mother, so long in rummaging 'mong thy old pieces,


s: Coming to meet me; for far was already the band of the exiles.


s: Quicker I kept on my way, and drove with speed to the village,


s: Has our condition been, as to-day on this journey thou seest.


s: I am not yet grown used to asking gifts of a stranger,


s: Which he will often unwillingly give, to be rid of the beggar.


s: But necessity drives me to speak; for here, on the straw, lies


s: Naked, now in her arms the new-born infant is lying,


s: And but little the help our friends will be able to furnish,


s: Thou of this neighborhood art, to the poor in charity give it.'


s: "Thus she spoke, and the pale-faced mother raised herself feebly


s: Up from the straw, and towards me looked. Then said I in answer:


s: 'Surely unto the good, a spirit from heaven oft speaketh,


s: Making them feel the distress that threatens a suffering brother.


s: And she thanked me with joy, and cried: 'The happy believe not


s: Miracles yet can be wrought: for only in need we acknowledge


s: God's own hand and finger, that leads the good to show goodness,


s: What unto us he has done through thee, may he do to thee also!


s: Started the oxen; the wagon went on; but there I still lingered,


s: Still held the horses in check; for now my heart was divided


s: And in an instant my heart had decided, and quietly driving


s: After the maiden, I soon overtook her, and said to her quickly:


s: 'Hearken, good maiden;--my mother packed up not linen-stuffs only


s: Plenty of all these things I have in the box of the carriage.


s: But now I feel myself moved to deliver these offerings also


s: Into thy hand; for so shall I best fulfil my commission.


s: Instantly now, when Hermann had ceased, the talkative neighbor


s: Took up the word, and cried: "Oh happy, in days like the present,


s: Happy I feel myself now, and would not for much be called father;


s: "Neighbor," unto his words young Hermann with emphasis answered:


s: "I can in no wise agree with thee here, and censure thy language.


s: Rather than ever to-day would I make up my mind to be married:


s: Many a worthy maiden is needing a husband's protection,


s: And the man needs an inspiriting wife when ill is impending."


s: Thereupon smiling the father replied: "Thus love I to hear thee!


s: That is a sensible word such as rarely I've known thee to utter."


s: Rather the saddest of hours it was that bound us together.


s: Monday morning--I mind it well; for the day that preceded


s: Came that terrible fire by which our city was ravaged--


s: Twenty years will have gone. The day was a Sunday as this is;


s: Hot and dry was the season; the water was almost exhausted.


s: All the people were strolling abroad in their holiday dresses,


s: 'Mong the villages partly, and part in the mills and the taverns.


s: Quickly along the streets, creating a draught in their passage.


s: Little we managed to save. I sat, that sorrowful night through,


s: Outside the town on the common, to guard the beds and the boxes.


s: Sleep overtook me at last, and when I again was awakened,


s: Came up the sun again, inspiring my bosom with courage.


s: Then I rose hastily up, with a yearning the place to revisit


s: Thou camest up to examine the place, from the other direction.


s: Then thou didst set me down and kiss me; to that I objected;


s: But thou didst answer and say with kindly significant language:


s: 'See! my house lies in ruins: remain here and help me rebuild it;


s: Yet did I not comprehend thee until thou sentest thy mother


s: Unto my father, and quick were the happy espousals accomplished.


s: E'en to this day I remember with joy those half-consumed timbers,


s: Thus their life and estate to begin from the very foundation:


s: Every one needs not to worry himself as we and the rest did.


s: Oh, how happy is he whose father and mother shall give him,


s: Many are human wants, and every thing daily grows dearer,


s: So that a man must consider the means of increasing his earnings.


s: Great is the comfort of home whene'er, with the woman elected,


s: Enter the useful presents, besides, in box and in basket.


s: Not for this many a year in vain has the mother been busy


s: Making her daughter's linens of strong and delicate texture;


s: God-parents have not in vain been giving their vessels of silver,


s: Well do I know how good in a house is a woman's position,


s: Who her own furniture round her knows, in kitchen and chamber;


s: Who herself the bed and herself the table has covered.


s: Yes, my Hermann, thy father's old age thou greatly canst gladden,


s: True that the eldest already is taken; but there is the second


s: "Truly 'twas my wish too, as well as thine own, to have chosen


s: Partly to gratify thee, and because of our former acquaintance:


s: But no pleasure I ever could take in being among them;


s: For I was always obliged to endure their censures upon me.


s: Quite too long was my coat, the cloth too coarse, and the color


s: It was on Easter-day that last I went over to see them;


s: Wearing my best new coat, that is now hanging up in the closet,


s: Hearing his daughters sing, and full of delight and good-humor.


s: Much I could not understand of all that was said in the singing;


s: But of Pamina I often heard, and oft of Tamino:


s: Thereupon all were silent and smiled; but the father made answer:


s: On and on and on, for all they kept playing and singing.


s: Thoughtfully answered the son: "I know not. That mortification


s: Stamped itself in me so deeply, I never could bear to behold her


s: Seated before the piano or listen again to her singing."


s: Forth broke the father then, and in words of anger made answer:


s: "Little of joy will my life have in thee! I said it would be so


s: Dwelling within his breast, nor the wish to raise himself higher.


s: After him called, "Yes, go, thou obstinate fellow! I know thee!


s: Who shall requite me in kind and sweeten my manifold labors;


s: Thus did the modest son slip away from the angry upbraiding;


s: But in the tone he had taken at first, the father continued:


s: "That comes not out of a man which he has not in him; and hardly


s: Shall the joy ever be mine of seeing my dearest wish granted:


s: That my son may not as his father be, but a better.


s: What would become of the house, and what of the city if each one


s: Leaving no trace behind of himself and his animate action!


s: As by the house we straightway can tell the mind of the master,


s: Lies in heaps in the gutters, and alleys with offal are littered;


s: Vainly its new supports,--that place we may know is ill governed.


s: Easily grows the citizen used to untidy postponement;


s: Just as the beggar grows likewise used to his ragged apparel.


s: He that has once beheld cities so cleanly and large, never after


s: Ceases his own native city, though small it may be, to embellish.


s: Actively carrying out what I planned, and also fulfilling


s: What had by upright men been designed, and left uncompleted.


s: Finally grew the same zeal in every one of the council;


s: All now labor together, and firmly decided already


s: Straightway answered and said the good and intelligent mother:


s: "Why wilt thou always, father, be doing our son such injustice?


s: That least of all is the way to bring thy wish to fulfilment.


s: We have no power to fashion our children as suiteth our fancy;


s: As they are given by God, we so must have them and love them;


s: Thereupon when she was gone, the father thus smiling continued:


s: Once for all time holds good the ancients' trustworthy proverb:


s: 'Whoever goes not forward comes backward.' So must it be always."


s: Thereupon answered and said, in a tone of reflection, the doctor:


s: Being thus active and stirring, and bettering inside and outside?


s: Who does not fear, especially now in this season of danger?


s: Long since my house was smiling upon me in modish apparel!


s: Knows the methods as well by which the best is arrived at?


s: This of the Golden Lion, and mine of the sign of the Angel.


s: So was my garden, too, throughout the whole neighborhood famous:


s: Every traveller stopped and gazed through the red palisadoes,


s: Standing there now all covered with dust and Partly in ruins,--


s: Used by the sight of my corals and potter's ore to be dazzled.


s: So in my parlor, too, they would always admire the painting,


s: Where in a garden are gaily dressed ladies and gentlemen walking,


s: Scarcely I venture abroad. All now must be other and tasteful,


s: For who among us has means for paying the work-people's wages


s: Lately I had an idea of giving the Archangel Michael,


s: Making the sign of my shop, another fresh coating of gilding,


s: And to the terrible dragon about his feet that is winding;


s: But I e'en let him stay browned as he is: I dreaded the charges."


s: Thus entertaining themselves, the men sat talking. The mother


s: Went meanwhile to look for her son in front of the dwelling,


s: Heavily laden with apples, and burdening boughs of the pear-tree.


s: For an industrious woman allows no step to be wasted.


s: Thus was she come at last to the end of the far-reaching garden,


s: But the wicket was standing ajar, which out of the arbor,


s: Once by particular favor, had been through the walls of the city


s: Cut by a grandsire of hers, the worshipful burgomaster.


s: So the now dried-up moat she next crossed over with comfort,


s: Where, by the side of the road, direct the well-fenced vineyard,


s: Rose with a steep ascent, its slope exposed to the sunshine.


s: Up this also she went, and with pleasure as she was ascending


s: Which upon steps that were made of unhewn blocks you ascended.


s: There were the Muscatel, and there were the Chasselas hanging


s: Side by side, of unusual size and colored with purple,


s: All set out with the purpose of decking the visitor's table;


s: Thus up the slope she went, enjoying already the vintage,


s: And that festive day on which the whole country, rejoicing,


s: Picks and tramples the grapes, and gathers the must into vessels:


s: Crackle and blaze, and so the fairest of harvests is honored.


s: But more uneasy she went, her son after twice or thrice calling,


s: And no answer receiving, except from the talkative echo,


s: That with many repeats rang back from the towers of the city.


s: Every anxious thought, and fear that aught ill had befallen.


s: That with its broad expanse the ridge of the hill covered over.


s: Benches of unhewn stones and of turf they found set about it.


s: "What! do I find thee weeping, my son?" exclaimed in amazement.


s: "Nay, that is not like thyself: I never before have so seen thee!


s: Then, collecting himself, the excellent youth made her answer:


s: "Truly no heart can that man have in his bosom of iron,


s: Who is insensible now to the needs of this emigrant people;


s: He has no brains in his head, who not for his personal safety,


s: Spreading its fertile slopes in every direction about us,


s: Saw the golden grain inclining itself to the reapers,


s: And the promise of well-filled barns from the plentiful harvest.


s: But, alas, how near is the foe! The Rhine with its waters


s: Guards us, indeed; but, ah, what now are rivers and mountains


s: 'Gainst that terrible people that onward bears like a tempest!


s: For they summon their youths from every quarter together,


s: Call up their old men too, and press with violence forward.


s: Death cannot frighten the crowd: one multitude follows another.


s: And shall a German dare to linger behind in his homestead?


s: Hopes he perhaps to escape the everywhere threatening evil?


s: Nay, dear mother, I tell thee, to-day has made me regretful


s: That I was lately exempt, when out of our townsmen were chosen


s: Those who should serve in the army. An only son I am truly,


s: There on the border, than here to await disaster and bondage.


s: So has my spirit declared, and deep in my innermost bosom


s: Courage and longing have now been aroused to live for my country,


s: If but the strength of Germany's youth were banded together


s: Hearken, I shall not again return to the house; but directly


s: Go from this spot to the city, and there present to the soldiers


s: Dwelling within my breast, nor a wish to raise myself higher."


s: Yet have I nothing but censure to speak; for better I know thee.


s: Since, for all thou art honest and brave, it is thy vocation


s: Here in quiet to care for the farm and provide for the household.


s: Earnestly answered the son: "Nay, thou art mistaken, dear mother:


s: Better in stillness oft ripening to deeds than when in the tumult


s: Has such a heart been shaped as abhors all wrong and injustice;


s: And I have learned aright between worldly things to distinguish.


s: Arm and foot, besides, have been mightily strengthened by labor.


s: All this, I feel, is true: I dare with boldness maintain it.


s: Helpful to be to my country, and terrible unto the foeman.


s: And so leave me, O mother! for, since the wishes are fruitless


s: Which in my bosom I cherish, my life must go fruitlessly over.


s: For, as I know, he injures himself who is singly devoted,


s: When for the common cause the whole are not working together."


s: "Hesitate not," replied thereupon the intelligent mother,


s: "Every thing to relate me, the smallest as well as the greatest.


s: Whereas a woman is clever in thinking of means, and will venture


s: E'en on a roundabout way, adroitly to compass her object.


s: Let me know every thing, then; say wherefore so greatly excited


s: 'As I ne'er saw thee before, why thy blood is coursing so hotly,


s: "Truly my father's words to-day have wounded me sorely,--


s: Violent words he oft vented on me, instead of on others,


s: Ever remembering with cordial respect the kindness of parents,


s: Solely intent on increasing for us their goods and possessions,


s: Much denying themselves in order to save for their children.


s: That is not happiness: pile upon pile, and acre on acre,


s: Make us not happy, no matter how fair our estates may be rounded.


s: Look thou below, and see how before us in glory are lying,


s: But when I look at the dwelling behind, where up in the gable


s: We can distinguish the window that marks my room in the attic;


s: When I look back, and remember how many a night from that window


s: I for the moon have watched; for the sun, how many a morning!


s: When the healthful sleep of a few short hours sufficed me,--


s: Ah, so lonely they seem to me then, the chamber and courtyard,


s: Garden and glorious field, away o'er the hill that is stretching;


s: That thou mayst find thy nights a beautiful part of existence,


s: And that the work of the day may gain independence and freedom,


s: That till the hour appointed is come, and the maiden appointed


s: That same maiden it is, the exile, whom thou hast elected."


s: Mother, for ever in vain would then our abundant possessions


s: Prosper before me, and seasons to come be in vain to me fruitful.


s: Even my mother's love, alas! would not comfort my sorrow.


s: Every tie, so I feel in my heart, by love is unloosened


s: Soon as she fastens her own; and not the maid is it only


s: When he the maiden, his only beloved, sees vanishing from him.


s: Suffer me, then, to go hence wherever despair shall impel me:


s: Since by my father himself the decisive words have been spoken;


s: Since his house can no longer be mine if he shut out the maiden,


s: Her whom alone as my bride I desire to bring to our dwelling."


s: Thereupon quickly made answer the good and intelligent mother:


s: Neither will stir his tongue to utter the first word of kindness.


s: So she be honest and good, thy father will let thee espouse her,


s: Then by the wine, which lets him not heed the language of others;


s: And he can feel how unjust his passion has made him to others.


s: Come, let us venture at once: success is alone to the valiant!


s: Thus she hastily spoke, and up from the stone then arising,


s: Drew from his seat her son, who willingly followed. In silence


s: Both descended the hill, their important purpose revolving.


s: HERE the three men, however, still sat conversing together,


s: With mine host of the Lion, the village doctor, and pastor;


s: And their talk was still on the same unvarying subject,


s: Turning it this way and that, and viewing from every direction.


s: But with his sober judgment the excellent pastor made answer:


s: "Here will I not contradict you. I know that man should be always


s: But be careful ye go not too far, for with this disposition


s: Nature has given us pleasure in holding to what is familiar;


s: Many are man's desires, yet little it is that he needeth;


s: Seeing the days are short and mortal destiny bounded.


s: Ne'er would I censure the man whom a restless activity urges,


s: Bold and industrious, over all pathways of land and of ocean,


s: Ever untiring to roam; who takes delight in the riches,


s: Heaping in generous abundance about himself and his children.


s: Yet not unprized by me is the quiet citizen also,


s: Making the noiseless round of his own inherited acres,


s: Tilling the ground as the ever-returning seasons command him.


s: Not with every year is the soil transfigured about him;


s: Happy to whom by nature a mind of such temper is given,


s: For he supports us all! And hail, to the man whose abode is


s: Where in a town the country pursuits with the city are blended.


s: On him lies not the pressure that painfully hampers the farmer,


s: Nor is he carried away by the greedy ambition of cities;


s: Where they of scanty possessions too often are given to aping,


s: Wives and daughters especially, those who are higher and richer.


s: Blessed be therefore thy son in his life of quiet employment;


s: Thus he spoke; and scarce had he ended when entered the mother,


s: Holding her son by the hand, and so led him up to her husband.


s: When he should bring his bride to be the light of our dwelling!


s: Over and over again the matter we pondered: this maiden


s: That same maiden it is that met him this morning, the stranger:


s: "Give her me, father," so added the son: "my heart has elected


s: But the father was silent. Then hastily rose the good pastor,


s: Took up the word and said: "The moment alone is decisive;


s: Fixes the life of man, and his future destiny settles.


s: After long taking of counsel, yet only the work of a moment


s: Every decision must be; and the wise alone seizes the right one.


s: Dangerous always it is comparing the one with the other


s: When we are making our choice, and so confusing our feelings.


s: Hermann is pure. From childhood up I have known him, and never


s: E'en as a boy was he wont to be reaching for this and the other:


s: What he desired was best for him too, and he held to it firmly.


s: Be not surprised and alarmed that now has appeared of a sudden,


s: Gifts come down from above in the shapes appointed by Heaven.


s: Therefore misjudge not the maiden who now of thy dearly beloved,


s: Good and intelligent son has been first to touch the affections:


s: Happy to whom at once his first love's hand shall be given,


s: And in whose heart no tenderest wish must secretly languish.


s: Yes: his whole bearing assures me that now his fate is decided.


s: Genuine love matures in a moment the youth into manhood;


s: He is not easily moved; and I fear that if this be refused him,


s: Straightway then in a thoughtful tone the doctor made answer,


s: Make haste slowly: that was Augustus the emperor's motto.


s: Willingly I myself place at my well-beloved neighbor's disposal,


s: Ready to do him what service I can with my poor understanding.


s: Youth most especially stands in need of some one to guide it.


s: Let me therefore go forth that I may examine the maiden,


s: I should be glad if our minister here were joined in the errand:


s: Two such excellent men would be irreproachable judges.


s: O my father! believe me, she's none of those wandering maidens,


s: No: the hard fortunes of war, that universal destroyer,


s: Are not now men of high birth, the most noble, in misery roaming?


s: So alas! also is she, the best among all of her sisters,


s: Driven an exile from home; yet, her personal sorrows forgetting,


s: She is devoted to others; herself without help, she is helpful.


s: Outspoke the father then in a tone of decision, and answered:


s: Showing too easy indulgence; and every neighbor sides with them


s: When there is aught to be carried against the father and husband.


s: For I already perceive here tears and defiance beforehand.


s: Go ye therefore, inquire, in God's name, bring me the daughter.


s: But if not so, then the boy is to think no more of the maiden."


s: Thus the father. The son cried out with joyful demeanor,


s: Yes; she will ever be grateful for having had father and mother


s: Given once more in you, and such as a child most delights in.


s: Now I will tarry no longer, but straightway harness the horses,


s: Drive forth our friends at once on the footsteps of my beloved,


s: Thus he went forth: the others meanwhile remained in discussion,


s: Rapid and earnest, considering deeply their great undertaking.


s: Hermann hasted straightway to the stable, where quietly standing


s: On them without delay the shining bits he adjusted,


s: Hastily drew the straps through the buckles of beautiful plating,


s: Led without to the court-yard, whither the willing assistant


s: Had with ease, by the pole, already drawn forward the carriage.


s: Next to the whipple-tree they with care by the neatly kept traces


s: Whip in hand took Hermann his seat and drove under the doorway.


s: Rapidly, loitering nowhere, but hastening up hill and down hill.


s: But as he now before him perceived the spire of the village,


s: And no longer remote the garden-girt houses were lying,


s: Then in himself he thought that here he would rein up the horses.


s: Under the solemn shade of lofty linden-trees lying,


s: Which for centuries past upon this spot had been rooted,


s: Spread in front of the village a broad and grass-covered common,


s: "Here alight, my friends, and go your ways to discover


s: Whether the maiden in truth be worthy the hand that I offer.


s: Which with a simple grace her chin's rounded outline encircles;


s: Freely and lightly rises above it the head's dainty oval;


s: And her luxuriant hair over silver bodkins is braided;


s: Down from under her bodice, the full, blue petticoat falling,


s: When ye have tidings enough to satisfy father and mother,


s: Then return to me here, and we will consider what further.


s: So did I plan it all out in my mind while driving you hither."


s: Men for the harnessed horses and lowing cattle were caring,


s: While the women were busy in drying their clothes on the hedges,


s: And in the running brook the children were merrily splashing.


s: Denser soon grew the press. A contest arose round the wagons


s: "Has, then, misfortune," he cried, "not yet so bound us together,


s: Thus spoke the man and all became silent: restored to good humor,


s: He to the man drew near and with words of meaning addressed him:


s: "True it is, father, that when in prosperity people are living,


s: All goes on of itself, and each himself deems the wisest,


s: Deems the best, and so they continue abiding together,


s: He of greatest intelligence ranking no higher than others;


s: All that occurs, as if of itself, going quietly forward.


s: But let disaster unsettle the usual course of existence,


s: And no longer in vain his glorious words will be spoken.


s: Tell me, art thou not judge among this fugitive people,


s: Father, who thus in an instant canst bid their passions be quiet?


s: Who through deserts and wanderings guided the emigrant nations.


s: Yea, I could even believe I were speaking with Joshua or Moses."


s: Then with serious look the magistrate answered him, saying:


s: For who has yesterday lived and to-day in times like the present,


s: If I look back but a little, it seems that my head must be hoary


s: Under the burden of years, and yet my strength is still active.


s: Well may we of this day compare ourselves unto that people


s: Who, from the burning bush, beheld in the hour of their danger


s: God the Lord: we also in cloud and in fire have beheld him."


s: Privately into his ear his companion hastily whispered:


s: Come and report to thee here." The minister nodded, assenting;


s: Now when the foreign judge had been by the minister questioned


s: As to his people's distress, and how long their exile had lasted,


s: Since of the gathering bitter of years our people have drunken,--


s: When we beheld the new sun arise in his earliest splendor,


s: Fetters that had in the hand of sloth been held and self-seeking.


s: "Were not the names of those men who first delivered the message,


s: And, as neighbors, we, first of all, were zealously kindled.


s: Thereupon followed the war, and armed bodies of Frenchmen


s: They with rejoicing the festive trees of liberty planted,


s: Promising every man what was his own, and to each his own ruling.


s: Thus had they speedily won, these overmastering Frenchmen,


s: First the spirits of men by the fire and dash of their bearing,


s: Then the hearts of the women with irresistible graces.


s: Even the pressure of hungry war seemed to weigh on us lightly,


s: So before our vision did hope hang over the future,


s: Luring our eyes abroad into newly opening pathways.


s: Oh, how joyful the time when with her belov'ed the maiden


s: Whirls in the dance, the longed-for day of their union awaiting!


s: But more glorious that day on which to our vision the highest


s: Heart of man can conceive seemed near and attainable to us.


s: Loosened was every tongue, and men--the aged, the stripling--


s: Spoke aloud in words that were full of high feeling and wisdom.


s: Soon, however, the sky was o'ercast. A corrupt generation


s: Fought for the right of dominion, unworthy the good to establish;


s: While those lower plundered and rioted down to the lowest:


s: Presently Fortune turned and declared on the side of the German,


s: And with hurried marches the French retreated before us.


s: Ah! then as never before did we feel the sad fortunes of warfare:


s: Him whose service he daily needs, and whose property uses.


s: But no law the fugitive knows, save of self-preservation,


s: "Taking delight in blood, in the shrieking of anguish exulting.


s: Thereupon fiercely arose in our men the stern resolution


s: What had been lost to avenge, and defend whate'er was remaining,


s: Ceaselessly now rang out the clanging peal of the tocsin.


s: Thought of no danger to come restrained their furious anger.


s: Quick into weapons of war the husbandman's peaceful utensils


s: Fury everywhere raged and the cowardly cunning of weakness.


s: Ne'er may I men so carried away by injurious passion


s: See again! the sight of the raging wild beast would be better.


s: Let not man prattle of freedom, as if himself he could govern!


s: Soon as the barriers are torn away, then all of the evil


s: "Excellent man!" thereupon with emphasis answered the pastor:


s: Had not danger aroused them, and did not necessity's pressure


s: Bring forth the angel in man, and make him a god of deliv'rance."


s: Thereupon answered and said the reverend magistrate, smiling:


s: "There thou remindest me aptly of how we console the poor fellow,


s: Then will the poor wretch after it dig and rejoice if he find it.


s: Seen how the stripling at once matured into man; how the aged


s: Grew again young; and even the child into youth was developed,


s: Yea, and the weaker sex too, as we are accustomed to call it,


s: Showed itself brave and strong and ready for every emergence.


s: Foremost among them all, one beautiful deed let me mention,


s: Bravely performed by the hand of a girl, an excellent maiden;


s: Suddenly fell on the house a fugitive band of marauders,


s: "There they beheld the beautiful form of the fully grown maiden,


s: They that trembling band assailed and the high-hearted maiden.


s: Now when this praise the minister heard bestowed on the maiden,


s: Rose straightway for his friend a feeling of hope in his bosom,


s: And he had opened his lips to inquire what further befell her,


s: If on this mournful flight she now with her people were present;


s: When with a hasty step the village doctor approached them,


s: Twitched the clergyman's coat, and said in his ear in a whisper:


s: "I have discovered the maiden at last among several hundreds;


s: Prettily laced, and the bodice of black fits close to her figure;


s: Which, with a simple grace, her chin's rounded outline encircles;


s: And her luxuriant hair over silver bodkins is braided.


s: Now she is sitting, yet still we behold her majestical stature,


s: And the blue petticoat's ample plaits, that down from her bosom


s: Hangs in abundant folds about her neatly shaped ankles,


s: She without question it is; come, therefore, and let us discover


s: Whether she honest and virtuous be, a housewifely maiden."


s: Then, as the seated figure he studied, the pastor made answer:


s: "Truly, I find it no wonder that she so enchanted the stripling,


s: Since, to a man's experienced eye, she seems lacking in nothing.


s: Happy to whom mother Nature a shape harmonious has given!


s: "Such will always commend him, and he can be nowhere a stranger.


s: All approach with delight, and all are delighted to linger,


s: If to the outward shape correspond but a courteous spirit.


s: I can assure thee, in her the youth has found him a maiden,


s: Who, in the days to come, his life shall gloriously brighten,


s: Standing with womanly strength in every necessity by him.


s: Surely the soul must be pure that inhabits a body so perfect,


s: And of a happy old age such vigorous youth is the promise."


s: Thereupon answered and said the doctor in language of caution:


s: "Often appearances cheat; I like not to trust to externals.


s: For I have oft seen put to the test the truth of the proverb:


s: Till thou a bushel of salt with a new acquaintance hast eaten,


s: By whom the maiden is known, and who can inform us about her."


s: Him the judicious pastor at once addressed and with caution.


s: "Look! we a maiden have here descried in the neighboring garden,


s: Under an apple-tree sitting, and making up garments for children


s: "Out of second-hand stuff that somebody doubtless has given;


s: Of the heroic deed performed by the hand of that maiden,


s: Until the day of his death, which was finally hastened by sorrow


s: Over his city's distress, and his own endangered possessions.


s: Also, with quiet submission, she bore the death of her lover,


s: Who a high-spirited youth, in the earliest flush of excitement,


s: Kindled by lofty resolve to fight for a glorious freedom,


s: Hurried to Paris, where early a terrible death he encountered.


s: For as at home, so there, his foes were deceit and oppression."


s: Thus the magistrate spoke. The others saluted and thanked him,


s: When he in mournful groups had seen the poor fugitives passing;--


s: 'Mongst thy destitute people, and God vouchsafe it an increase."


s: And shall return, as I hope, ere yet our stock is exhausted."


s: Then the pastor replied, and pressed the money upon him:


s: "Ay, to be sure!" in his bustling way interrupted the doctor:


s: "If I had only some money about me, ye surely should have it,


s: Little and big; for certainly many among you must need it.


s: Several pipes to fill,--and daintily opened, and portioned.


s: "Small is the gift," he added. The justice, however, made answer:


s: Then did the village doctor begin to praise his canister.


s: But the clergyman drew him away, and they quitted the justice.


s: So they hastened their steps, and came to where under the lindens


s: Stood, into vacancy gazing before him; nor saw the two envoys,


s: Still, however, the young man stood, without sign of rejoicing


s: "Poverty, too, makes proud, when it comes unmerited! Active


s: Have to turn softly homewards our horses' heads. For my fear is


s: That to some youth already this heart has been given; already


s: Straightway the pastor had opened his lips to speak consolation,


s: When his companion broke in, and said in his voluble fashion:


s: "Years ago, forsooth, unknown had been such a dilemma.


s: All such affairs were then conducted in regular fashion.


s: Soon as a bride for their son had been by the parents selected,


s: First some family friend they into their councils would summon,


s: Whom they afterwards sent as a suitor to visit the parents


s: Of the elected bride. Arrayed in his finest apparel,


s: Soon after dinner on Sunday he sought the respectable burgher,


s: When some friendly words were exchanged upon general subjects,


s: He knowing how to direct the discourse as suited his purpose.


s: After much circumlocution he finally mentioned the daughter,


s: Made the chief guest in the house on every festive occasion.


s: "Let that be as it may!" made answer the youth, who had scarcely


s: Unto the words paid heed; but in silence had made his decision.


s: "I will go thither myself, will myself hear my destiny spoken


s: Out of the lips of a maiden in whom I a confidence cherish


s: Greater than heart of man has e'er before cherished in woman.


s: Say what she will, 'twill be good and wise; of that I am certain.


s: Yet this once the clear gaze of those dark eyes will encounter,


s: That their son has not been deceived, that the maiden is worthy.


s: So then leave me alone! I shall follow the footpath that crosses


s: Thus he spoke, and gave up the reins to the hand of the pastor,


s: Who understandingly grasped them, the foaming horses controlling,


s: But as for life and limb, they are not in the safest of keeping,


s: When the temporal reins are usurped by the hand of the clergy."


s: For, in holding the reins, my hand grew long ago skilful,


s: Long has my eye been trained in making the nicest of turnings;


s: For we were practised well in driving the carriage in Strasburg,


s: When I the youthful baron accompanied thither; then daily


s: Rolled the carriage, guided by me, through the echoing gateway,


s: Out over dusty roads till we reached the meadows and lindens,


s: Thereupon, half-reassured, the neighbor ascended the wagon,


s: Sat like one who for a prudent leap is holding him ready,


s: And the stallions sped rapidly homeward, desiring their stable.


s: Clouds of dust whirled up from under their powerful hoofbeats.


s: Long the youth stood there yet, and saw the dust in its rising,


s: Saw the dust as it settled again: he stood there unheeding.


s: Then on the sides of the rocks, and on all the darkening bushes,


s: Sees its hovering image; whatever direction he look in


s: That hastes before, and flickers and gleams in radiant colors,--


s: So before Hermann's eyes moved the beautiful shape of the maiden


s: Fixedly gazed he upon her; herself it was and no phantom.


s: Bearing in either hand a larger jar and a smaller,


s: Each by the handle, with busy step she came on to the fountain.


s: Joyfully then he hastened to meet her; the sight of her gave him


s: Courage and strength; and thus the astonished girl he accosted:


s: "Do I then find thee, brave-hearted maiden, so soon again busy,


s: Rendering aid unto others, and happy in bringing them comfort?


s: Straightway with cordial greeting the kindly maiden made answer:


s: "Here has my walk to the spring already been amply rewarded,


s: This I must tell thee,--that all the water we have in the village


s: Thus she spoke, and the broad stone steps meanwhile had descended


s: Took in his hand the jar that remained, and bent himself over,


s: That he of love should speak; her eye told not of affection,


s: Only of clear understanding, requiring intelligent answer.


s: 'Twas for thy sake that hither I came; why seek to conceal it?


s: Know I live happy at home with both my affectionate parents,


s: Faithfully giving my aid their house and estates in directing,


s: Being an only son, and because our affairs are extensive.


s: "Hesitate not," she, answering, said, "to tell me what follows.


s: One who is skilled in her work, and not of a rude disposition.


s: Short thy proposal has been, and short shall be also my answer.


s: Back to her kindred again, who are all in her safety rejoicing.


s: Most of our people already are gathered; the others will follow.


s: All think a few days more will certainly see them returning


s: Unto their homes; for such is the exile's constant delusion.


s: But by no easy hope do I suffer myself to be cheated


s: If in a good man's house I can earn my living by service,


s: Under the eye of an excellent mistress, I gladly will do it;


s: Since of doubtful repute, must be always a wandering maiden.


s: Joyfully hearkened the youth to the willing maiden's decision,


s: Doubtful whether he ought not at once to make honest confession.


s: Yet it appeared to him best to leave her awhile in her error,


s: Nor for her love to sue, before leading her home to his dwelling.


s: Both of the water-jars then in silence she took by the handle,


s: Carried them up the steps, while behind her followed her lover.


s: Nor shall the master, who is to command, be doing me service.


s: Look not so gravely upon me, as thinking my fortune a hard one.


s: Early a woman should learn to serve, for that is her calling;


s: Since through service alone she finally comes to the headship,


s: Comes to the due command that is hers of right in the household.


s: Or be a fetching and carrying, making and doing for others.


s: Happy for her be she wonted to think no way is too grievous,


s: Wholly forgetful of self, and caring to live but in others!


s: For she will surely, as mother, have need of every virtue,


s: Then with a serious face the maiden replied to them, saying:


s: Think of me then sometimes and of all my affectionate service,


s: Prompted more by my love than the duty I owed you as kindred.


s: And I refuse not the offer; for maidens must always be serving;


s: And so will also the parents be, as becometh the wealthy.


s: And who me also henceforth, thy sister, will shelter and nourish.


s: For I have often observed how in sheep, as in horses and oxen,


s: Men conclude never a bargain without making closest inspection,


s: And we are left, when too late, to repent an o'er hasty decision.


s: Many were come, meanwhile, near relatives all of the mother,


s: "Let us be going; the day is declining, and distant the city."


s: Eager and voluble then the women embraced Dorothea;


s: Hermann drew her away; but other adieus must be spoken:


s: Towards the setting sun the two thus went on their journey:


s: Gleaming over the field shot forth the ominous lightning.


s: And in the waving luxuriant grain they delighted together:


s: Thereupon spoke the maiden, and said to her guide and companion:


s: "Friend, unto whom I soon am to owe so kindly a fortune,


s: Shelter and home, while many an exile's exposed to the tempest,


s: Who understands his master, more easily gives satisfaction,


s: Tell me therefore, I pray, how to win thy father and mother."


s: And to her question made answer the good and intelligent Hermann:


s: Asking thus first of all concerning the tastes of my parents!


s: Know that in vain hitherto I have labored in serving my father,


s: Taking upon me as were it my own, the charge of the household;


s: And thou wilt also appear in her eyes the worthiest of maidens,


s: That unto thee a stranger I straightway discover my father.


s: Nay, I assure thee that never before have words such as these are


s: Some of the graces of life my good father covets about him,


s: Outward signs of affection he wishes, as well as of honor;


s: And an inferior servant might possibly give satisfaction,


s: Thereupon said she with joy, the while her hastening footsteps


s: Over the darkening pathway with easy motion she quickened:


s: "Truly I hope to them both I shall equally give satisfaction:


s: For in thy mother's nature I find such an one as mine own is,


s: And to the outward graces I've been from my childhood accustomed.


s: During their earlier days; it was common to noble and burgher,


s: Under the shade of the glorious tree, the spot he so treasured,


s: Seemed the hour: he feared he should only haste on a refusal.


s: Ah, and he felt besides the ring on her finger, sad token!


s: Therefore they sat there, silent and still, beside one another.


s: And in the gable--methinks I can number its panes-is a window."


s: "What thou seest," the modest youth thereupon made her answer,--


s: Which will be thine perhaps, for various changes are making.


s: Until they came to the vineyard, and so entered into its shadow.


s: Then he guided her down o'er the numerous blocks that were lying,


s: And his beloved upheld. She gently sank on his shoulder;


s: And the perfume of her breath, that over his lips was exhaling;


s: Bore with the heart of a man the majestic form of the woman.


s: Muses, O ye who the course of true love so willingly favor,


s: Ye who thus far on his way the excellent youth have conducted,


s: Even before the betrothal have pressed to his bosom the maiden;


s: Further your aid vouchsafe this charming pair in uniting,


s: Now for the third time again the mother impatient had entered


s: Unto my late, blessed father, who every root of impatience


s: Tore from my heart when a child, and left no fibre remaining;


s: So made the neighbor reply. "When a boy I once stood of a Sunday


s: Led me away to the window, and spoke in this serious language:


s: When that man shall himself be astir and all of his workmen,


s: Making a coffin for thee to be quickly and skilfully finished.


s: Then that house of boards they will busily bring over hither,


s: Which must at last receive alike the impatient and patient,


s: Now when others I see, in seasons of anxious expectance,


s: Running distracted about, I cannot but think of the coffin."


s: Those it presses again into life, and teaches to use it;


s: These by affliction it strengthens in hope to future salvation.


s: Death becomes life unto both. Thy father was greatly mistaken


s: When to a sensitive boy he death in death thus depicted.


s: Let us the value of nobly ripe age, point out to the young man,


s: And to the aged the youth, that in the eternal progression


s: Both may rejoice, and life may in life thus find its completion."


s: But the door was now opened, and showed the majestical couple.


s: As they together now appeared coming over the threshold.


s: Hermann, with hurried words, presented her thus to his parents:


s: Quickly he then drew aside the excellent clergyman, saying:


s: "Help me, O worthy sir, and speedily out of this trouble;


s: Loosen, I pray thee, this knot, at whose untying I tremble.


s: Thus shall be left, and I this suspense no longer can suffer.


s: Hasten and show us in this a proof of the wisdom we honor."


s: Towards the company then the clergyman instantly turned him;


s: But already, alas! had the soul of the maiden been troubled,


s: Hearing the father's speech; for he, in his sociable fashion,


s: Hermann had heard but in part; his limbs were inwardly trembling,


s: "Truly for such a reception thy son had in no wise prepared me,


s: When he the ways of his father described, the excellent burgher.


s: Thou art a man of culture, I know, before whom I am standing;


s: Dealest with every one wisely, according as suits his position;


s: But thou hast scanty compassion, it seems, on one such as I am,


s: Yet I know well myself; I feel the relations between us,


s: Anxiously Hermann turned and signed to his ally the pastor


s: Therefore he unto her said in language intended to try her:


s: And but a single 'yea' compels to much patient endurance.


s: Since the industrious freeman must toil as well as the servant.


s: And with the rude, overbearing ways of unmannerly children.


s: All this is hard to endure, and yet to go on with thy duties


s: Quickly, without delay, nor thyself grow sullen and stubborn.


s: Yet thou appearest ill fitted for this, since already so deeply


s: Stung by the father's jests: whereas there is nothing more common


s: Knows not how little of power his cold words have in relieving


s: Ever a heart from that woe which a sovereign fate has inflicted.


s: Nay, concealment itself, if successful, had profited nothing.


s: Better show now what had later increased to a bitterer anguish,


s: And to an inward consuming despair might perhaps have reduced me.


s: I will away, and wander in search of my hapless companions,


s: Which might for years perhaps have else lain hid in my bosom.


s: Deeply indeed was I hurt by the father's words of derision;


s: Not that I'm sensitive, proud beyond what is fitting a servant;


s: But that my heart in truth had felt itself stirred with affection


s: Whom as a bride, perhaps, his heart had already elected.


s: When at the fountain I met him again, the sight of him wakened


s: Pleasure as great as if there had met me an angel from heaven;


s: Now I, alas! for the first time see what risk I was running,


s: When I would make my home so near to the secretly loved one;


s: Now for the first time feel how far removed a poor maiden


s: Is from an opulent youth, no matter how great her deserving.


s: All this I now confess, that my heart ye may not misinterpret,


s: In that 'twas hurt by a chance to which I owe my awaking.


s: Hiding my secret desires, this dread had been ever before me,


s: Happily I have been warned, and happily now has my bosom


s: Longer here in a house where I stay but in shame and confusion,


s: Freely confessing my love and that foolish hope that I cherished.


s: Not the pelt of the rain which without is beating in fury;


s: Thus she spoke and back to the door she hastily turned her,


s: But still the father stood, observing the scene with displeasure,


s: "This then must be the return that I get for all my indulgence,


s: Violent outcries, which only involve in disorder and passion,


s: What with a little of sense had been more smoothly adjusted.


s: Quickly he turned as he spoke, and hastened to go to the chamber


s: Which by his dissimulation our friend unexpectedly heightened.


s: Speak, O worthy sir; for to thee my cause I intrusted.


s: Heap not up sorrow and anger, but rather let all this be ended;


s: For I could hold thee never again in such high estimation,


s: If thou shouldst show but delight in pain, not superior wisdom."


s: Thereupon answered and said the excellent clergyman, smiling:


s: Not to engage the stranger, the excellent maid, as a servant,


s: Unto the fountain I came; but to sue for thy love I came thither.


s: Nowise perceive; I read in thine eyes of nothing but kindness,


s: As from the fountain's tranquil mirror thou gavest me greeting.


s: Might I but bring thee home, the half of my joy was accomplished.


s: Then with a deep emotion the maiden gazed on the stripling;


s: Neither forbade she embrace and kiss, the summit of rapture,


s: When to a loving pair they come as the longed-for assurance,


s: Unto the others, meanwhile, the pastor had made explanation.


s: But with feeling and grace the maid now advanced to the father,


s: For I can scarce comprehend the happiness newly vouchsafed me.


s: Yes, let that first vexation of which I, bewildered, was guilty


s: Be too the last. Whatever the maid of affectionate service


s: Thereupon quickly he seized, the good and intelligent pastor,


s: And, as the maiden confesses, her heart is gone out to him also.


s: Then the neighbor saluted at once, and expressed his good wishes;


s: Over the maiden's hand, he observed with amazement the other,


s: But she, answering, said: "Oh, let me to this recollection


s: Yet one moment devote; for so much is due the good giver,


s: Now for a time on the earth, and every thing seems to be parting.


s: Property falls away from the hand of the ancient possessor;


s: Friend is parted from friend; and so parts lover from lover.


s: Here I leave thee, and where I shall find thee again, or if ever,


s: Over the ruins of earth, it will be as newly made creatures,


s: Beings transformed and free, no longer dependent on fortune;


s: Ever again we be granted the bliss of mutual embraces,


s: Oh, then before thy thoughts so keep my hovering image


s: That with unshaken mind thou be ready for good or for evil!


s: Should new ties allure thee again, and a new habitation,


s: Enter with gratitude into the joys that fate shall prepare thee;


s: For there is lurking the twofold pain of a new separation.


s: Blessings attend thy life; but value existence no higher


s: Than thine other possessions, and all possessions are cheating!'


s: Thus spoke the noble youth, and never again I beheld him.


s: Happiness for me anew, and glorious hopes are reviving,


s: Oh forgive me, excellent friend, that e'en while I hold thee


s: Close to my side I tremble! So unto the late-landed sailor


s: Seem the most solid foundations of firmest earth to be rocking."


s: Thus she spoke, and placed the two rings on her finger together.


s: But her lover replied with a noble and manly emotion:


s: "So much the firmer then, amid these universal convulsions,


s: Be, Dorothea, our union! We two will hold fast and continue,


s: This is our own! let that be our word, and let us maintain it!


s: For to those resolute peoples respect will be ever accorded,


s: Who for God and the laws, for parents, women and children,


s: Not with anxiety will I preserve it, and trembling enjoyment;


s: And were but every man minded like me, there would be an upspring


s: Philip Sidney was born at Penshurst, in Kent, on the 29th of


s: November, 1554.  His father, Sir Henry Sidney, had married Mary,


s: Edmund Spenser and Walter Raleigh were of like age with Philip


s: Sidney, differing only by about a year, and when Elizabeth became


s: Grammar School, where he studied for three or four years, and had


s: counsellor to King James, and friend to Sir Philip Sidney."  Even


s: Sidney was placed when he was entered to Christ Church in his


s: Sidney was in his eighteenth year in May, 1572, when he left the


s: From Paris Sidney travelled on by way of Heidelberg to Frankfort,


s: eighteen and Languet fifty-five, a French Huguenot, learned and


s: zealous for the Protestant cause, who had been Professor of Civil


s: statesman whose character and genius would give him weight in the


s: cause in Europe.  Sidney travelled on with Hubert Languet from


s: attendance it the Court of Queen Elizabeth in July, 1575.  Next


s: month his father was sent to Ireland as Lord Deputy, and Sidney


s: build themselves a house of their own a little way outside one of


s: In February, 1577, Philip Sidney, not yet twenty-three years old,


s: forward a Protestant League among the princes of Germany.  On his


s: measure of her brother's genius, and was of like noble strain.


s: "The gentlest shepherdess that lives this day,


s: And most resembling, both in shape and spright,


s: written a long argument to the Queen against the project of her


s: Your dear self can best witness the manner, being done in loose


s: sheets of paper, most of it in your presence, the rest by sheets


s: sent unto you as fast as they were done."  He never meant that it


s: with heroic romance, out of which came presently, in France, a


s: distinct school of fiction.  But the genius of its author was at


s: university about the time when the first theatres were built, and


s: himself wrote verse, he was companion with the poets, and counted


s: such opinion, Philip Sidney wrote in 1581 this piece, which was


s: first printed in 1595, nine years after his death, as a separate


s: publication, entitled "An Apologie for Poetrie."  Three years


s: private, and not public--have led to grave misapprehension among


s: Philip Sidney.  But this is not the place for a discussion of


s: soldier carried past, who eyed it greedily.  At once he gave the


s: water to the soldier, saying, "Thy necessity is yet greater than


s: mine."  Sidney lived on, patient in suffering, until the 17th of


s: October.  When he was speechless before death, one who stood by


s: asked Philip Sidney for a sign of his continued trust in God.  He


s: manhood of Elizabethan England passed away.


s: When the right virtuous Edward Wotton {1} and I were at the


s: place of an esquire in his stable; and he, according to the


s: fertileness of the Italian wit, did not only afford us the


s: both in camps and courts; nay, to so unbelieved a point he


s: horse.  But thus much, at least, with his no few words, he drove


s: into me, that self love is better than any gilding, to make that


s: seem gorgeous wherein ourselves be parties.


s: something unto you in the defence of that my unelected vocation;


s: great danger of civil war among the Muses. {2}


s: At first, truly, to all them that, professing learning, inveigh


s: against poetry, may justly be objected, that they go very near to


s: else but poets.  Nay, let any history he brought that can say any


s: knowledge to posterity, may justly challenge to be called their


s: fathers in learning.  For not only in time they had this priority


s: excellent foregoing, others have followed to beautify our mother


s: tongue, as well in the same kind as other arts.


s: poets; so Thales, Empedocles, and Parmenides sang their natural


s: were, and beauty depended most of poetry.  For all stands upon


s: dialogues; wherein he feigns many honest burgesses of Athens


s: banquet, the delicacy of a walk, with interlacing mere tiles, as


s: So that, truly, neither philosopher nor historiographer could, at


s: their lawgiving divines they have no other writers but poets.  In


s: Arma amens capio, nec sat rationis in armis


s: and in his age performed it.  Although it were a very vain and


s: godless superstition; as also it was, to think spirits were


s: commanded by such verses; whereupon this word charms, derived of


s: "carmina," cometh, so yet serveth it to show the great reverence


s: those wits were held in; and altogether not without ground, since


s: And {10} may not I presume a little farther to show the


s: applied, deserveth not to be scourged out of the church of God.


s: stars, and by that he seeth set down what order nature hath taken


s: speaketh only of the rules of speech; and the rhetorician and


s: logician, considering what in nature will soonest prove and


s: But let those things alone, and go to man; {14} for whom as the


s: other things are, so it seemeth in him her uttermost cunning is


s: manifest by delivering them forth in such excellency as he had


s: imagined them; which delivering forth, also, is not wholly


s: second nature; which in nothing he showeth so much as in poetry;


s: when, with the force of a divine breath, he bringeth things forth


s: Poesy, {16} therefore, is an art of imitation; for so Aristotle


s: speaking picture, with this end, to teach and delight.


s: Of {17} this have been three general kinds:  the CHIEF, both in


s: antiquity and excellency, which they that did imitate the


s: inconceivable excellencies of God; such were David in the Psalms;


s: Moses and Deborah in their hymns; and the writer of Job; which,


s: beside others, the learned Emanuel Tremellius and Fr. Junius do


s: psalms when they are merry; and I know is used with the fruit of


s: comfort by some, when, in sorrowful pangs of their death-bringing


s: But because this second sort is wrapped within the fold of the


s: proposed subject, and takes not the free course of his own


s: invention; whether they properly be poets or no, let grammarians


s: dispute, and go to the THIRD, {20} indeed right poets, of whom


s: excellent, who having no law but wit, bestow that in colours upon


s: painteth the outward beauty of such a virtue.  For these three be


s: imitate, borrow nothing of what is, hath been, or shall be; but


s: range only, reined with learned discretion, into the divine


s: versifiers that need never answer to the name of poets. {22}  For


s: rhyming and versing that maketh a poet (no more than a long gown


s: maketh an advocate, who, though he pleaded in armour should be an


s: indeed, the senate of poets have chosen verse as their fittest


s: each syllable of each word by just proportion, according to the


s: Now, {24} therefore, it shall not be amiss, first, to weight this


s: receive a more favourable sentence.  This purifying of wit, this


s: others, persuading themselves to be demi-gods, if they knew the


s: causes of things, became natural and supernatural philosophers.


s: when, by the balance of experience, it was found that the


s: astronomer, looking to the stars, might fall in a ditch; that the


s: horsemanship; so the horseman's to soldiery; and the soldier not


s: only to have the skill, but to perform the practice of a soldier.


s: Among {27} whom principally to challenge it, step forth the moral


s: families, and maintaining of public societies?


s: greatest authorities are built upon the notable foundation of


s: hearsay, having much ado to accord differing writers, and to pick


s: goes than how his own wit runs; curious for antiquities, and


s: temporum, lux veritatis, vita memoriae, magistra vitae, nuncia


s: confirming story by stories, how much the wisest senators and


s: princes have been directed by the credit of history, as Brutus,


s: Now {31} whom shall we find, since the question standeth for the


s: ought to carry the title from them both, and much more from all


s: other serving sciences.  Therefore compare we the poet with the


s: moment, but even for passing each of these in themselves; and for


s: poenae" than "virtutis amore," or, to say righter, doth not


s: endeavour to make men good, but that their evil hurt not others,


s: having no care, so he be a good citizen, how bad a man he be:


s: therefore, as our wickedness maketh him necessary, and necessity


s: plant goodness even in the secretest cabinet of our souls.  And


s: consequence, and therefore a less fruitful doctrine.


s: Now {32} doth the peerless poet perform both; for whatsoever the


s: most exquisitely all their shape, colour, bigness, and particular


s: full beauties, might well make the hearer able to repeat, as it


s: doubt, the philosopher, with his learned definitions, be it of


s: virtue or vices, matters of public policy or private government,


s: replenisheth the memory with many infallible grounds of wisdom,


s: apparent shining; and, contrarily, the remorse of conscience in


s: fall lower, the Terentian Gnatho, and our Chaucer's Pandar, so


s: But even in the most excellent determination of goodness, what


s: philosophy, hath the more force in teaching.  Wherein, if the


s: Non Di, non homines, non concessere columnae," {33})


s: it is, I say again, not the fault of the art, but that by few men


s: uncharitableness and humbleness, as the divine narration of Dives


s: searching wisdom knew the estate of Dives burning in hell, and of


s: For conclusion, I say the philosopher teacheth, but he teacheth


s: obscurely, so as the learned only can understand him; that is to


s: But now may it be alleged, that if this managing of matters be so


s: poesy considereth in his imposed names; and the particular only


s: doubt which is to be chosen, no more than whether you had rather


s: have Vespasian's picture right as he was, or, at the painter's


s: should be, or as it was? then, certainly, is more doctrinable the


s: yesterday therefore it should rain to-day; then, indeed, hath it


s: where the historian in his bare WAS hath many times that which we


s: For, that a feigned example bath as much force to teach as a true


s: Babylonians, was received; and, for his known valour, so far


s: credited, that he did find means to deliver them over to Darius.


s: Much-like matters doth Livy record of Tarquinius and his son.


s: Xenophon excellently feigned such another stratagem, performed by


s: shall save your nose by the bargain; for Abradatus did not


s: must needs be enamoured of her.  Well may you see Ulysses in a


s: storm, and in other hard plights; but they are but exercises of


s: patience and magnanimity, to make them shine the more in the near


s: Dionysius, and I know not how many more of the same kennel, that


s: speed well enough in their abominable injustice of usurpation.


s: I conclude, therefore, that he excelleth history, not only in


s: furnishing the mind with knowledge, but in setting it forward to


s: moving with the poet.  And that moving is of a higher degree than


s: hath a free desire to do well, the inward light each mind hath in


s: Now, {40} therein, of all sciences (I speak still of human and


s: according to the human conceit), is our poet the monarch.  For he


s: proportion, either accompanied with, or prepared for, the well-


s: they be cradled in their graves); glad they will be to hear the


s: exercise of courtesy, liberality, and especially courage.  Who


s: Where the philosophers (as they think) scorn to delight, so much


s: name, and know no other good but "indulgere genio," and therefore


s: themselves be aware, as if they took a medicine of cherries.


s: Infinite {43} proofs of the strange effects of this poetical


s: especially if they were Platonic, they must have learned geometry


s: ungratefully taken from his bosom.  The application most divinely


s: filthiness, as that heavenly psalm of mercy well testifieth.


s: By these, therefore, examples and reasons, I think it may be


s: manifest that the poet, with that same hand of delight, doth draw


s: poetry, being the most familiar to teach it, and most princely to


s: But I am content not only to decipher him by his works (although


s: works in commendation and dispraise must ever hold a high


s: three kinds; as the tragical and comical, whereupon is risen the


s: pastoral; but that cometh all to one in this question; for, if


s: remembered, it shall not be amiss, in a word, to cite the special


s: Is it, then, the pastoral poem which is misliked? {46}  For,


s: them that lie lowest from the goodness of them that sit highest?


s: Sometimes under the pretty tales of wolves and sheep, can include


s: "Haec memini, et victum frustra contendere Thyrsim.


s: Ex illo Corydon, Corydon est tempore nobis." {47}


s: philosopher Heraclitus, the weakness of mankind, and the


s: rightly pointing out how weak be the passions of wofulness?


s: Is it the bitter, but wholesome iambic, {49} who rubs the galled


s: "Omne vafer vitium ridenti tangit amico;" {50}


s: who sportingly never leaveth, until he make a man laugh at folly,


s: "Est Ulubris, animus si nos non deficit aequus." {51}


s: No, perchance, it is the comic; {52} whom naughty play-makers and


s: "pistrinum;" {53} although, perchance, the sack of his own faults


s: comedy will, I think, by nobody be blamed.


s: timentes, metus in authorem redit."  But how much it can move,


s: Plutarch yielded a notable testimony of the abominable tyrant


s: Alexander Pheraeus; from whose eyes a tragedy, well made and


s: represented, drew abundance of tears, who without all pity had


s: singing the lauds of the immortal God?  Certainly, I must confess


s: that Philip of Macedon reckoned a horse-race won at Olympus among


s: There rests the heroical, {56} whose very name, I think, should


s: concurreth to the maintaining the heroical, which is not only a


s: AEneas be worn in the tablet of your memory, how he governeth


s: himself in the ruin of his country; in the preserving his old


s: government; and I think, in a mind most prejudiced with a


s: nation doth despise it, nor barbarous nation is without it; since


s: prophesying, the other of making, and that indeed that name of


s: whole parts in it poetical, and that even our Saviour Christ


s: vouchsafed to use the flowers of it; since all his kinds are not


s: But {59} because we have ears as well as tongues, and that the


s: sacred a majesty, but that an itching tongue may rub itself upon


s: it), so deserve they no other answer, but, instead of laughing at


s: contrary side, if we will turn Ovid's verse,


s: "That good lies hid in nearness of the evil," Agrippa will be as


s: merry in the showing the Vanity of Science, as Erasmus was in the


s: But that which giveth greatest scope to their scorning humour, is


s: only as a man may say by his forcible quality, but by his best


s: remembering, memory being the only treasure of knowledge, those


s: "Percontatorem fugito:  nam garrulus idem est.


s: Dum sibi quisque placet credula turba sumus." {62}


s: knowledge, it must be in jest that any man can speak against it.


s: Now {63} then go we to the most important imputations laid to the


s: Secondly, that it is the mother of lies.


s: Thirdly, that it is the nurse of abuse, infecting us with many


s: commonwealth.  Truly this is much, if there be much truth in it.


s: To {66} the second, therefore, that they should be the principal


s: your imagination, to conjure you to believe for true what he


s: invention; in troth, not labouring to tell you what is or is not,


s: under the names of John of the Stile, and John of the Nokes, he


s: principal if not only abuse I can hear alleged.  They say the


s: comedies rather teach, than reprehend, amorous conceits; they say


s: ambitiously climbed.  Alas! Love, I would thou couldst as well


s: philosophers spent a good deal of their lamp-oil in setting forth


s: that not only love, but lust, but vanity, but, if they list,


s: abuseth man's wit, but that man's wit abuseth poetry.  For I will


s: But, what! shall the abuse of a thing make the right use odious?


s: Nay, truly, though I yield that poesy may not only be abused, but


s: being abused, teach poison, the most violent destroyer?  Doth not


s: They allege herewith, that before poets began to be in price, our


s: indeed a chain-shot against all learning or bookishness, as they


s: commonly term it.  Of such mind were certain Goths, of whom it is


s: library, one hangman, belike fit to execute the fruits of their


s: pattern of Achilles, than by hearing the definition of fortitude.


s: esteemed most worthy of reverence; and with good reason, since of


s: boldly examine with what reason he did it.


s: First, truly, a man might maliciously object that Plato, being a


s: right discerning of true points of knowledge, they forthwith,


s: Euripides' verses many Athenians had their lives saved of the


s: Syracusans, where the Athenians themselves thought many of the


s: philosophers unworthy to live.  Certain poets, as Simonides and


s: women.  So, as belike this banishment grew not for effeminate


s: oracles ceased, of the Divine providence, and see whether the


s: indeed, I had much rather, since truly I may do it, show their


s: authority; whom, the wiser a man is, the more just cause he shall


s: poesy more than myself do, namely, to be a very inspiring of a


s: become his scholar Plato to put such words in his master's mouth


s: against poets. But what needs more?  Aristotle writes the "Art of


s: But I list not to defend poesy with the help of his underling


s: confirmed, and the low creeping objections so soon trodden down


s: {74}; it not being an art of lies, but of true doctrine; not of


s: "Musa, mihi causas memora, quo numine laeso?" {76}


s: Sweet poesy! that hath anciently had kings, emperors, senators,


s: teachers as Beza and Melancthon; so learned philosophers as


s: besides many, but before all, that Hospital {77} of France, than


s: whom, I think, that realm never brought forth a more accomplished


s: others' reading:  that poesy, thus embraced in all other places,


s: laurels than it was accustomed.  For heretofore poets have in


s: England also flourished; and, which is to be noted, even in those


s: Truly, even that, as of the one side it giveth great praise to


s: poesy, which, like Venus (but to better purpose), had rather be


s: troubled in the net with Mars, than enjoy the homely quiet of


s: Vulcan; so serveth it for a piece of a reason why they are less


s: wits undertake it, who think it enough if they can be rewarded of


s: "Queis meliore luto finxit praecordia Titan," {78}


s: itself, should seek to know what they do, and how they do,


s: especially look themselves in an unflattering glass of reason, if


s: ancient learned affirm it was a divine, and no human skill, since


s: indeed, we do, but that very forebackwardly; for where we should


s: "Quicquid conabor dicere, versus erit;" {81}


s: forgiven in so reverend antiquity.  I account the Mirror of


s: eclogues, indeed, worthy the reading, if I be not deceived.  That


s: Sannazaro in Italian, did affect it.  Besides these, I do not


s: remember to have seen but few (to speak boldly) printed that have


s: verses be put in prose, and then ask the meaning, and it will be


s: Our {83} tragedies and comedies, not without cause, are cried out


s: But if it be so in Gorboduc, how much more in all the rest? where


s: hours' space; which, how absurd it is in sense, even sense may


s: delivered, for safety's sake, with great riches, by his father


s: should he sail over into Thrace, and so spend I know not how many


s: Even with the finding of the body; leaving the rest to be told by


s: decency nor discretion; so as neither the admiration and


s: commiseration, nor the right sportfulness, is by their mongrel


s: find, that they never, or very daintily, match horn-pipes and


s: laughter; but well may one thing breed both together.  Nay, in


s: themselves, they have, as it were, a kind of contrariety.  For


s: delight we scarcely do, but in things that have a conveniency to


s: "Nil habet infelix pauperatas durius in se,


s: Quam qnod ridiculos, homines facit." {88}


s: But rather a busy loving courtier, and a heartless threatening


s: Thraso; a self-wise seeming school-master; a wry-transformed


s: traveller:  these, if we saw walk in stage names, which we play


s: naturally, therein were delightful laughter, and teaching


s: matter; of which we could turn our eyes to nothing, but we should


s: But, truly, many of such writings as come under the banner of


s: unresistible love, if I were a mistress, would never persuade me


s: Now {91} for the outside of it, which is words, or (as I may term


s: another time with coursing of a letter, as if they were bound to


s: follow the method of a dictionary:  another time with figures and


s: marvelled, among many scholars, and, which is to be pitied, among


s: Tully, when he was to drive out Catiline, as it were with a


s: artificially which we see men in choler do naturally.  And we,


s: which should be the end of their fineness.


s: Now for similitudes in certain printed discourses, I think all


s: contrary disputer, but only to explain to a willing hearer:  when


s: For my part, I do not doubt, when Antonius and Crassus, the great


s: But what! methinks I deserve to be pounded {94} for straying from


s: manner:  whereto our language giveth us great occasion, being,


s: grammar.  Nay, truly, it hath that praise, that it wants not


s: conceit of the mind, which is the end of speech, that hath it


s: equally with any other tongue in the world, and is particularly


s: happy in compositions of two or three words together, near the


s: Now, {96} of versifying there are two sorts, the one ancient, the


s: number, with some regard of the accent, the chief life of it


s: standeth in that like sounding of the words, which we call rhyme.


s: language, hath not one word that hath his accent in the last


s: syllable, saving two, called antepenultima; and little more, hath


s: Now for rhyme, though we do not observe quantity, we observe the


s: accent very precisely, which other languages either cannot do, or


s: trifling of this discourse is much too much enlarged.


s: So {97} that since the ever praiseworthy poesy is full of virtue,


s: mine, even in the name of the Nine Muses, no more to scorn the


s: believe, with Bembus, that they were the first bringers in of all


s: moral, and "quid non?" to believe, with me, that there are many


s: thus doing, your soul shall be placed with Dante's Beatrix, or


s: But if (fie of such a but!) you be born so near the dull-making


s: cataract of Nilus, that you cannot hear the planet-like music of


s: poetry; if you have so earth-creeping a mind, that it cannot lift


s: rustical disdain, will become such a Mome, as to be a Momus of


s: poetry; then, though I will not wish unto you the ass's ears of


s: Ireland; yet thus much curse I must send you in the behalf of all


s: Made by Sir Philip Sidney, upon his meeting with his two worthy


s: friends and fellow poets, Sir Edward Dyer and M. Fulke Greville.


s: Decked with pied flowers sweetly smelling.


s: Than this false, fine, courtly pleasure.


s: Ring out your bells, let mourning shows be spread,


s: Weep, neighbours, weep, do you not hear it said


s: Let dirge be sung, and trentals rightly read,


s: Alas! I lie:  rage hath this error bred;


s: She that hurt thee, Love, may heal thee;


s: That th' one from th' other could not part:


s: Such are these two; you scarce can tell,


s: Are spells and charms of strong defence,


s: Been healed, and cured, and made as sound,


s: Love wrought such things as bred my smart,


s: Me with their breath, that incense sweet,


s: Which so o'ercomes man's ravished sense,


s: To th' Stocks, or Cornhill's square Exchange;


s: Bloat-herring, cheese, and voided physic,


s: Being somewhat troubled with a phthisic,


s: And they breathed forth perfumes in vain.


s: Both bred and born to cut Love's throat:


s: To the tune of the Spanish song, "Si tu senora no ducles de mi."


s: O fair! O sweet! when I do look on thee,


s: This song from death's sorrow springeth:


s: You better sure shall live, not evermore


s: Trying high seas; nor, while sea's rage you flee,


s: Pressing too much upon ill-harboured shore.


s: The golden mean who loves, lives safely free


s: From filth of foreworn house, and quiet lives,


s: Released from court, where envy needs must be.


s: The wind most oft the hugest pine tree grieves:


s: The stately towers come down with greater fall:


s: The highest hills the bolt of thunder cleaves.


s: Evil haps do fill with hope, good haps appall


s: With fear of change, the courage well prepared:


s: Foul winters, as they come, away they shall.


s: Though present times, and past, with evils be snared,


s: They shall not last:  with cithern silent Muse,


s: Apollo wakes, and bow hath sometime spared.


s: In hard estate, with stout shows, valour use,


s: The same man still, in whom wisdom prevails;


s: In too full wind draw in thy swelling sails.


s: He brought down fire, till then on earth not seen;


s: Gave it a kiss, as it like sweet had been.


s: Feeling forthwith the other burning power,


s: Wood with the smart, with shouts and shrieking shrill,


s: He sought his ease in river, field, and bower;


s: But, for the time, his grief went with him still.


s: Feeding mine eyes, th' impression there did light;


s: That since I run and rest as pleaseth love:


s: The difference is, the satyr's lips, my heart,


s: With sound of horn which he himself did blow:


s: Fearing and feared, thus from himself he fled,


s: Deeming strange evil in that he did not know.


s: Such causeless fears when coward minds do take,


s: It makes them fly that which they fain would have;


s: As this poor beast, who did his rest forsake,


s: Thinking not why, but how, himself to save.


s: Ev'n thus might I, for doubts which I conceive


s: Of mine own words, my own good hap betray;


s: And thus might I, for fear of may be, leave


s: Who burnt his lips to kiss fair shining fire.


s: My mistress lowers, and saith I do not love:


s: I do protest, and seek with service due,


s: In humble mind, a constant faith to prove;


s: From deep vain thought that I may not be true.


s: If oaths might serve, ev'n by the Stygian lake,


s: Which poets say the gods themselves do fear,


s: For why should I, whom free choice slave doth make,


s: Else-what in face, than in my fancy bear?


s: My Muse, therefore, for only thou canst tell,


s: Tell me the cause of this my causeless woe?


s: Tell, how ill thought disgraced my doing well?


s: Tell, how my joys and hopes thus foully fell


s: O this it is, the knotted straw is found;


s: In tender hearts, small things engender hate:


s: A horse's worth laid waste the Trojan ground;


s: A three-foot stool in Greece made trumpets sound;


s: An ass's shade e'er now hath bred debate.


s: If Greeks themselves were moved with so small cause,


s: To twist those broils, which hardly would untwine:


s: Should ladies fair be tied to such hard laws,


s: As in their moods to take a ling'ring pause?


s: I would it not, their metal is too fine.


s: My hand doth not bear witness with my heart,


s: She saith, because I make no woeful lays,


s: To paint my living death and endless smart:


s: And so, for one that felt god Cupid's dart,


s: She thinks I lead and live too merry days.


s: Whose hearts are set on measuring a verse?


s: Who think themselves well blest, if they renew


s: Some good old dump that Chaucer's mistress knew;


s: And use but you for matters to rehearse.


s: Take harp and sing in this our versing time,


s: And in my brain some sacred humour flow,


s: That all the earth my woes, sighs, tears may know;


s: And see you not that I fall low to rhyme.


s: As for my mirth, how could I but be glad,


s: Whilst that methought I justly made my boast


s: But now, if e'er my face with joy be clad,


s: Think Hannibal did laugh when Carthage lost.


s: Sweet lady, as for those whose sullen cheer,


s: Compared to me, made me in lightness sound;


s: Who silence force to make their words more dear;


s: Whose eyes seem chaste, because they look on ground:


s: Believe them not, for physic true doth find,


s: Show that we do not grudge at all when others do rejoice.


s: With sight made dim with daily tears another's sport to see.


s: Whoever lambkins saw, yet lambkins love to play,


s: To play when that their loved dams are stolen or gone astray?


s: If this in them be true, as true in men think I,


s: A lustless song forsooth thinks he that hath more lust to cry.


s: WILL.  A time there is for all, my mother often says,


s: Now let those lightsome sights we see thy darkness overcome.


s: That comfort in these sports you like, my mind his comfort tries.


s: WILL.  What?  Is thy bagpipe broke, or are thy lambs miswent;


s: Thy wallet or thy tar-box lost; or thy new raiment-rent?


s: Whose wages make me beg the more, who feeds me till I starve;


s: Whose livery is such, as most I freeze apparelled most,


s: And looks so near unto my cure, that I must needs be lost.


s: Lock'd fast with knowing that she is of worldly things the best.


s: WILL.  If wages make you want, what food is that she gives?


s: So have I cause myself to plain, but no cause to complain.


s: My freedom, with show of her beams, with virtue, my content.


s: WILL.  God shield us from such dames!  If so our dames be sped,


s: The shepherds will grow lean I trow, their sheep will be ill-fed.


s: The arrow being shot from far doth give the smaller blow.


s: That foxes leave to steal, they find they die therefore.


s: For nothing can more tedious be than plaint in time of joy.


s: But hence, even hence, I must needs go; such is my dogged fate.


s: To the tune of "Wilhelmus van Nassau," &c.


s: And known those pangs that losers prove,


s: The loathsome buds grown on Sorrow's tree.


s: But who by hearsay speaks, and hath not fully felt


s: What kind of fires they be in which those spirits melt,


s: Shall guess, and fail, what doth displease,


s: Where former bliss, present evils do stain;


s: While remembrance doth both states contain.


s: Come, learners, then to me, the model of mishap,


s: Ingulphed in despair, slid down from Fortune's lap;


s: Those bands, alas! shall not be dissolved;


s: Nor break my word, though reward come late;


s: Nor change in change, though change change my state:


s: But always own myself, with eagle-eyed Truth, to fly


s: Up to the sun, although the sun my wings do fry;


s: Burneth bright in fairest light.  No, no, no, no.


s: End the way, where all men stay.  No, no, no, no.


s: Though in pain, cannot complain.  No, no, no, no.


s: Fa, la, la, leridan, dan, dan, dan, deridan:


s: Fa, la, la, leridan, dan, dan, dan, deridan,


s: Know, my words their faults acknowledge;


s: From "La Diana de Monte-Mayor," in Spanish:  where Sireno, a


s: Where, "Sooner die than change my state,"


s: The same Sireno in "Monte-Mayor," holding his mistress's glass


s: before her, and looking upon her while she viewed herself, thus


s: Of this high grace, with bliss conjoined,


s: The dart, the beams, the sting, so strong I prove,


s: Which my chief part doth pass through, parch, and tie,


s: That of the stroke, the heat, and knot of love,


s: Wounded, inflamed, knit to the death, I die.


s: Hardened and cold, far from affection's snare


s: Was once my mind, my temper, and my life;


s: While I that sight, desire, and vow forbare,


s: Which to avoid, quench, lose, nought boasted strife.


s: Yet will not I grief, ashes, thraldom change


s: For others' ease, their fruit, or free estate;


s: So brave a shot, dear fire, and beauty strange,


s: Bid me pierce, burn, and bind, long time and late,


s: And in my wounds, my flames, and bonds, I find


s: A salve, fresh air, and bright contented mind.


s: Virtue, beauty, and speech, did strike, wound, charm,


s: My heart, eyes, ears, with wonder, love, delight,


s: First, second, last, did bind, enforce, and arm,


s: His works, shows, suits, with wit, grace, and vows' might,


s: Thus honour, liking, trust, much, far, and deep,


s: Held, pierced, possessed, my judgment, sense, and will,


s: Till wrongs, contempt, deceit, did grow, steal, creep,


s: Bands, favour, faith, to break, defile, and kill,


s: Then grief, unkindness, proof, took, kindled, taught,


s: Well-grounded, noble, due, spite, rage, disdain:


s: But ah, alas! in vain my mind, sight, thought,


s: Doth him, his face, his words, leave, shun, refrain.


s: For nothing, time, nor place, can loose, quench, ease


s: Mine own embraced, sought, knot, fire, disease.


s: Th' Elysian fields, that dar'st not venture


s: Since shunning pain, I ease can never find;


s: Since bashful dread seeks where he knows me harmed;


s: Since will is won, and stopped ears are charmed;


s: Since force doth faint, and sight doth make me blind;


s: Since loosing long, the faster still I bind;


s: Since naked sense can conquer reason armed;


s: Since heart, in chilling fear, with ice is warmed;


s: In fine, since strife of thought but mars the mind,


s: Yet craving law of arms, whose rule doth teach,


s: That, hardly used, who ever prison broke,


s: In justice quit, of honour made no breach:


s: Thou art my lord, and I thy vowed slave.


s: When Love puffed up with rage of high disdain,


s: Resolved to make me pattern of his might,


s: Like foe, whose wits inclined to deadly spite,


s: Would often kill, to breed more feeling pain;