s: With the index finger pointing heavenward.


s: It is well to abstain from murder and lust,


s: To forgive, do good to others, worship God


s: By which you chiefly do good to yourself.


s: Find the goal or lose it, according to your vision.


s: I WAS the laughing-stock of the village,


s: Chiefly of the people of good sense, as they call themselves--


s: Also of the learned, like Rev. Peet, who read Greek


s: Of walking cracks, picking up pins the right way,


s: Seeing the new moon over the right shoulder,


s: I asserted the sovereignty of my own soul.


s: Before Mary Baker G. Eddy even got started


s: With what she called science I had mastered the "Bhagavad Gita,"


s: And cured my soul, before Mary Began to cure bodies with souls--


s: I BEGAN with Sir William Hamilton's lectures.


s: And then John Locke on the Understanding,


s: And then Descartes, Fichte and Schelling,


s: To grasp the tail of the ultimate secret,


s: And only the moon looked a little bigger.


s: Then I fell back, how glad of the earth!


s: Measuring its generous branches with my eye,


s: For the roots had grown so wide and deep


s: That the soil of the hill could not withhold


s: But yielded it all to the thrifty roots,


s: Through which it was drawn and whirled to the trunk,


s: And thence to the branches, and into the leaves,


s: Wherefrom the breeze took life and sang.


s: Now I, an under--tenant of the earth, can see


s: But I did not need to die to learn about roots:


s: I, who dug all the ditches about Spoon River.


s: Nor destroying insect, as the sexton thinks.


s: Look, Samuel, where the roots have struck rock,


s: ONCE in a while a curious weed unknown to me,


s: Out of the mussel-shells gathered along the shore


s: Sometimes a pearl with a glint like meadow rue:


s: Then betimes a letter from Tyndall in England,


s: I, lover of Nature, beloved for my love of her,


s: Oh, there is neither lesser nor greater,


s: Save as we make her greater and win from her keener delight.


s: With shells from the river cover me, cover me.


s: I lived in wonder, worshipping earth and heaven.


s: I have passed on the march eternal of endless life.


s: To all in the village I seemed, no doubt,


s: To go this way and that way, aimlessly. .


s: But here by the river you can see at twilight


s: The soft--winged bats fly zig-zag here and there--


s: And if you have ever lost your way at night,


s: Wherever the light of the Milky Way shone through,


s: With earnest zeal, and all my wanderings


s: Was rung by itself, I knew it as the Presbyterian bell.


s: With the sound of the Methodist, the Christian,


s: Nor any one from the others, or either of them.


s: AT first you will know not what they mean,


s: You sit with your friend, and all at once


s: Mystery Stand before you and strike you dead


s: Be brave, all souls who have such visions


s: You're catching a little whiff of the ether


s: And he was my father, according to Jack McGuire.


s: Side by side with Roger Baughman's bulldog,


s: I could crawl between the legs of the wildest horses


s: Without getting kicked--we knew each other.


s: On spring days I tramped through the country


s: To get the feeling, which I sometimes lost,


s: That I was not a separate thing from the earth.


s: By lying with eyes half-open in the woods.


s: Sometimes I talked with animals-- even toads and snakes--


s: And grew still, like a congregation in silent prayer.


s: I never knew whether I was a part of the earth


s: With flowers growing in me, or whether I walked--


s: THEY called me the weakling, the simpleton,


s: For my brothers were strong and beautiful,


s: While I, the last child of parents who had aged,


s: In the fury of the flesh, which I had not,


s: Made pulp in the activity of the senses, which I had not,


s: Hardened by the growth of the lusts, which I had not,


s: Though making names and riches for themselves.


s: Saw a vision, and through me many saw the vision,


s: Talkative, contentious, versed in the arguments


s: Of the infidels. But through a long sickness


s: And they lighted a torch of hope and intuition


s: Leading me swiftly through the caverns of darkness,


s: I cursed God, but he paid no attention to me:


s: In my last sickness I was in agony, but I was resolute


s: He left me alone, as He had always done.


s: I might as well have cursed the Presbyterian steeple.


s: Then, as I grew weaker, a terror came over me:


s: Perhaps I had alienated God by cursing him.


s: One day Lydia Humphrey brought me a bouquet


s: And it occurred to me to try to make friends with God,


s: But I might as well have tried to make friends with the bouquet.


s: For I really could make friends with the bouquet


s: By holding close to me the love in me for the bouquet


s: And so I was creeping upon the secret, but--


s: Their reasons for death, reasons with me for life;


s: Their reasons for life, reasons with me for death;


s: And I saw how a god, if brought to earth,


s: The dust's for crawling, heaven's for flying--


s: Wherefore, O soul, whose wings are grown,


s: As a boy in Spoon River, born with the thirst


s: They jeered when I spoke of the lunar mountains,


s: But now that my grave is honored, friends,


s: But rather for this: that through the stars


s: Who is none the less a part of the scheme of things


s: For the distance of Spica or the Spiral Nebulae;


s: Back from the road ,mid stricken fields,


s: And an eddy of wind blew leaves on the pane,


s: And crooned in the flue of the cannon-stove,


s: In an idle mood I was running the planchette--


s: And my hand moved rapidly over the board,


s: 'Till the name of "Charles Guiteau" was spelled,


s: Who threatened to materialize before me.


s: I rose and fled from the room bare-headed


s: Mere trifling twaddle, Spoon River agreed.


s: You talk nonsense to children, don't you?


s: And never heard of and have no word for,


s: I wore across the lot where now stands the opera house


s: Hasting with swift feet to work through many years?


s: You too may walk, after the hills at Miller's Ford


s: And after the faces of friends and kindred


s: Become as faded photographs, pitifully silent,


s: And after you no longer reproach mankind


s: With being in league against your soul's uplifted hands--


s: Themselves compelled at midnight and at noon


s: To watch with steadfast eye their destinies;


s: After you have these understandings, think of me


s: And of my path, who walked therein and knew


s: That neither man nor woman, neither toil,


s: BACK and forth, back and forth, to and from the church,


s: Finding brothers and sisters in the congregation,


s: I know they laughed and thought me queer.


s: I knew of the eagle souls that flew high in the sunlight,


s: Above the spire of the church, and laughed at the church,


s: If all your life long you have rejected Jesus,


s: Over and over I said, I, the revivalist.


s: Ah, yes! but there are friends and friends.


s: And blessed are you, say I, who know all now,


s: A father or mother, or old grandfather or mother


s: Some beautiful soul that lived life strongly


s: And knew you all through, and loved you ever,


s: And give God an intimate view of your soul


s: That is the hand your hand will reach for,


s: AFTER a long day of work in my hot--houses


s: Sleep was sweet, but if you sleep on your left side


s: Had floated in and touched the roof of glass


s: And all was silence, except the splendor


s: Caesar Borgia, what shall be done with it?


s: Shelley, more soil.  Shakespeare, needs spraying--"


s: Staring blindly under the full glare of noon?


s: Have you seen the stabled horses at night


s: Tremble and start back at the sight of a lantern?


s: When an unknown door was open before you


s: And you stood, it seemed, in the light of a thousand candles


s: Have you walked with the wind in your ears


s: And found it suddenly shine with an inner splendor?


s: Where around your steps a soundless glory scatters


s: Will you go through earth, O strong of soul,


s: Mock not its record of my captaincy in the army


s: Go by reverently, and read with sober care


s: How a great people, riding with defiant shouts


s: Shook with terror, seeing the mist of the sea


s: And fell from his back in precipitate awe


s: To celebrate the Feast of the Supreme Being.


s: Of life and death, and burdened as they were


s: Caught in the drift of a nation's unloosened flood,


s: WHO carved this shattered harp on my stone?


s: I died to you, no doubt. But how many harps and pianos


s: Wired I and tightened and disentangled for you,


s: Making them sweet again--with tuning fork or without?


s: Oh well! A harp leaps out of the ear of a man, you say,


s: But whence the ear that orders the length of the strings


s: To a magic of numbers flying before your thought


s: Through a door that closes against your breathless wonder?


s: Is there no Ear round the ear of a man, that it senses


s: Through strings and columns of air the soul of sound?


s: I thrill as I call it a tuning fork that catches


s: The waves of mingled music and light from afar,


s: Thought that listens through utmost space.


s: Surely the concord that ruled my spirit is proof


s: Of an Ear that tuned me, able to tune me over


s: In those last days, I sat in the forsaken orchard


s: Where beyond fields of greenery shimmered


s: With its ruined trunk and blasted branches,


s: And shoots of green whose delicate blossoms


s: Were sprinkled over the skeleton tangle,


s: Yet thinking of youth and the earth in youth,--


s: O earth that leaves us ere heaven takes us!


s: With dreams of spring and a leafy youth,


s: Which swept me out of the soul's suspense


s: Standing before the pioneer men and women


s: There at Concord Church on Communion day.


s: Speaking in broken voice of the peasant youth


s: That blew over wheat fields from Atterbury;


s: While the white stones in the burying ground


s: Around the Church shimmered in the summer sun.


s: Were too great to bear, were you, O pioneers,


s: With bowed heads breathing forth your sorrow


s: For the sons killed in battle and the daughters


s: And little children who vanished in life's morning,


s: Us the ploughmen and the hewers of wood,


s: Us the peasants, brothers of the peasant of Galilee--


s: And the consolation of tongues of flame!


s: THEY told me I had three months to live,


s: You are but a widened place in the river


s: Where Life looks down and we rejoice for her


s: Mirrored in us, and so we dream And turn away, but when again


s: We look for the face, behold the low-lands


s: And blasted cotton-wood trees where we empty


s: Weak and in pain, with the dreams about me,


s: The soul of the river had entered my soul,


s: And the gathered power of my soul was moving


s: A breeze blew out of the east and swept them as leaves,


s: Here were flying lights, and mystic moons, and dream-music.


s: I was now amid multitudes who were wrangling.


s: Then a figure in shimmering gold, and one with a trumpet,


s: They mocked me and danced a rigadoon and vanished. . . .


s: A woman bared her breasts and lifted her open mouth to mine.


s: I arose and ascended higher, but a mist as from an iceberg


s: And I saw the mists below me hiding all below them.


s: Was the soundless air, pierced by a cone of ice,


s: For the spent waves of the symphony of freedom


s: The sunset hour by the river, when Mickey M'Grew


s: Cried, "There's a ghost," and I, "It's Delphic Apollo,".


s: And the son of the banker derided us, saying, "It's light


s: By the flags at the water's edge, you half-witted fools."


s: And from thence, as the wearisome years rolled on, long after


s: Poor Mickey fell down in the water tower to his death


s: Down, down, through bellowing darkness, I carried


s: The vision which perished with him like a rocket which falls


s: And quenches its light in earth, and hid it for fear


s: Of the son of the banker, calling on Plutus to save me?


s: Avenged were you for the shame of a fearful heart


s: Who left me alone till I saw you again in an hour


s: When I seemed to be turned to a tree with trunk and branches


s: Growing indurate, turning to stone, yet burgeoning


s: In laurel leaves, in hosts of lambent laurel,


s: Quivering, fluttering, shrinking, fighting the numbness


s: Creeping into their veins from the dying trunk and branches!


s: 'Tis vain, O youth, to fly the call of Apollo.


s: Fling yourselves in the fire, die with a song of spring,


s: If die you must in the spring. For none shall look


s: On the face of Apollo and live, and choose you must


s: 'Twixt death in the flame and death after years of sorrow,


s: Rooted fast in the earth, feeling the grisly hand,


s: Not so much in the trunk as in the terrible numbness


s: Creeping up to the laurel leaves that never cease


s: To flourish until you fall. O leaves of me


s: Too sere for coronal wreaths, and fit alone


s: For urns of memory, treasured, perhaps, as themes


s: For hearts heroic, fearless singers and livers--


s: OF John Cabanis, wrath and of the strife


s: Of freedom for Spoon River, and the fall


s: Of Rhodes, bank that brought unnumbered woes


s: That flamed into the torch in Anarch hands


s: To burn the court--house, on whose blackened wreck


s: A fairer temple rose and Progress stood--


s: Sing, muse, that lit the Chian's face with smiles


s: Who saw the ant-like Greeks and Trojans crawl


s: As soul-mate; and the wrath of Peleus, son,


s: Thou son of night, called Momus, from whose eyes


s: No secret hides, and Thalia, smiling one,


s: What bred 'twixt Thomas Rhodes and John Cabanis


s: The deadly strife? His daughter Flossie, she,


s: Returning from her wandering with a troop


s: Of strolling players, walked the village streets,


s: Her bracelets tinkling and with sparkling rings


s: Of cunning in her eyes. Then Thomas Rhodes,


s: Who ruled the church and ruled the bank as well,


s: And all Spoon River whispered and the eyes


s: Of all the church frowned on her, till she knew


s: She gave a dance to viols and to flutes,


s: But lately made regenerate through the prayers


s: Of zealous preachers and of earnest souls,


s: Danced merrily, and sought her in the dance,


s: Who wore a dress so low of neck that eyes


s: Down straying might survey the snowy swale


s: The village changed to merriment from gloom.


s: The milliner, Mrs. Williams, could not fill


s: Her orders for new hats, and every seamstress


s: Plied busy needles making gowns; old trunks


s: And chests were opened for their store of laces


s: And rings and trinkets were brought out of hiding


s: And all the youths fastidious grew of dress;


s: Notes passed, and many a fair one's door at eve


s: Knew a bouquet, and strolling lovers thronged


s: About the hills that overlooked the river.


s: Then, since the mercy seats more empty showed,


s: One of God's chosen lifted up his voice:


s: Ye sons of light and drive the wanton forth!"


s: So John Cabanis left the church and left


s: The hosts of law and order with his eyes


s: By anger cleared, and him the liberal cause


s: Waged bitterly for votes and rumors flew


s: Which Rhodes, son had made to prop his loss


s: In wheat, and many drew their coin and left


s: The bank of Rhodes more hollow, with the talk


s: Soon to be chartered, lo, the bubble burst


s: 'Mid cries and curses; but the liberals laughed


s: High on a stage that overlooked the chairs


s: Where dozens sat, and where a pop--eyed daub


s: Of Christian Dallman, brow and pointed beard,


s: And to the assembled rebels thus he spake:


s: Cold-blooded, scheming, hungry, singing psalms,


s: Devour our substance, wreck our banks and drain


s: Our little hoards for hazards on the price


s: Of wheat or pork, or yet to cower beneath


s: A breed of lackeys and to serve the bank


s: Coadjutor in greed, that is the question.


s: Shall we have music and the jocund dance,


s: Or tolling bells? Or shall young romance roam


s: These hills about the river, flowering now


s: To April's tears, or shall they sit at home,


s: Or play croquet where Thomas Rhodes may see,


s: I ask you? If the blood of youth runs o'er


s: And riots 'gainst this regimen of gloom,


s: Shall we submit to have these youths and maids


s: His words were done a woman's voice called "No!"


s: Then rose a sound of moving chairs, as when


s: The numerous swine o'er-run the replenished troughs;


s: And every head was turned, as when a flock


s: Of geese back-turning to the hunter's tread


s: Rise up with flapping wings; then rang the hall


s: With riotous laughter, for with battered hat


s: Headlong she had been hurled from out the hall


s: Save Wendell Bloyd, who spoke for woman's rights,


s: Prevented, and the bellowing voice of Burchard.


s: Then ,mid applause she hastened toward the stage


s: And flung both gold and silver to the cause


s: Of Alcmene, deep-chested, round of paunch,


s: And spoke in thunder: "Over there behold


s: A man who for the truth withstood his wife--


s: Such is our spirit--when that A. D. Blood


s: Before Jim Brown could finish, Jefferson Howard


s: Obtained the floor and spake: "Ill suits the time


s: For clownish words, and trivial is our cause


s: If naught's at stake but John Cabanis, wrath,


s: And came to us for vengeance. More's at stake


s: Than triumph for New England or Virginia.


s: And whether rum be sold, or for two years


s: As in the past two years, this town be dry


s: For sidewalks, sewers; that is well enough!


s: I wish to God this fight were now inspired


s: By other passion than to salve the pride


s: Why Can never contests of great moment spring


s: From worthy things, not little? Still, if men


s: Then, as George Trimble had o'ercome his fear


s: Breathless and hatless, whiter than a sheet,


s: Entered and cried: "The marshal's on his way


s: Who's coming here to--morrow; I was listening


s: Selected by the Chair; the Chair himself


s: Disorder reigned and when the marshal came


s: And found it so, he marched the hoodlums out


s: Back in the basement of the church, with Blood


s: Counseled the wisest heads. Judge Somers first,


s: Deep learned in life, and next him, Elliott Hawkins


s: And Lambert Hutchins; next him Thomas Rhodes


s: And Editor Whedon; next him Garrison Standard,


s: Upcurled in scorn and with a bitter sneer:


s: "Such strife about an insult to a woman--


s: A girl of eighteen "--Christian Dallman too,


s: Who frowned not on the cup but loathed the rule


s: The ruddy sun, when from their hasty beds


s: Poured forth the hostile forces, and the streets


s: That drove this way and that to gather in


s: Who manned the battle. But at ten o'clock


s: The liberals bellowed fraud, and at the polls


s: The rival candidates growled and came to blows.


s: A word of warning. Suddenly on the streets


s: Walked hog-eyed Allen, terror of the hills


s: That looked on Bernadotte ten miles removed.


s: No man of this degenerate day could lift


s: The boulders which he threw, and when he spoke


s: The windows rattled, and beneath his brows


s: Thatched like a shed with bristling hair of black,


s: His small eyes glistened like a maddened boar.


s: And as he walked the boards creaked, as he walked


s: The champion of A. D. Blood, commissioned


s: As when a hawk soars o'er the chicken yard.


s: He passed the polls and with a playful hand


s: Touched Brown, the giant, and he fell against,


s: As though he were a child, the wall; so strong


s: Was hog-eyed Allen. But the liberals smiled.


s: For soon as hog-eyed Allen reached the walk,


s: Close on his steps paced Bengal Mike, brought in


s: To match the hog-eyed Allen. He was scarce


s: Three-fourths the other's bulk, but steel his arms,


s: And with a tiger's heart. Two men he killed


s: Saw Bengal Mike his countenance grew dark,


s: The bristles o'er his red eyes twitched with rage,


s: The song he rumbled lowered. Round and round


s: The court-house paced he, followed stealthily


s: By Bengal Mike, who jeered him every step:


s: "Come, elephant, and fight! Come, hog-eyed coward!


s: Come, face about and fight me, lumbering sneak!


s: Take out your gun, you duffer, give me reason


s: To draw and kill you. Take your billy out.


s: I'll crack your boar's head with a piece of brick!"


s: But never a word the hog-eyed one returned


s: But trod about the court-house, followed both


s: By troops of boys and watched by all the men.


s: All day, they walked the square. But when Apollo


s: Stood with reluctant look above the hills


s: As fain to see the end, and all the votes


s: Were cast, and closed the polls, before the door


s: Of Trainor's drug store Bengal Mike, in tones


s: That echoed through the village, bawled the taunt:


s: "Who was your mother, hog--eyed?" In a trice


s: As when a wild boar turns upon the hound


s: That through the brakes upon an August day


s: Has gashed him with its teeth, the hog- one


s: Rushed with his giant arms on Bengal Mike


s: And grabbed him by the throat. Then rose to heaven


s: The frightened cries of boys, and yells of men


s: Forth rushing to the street. And Bengal Mike


s: Moved this way and now that, drew in his head


s: As if his neck to shorten, and bent down


s: To break the death grip of the hog-eyed one;


s: 'Twixt guttural wrath and fast-expiring strength


s: Striking his fists against the invulnerable chest


s: Of hog-eyed Allen. Then, when some came in


s: To part them, others stayed them, and the fight


s: What god or goddess rescued Bengal Mike?


s: With one last, mighty struggle did he grasp


s: The murderous hands and turning kick his foe.


s: Then, as if struck by lightning, vanished all


s: The strength from hog--eyed Allen, at his side


s: Sank limp those giant arms and o'er his face


s: Dread pallor and the sweat of anguish spread.


s: And those great knees, invincible but late,


s: Shook to his weight. And quickly as the lion


s: Leaps on its wounded prey, did Bengal Mike


s: Smite with a rock the temple of his foe,


s: And down he sank and darkness o'er his eyes


s: And all the songsters of the forest shrill,


s: And one great hawk that has his nestling young


s: Amid the topmost branches croaks, as crash


s: The leafy branches through the tangled boughs


s: Of brother oaks, so fell the hog--eyed one


s: Bore the town marshal, on whose iron face


s: To Trainor's drug store, shot by Jack McGuire.


s: And cries went up of "Lynch him!" and the sound


s: Of running feet from every side was heard


s: The late Mr. Jonathan Swift Somers, laureate of Spoon River


s: planned The Spooniad as an epic in twenty-four books, but


s: unfortunately did not live to complete even the first book. The


s: fragment was found among his papers by William Marion Reedy


s: THE reluctance which must naturally be felt by any one in


s: venturing to give to the world a book such as the present, where


s: the beauties of the great original must inevitably be diminished,


s: translator's hands, cannot but be felt in all its force when that


s: poetic fane, and can have no hope of advancing further, or of


s: reaching its sanctuary. But it is to me a subject of peculiar


s: satisfaction that your kind permission to have your name


s: inscribed upon this page serves to attain a twofold end--one


s: direct and personal, and relating to the present day; the other


s: reflected and historical, and belonging to times long gone by. Of


s: mine, in making this dedication: as to the second, one word of


s: explanation will suffice for those who have made the greatest


s: poet of Germany, almost of the world, their study, and to whom


s: the story of his life is not unknown. All who have followed the


s: career of GOETHE are familiar with the name and character of


s: DALBERG, and also with the deep and lasting friendship that


s: existed between them, from which SCHILLER too was not absent;


s: recalling to the mind the days of old, when a Virgil and a Horace


s: Remembering, then, the connection that, in a former century,


s: was formed and riveted between your illustrious ancestor and him


s: whom it is the object of these pages to represent, I deem it a


s: happy augury that the link then established finds itself not


s: wholly severed even now (although its strength may be


s: immeasurably weakened in the comparison), inasmuch as this page


s: brings them once more in contact, the one in the person of his


s: own descendant, the other in that of the translator of his Poems.


s: I feel no small reluctance in venturing to give to the public a


s: work of the character of that indicated by the title-page to the


s: present volume; for, difficult as it must always be to render


s: satisfactorily into one's own tongue the writings of the bards of


s: immeasurably increased when he attempts to transfer the thoughts


s: of those great men, who have lived for all the world and for all


s: ages, from the language in which they were originally clothed, to


s: is this the case with Goethe, the most masterly of all the master


s: tablets of immortality, and whose fame already extends over the


s: earth, although as yet only in its infancy. Scarcely have two


s: decades passed away since he ceased to dwell among men, yet he


s: now stands before us, not as a mere individual, like those whom


s: the world is wont to call great, but as a type, as an emblem--the


s: present stage of culture and advancement.


s: Among the infinitely varied effusions of Goethe's pen, perhaps


s: there are none which are of as general interest as his Poems,


s: which breathe the very spirit of Nature, and embody the real


s: music of the feelings. In Germany, they are universally known,


s: and are considered as the most delightful of his works. Yet in


s: this country, this kindred country, sprung from the same stem,


s: and so strongly resembling her sister in so many points, they are


s: Poet that the world has seen for ages, that is really and


s: generally read in England, is Faust, the translations of which


s: are almost endless; while no single person has as yet appeared to


s: systematic manner, those smaller productions of the genius of


s: Goethe which it is the object of the present volume to lay before


s: imperfections. In addition to the beauty of the language in which


s: first sight, and the translator incurs great risk of overlooking


s: it, and of giving a prosaic effect to that which in the original


s: contains the very essence of poetry. It is probably this


s: difficulty that has deterred others from undertaking the task I


s: have set myself, and in which I do not pretend to do more than


s: attempt to give an idea of the minstrelsy of one so unrivalled,


s: by as truthful an interpretation of it as lies in my power.


s: The principles which have guided me on the present occasion are


s: the same as those followed in the translation of Schiller's


s: complete Poems that was published by me in 1851, namely, as


s: literal a rendering of the original as is consistent with good


s: English, and also a very strict adherence to the metre of the


s: original. Although translators usually allow themselves great


s: license in both these points, it appears to me that by so doing


s: they of necessity destroy the very soul of the work they profess


s: to translate. In fact, it is not a translation, but a paraphrase


s: that they give. It may perhaps be thought that the present


s: translations go almost to the other extreme, and that a rendering


s: to preserve the poetry of the original both in substance and in


s: sound. But experience has convinced me that it is not so, and


s: that great fidelity is even the most essential element of


s: success, whether in translating poetry or prose. It was therefore


s: me to myself in translating Schiller met with the very general,


s: if not universal, approval of the reader. At the same time, I


s: have endeavoured to profit in the case of this, the younger born


s: of the two attempts made by me to transplant the muse of Germany


s: to the shores of Britain, by the criticisms, whether friendly or


s: hostile, that have been evoked or provoked by the appearance of


s: As already mentioned, the latter contained the whole of the


s: Poems of Schiller. It is impossible, in anything like the same


s: compass, to give all the writings of Goethe comprised under the


s: and 40,000 verses, exclusive of his plays. and similar works.


s: Very many of these would be absolutely without interest to the


s: English reader,--such as those having only a local application,


s: those addressed to individuals, and so on. Others again, from


s: their extreme length, could only be published in separate


s: volumes. But the impossibility of giving all need form no


s: obstacle to giving as much as possible; and it so happens that


s: the real interest of Goethe's Poems centres in those classes of


s: them which are not too diffuse to run any risk when translated of


s: more generally admired are the Songs and Ballads, which are about


s: volume (with the exception of one or two of the former, which


s: have been, on consideration, left out by me owing to their


s: trifling and uninteresting nature). The same may be said of the


s: In addition to those portions of Goethe's poetical works which


s: are given in this complete form, specimens of the different other


s: as well as a collection of the various Songs found in his Plays,


s: making a total number of about 400 Poems, embraced in the present


s: A sketch of the life of Goethe is prefixed, in order that the


s: reader may have before him both the Poet himself and the Poet's


s: offspring, and that he may see that the two are but one--that


s: Goethe lives in his works, that his works lived in him.


s: The dates of the different Poems are appended throughout, that


s: of the first publication being given, when that of the


s: composition is unknown. The order of arrangement adopted is that


s: of the authorized German editions. As Goethe would never arrange


s: them himself in the chronological order of their composition, it


s: has become impossible to do so, now that he is dead. The plan


s: adopted in the present volume would therefore seem to be the


s: best, as it facilitates reference to the original. The


s: circumstances attending or giving rise to the production of any


s: of the Poems will be found specified in those cases in which they


s: Having said thus much by way of explanation, I now leave the


s: book to speak for itself, and to testify to its own character.


s: Whether viewed with a charitable eye by the kindly reader, who


s: will make due allowance for the difficulties attending its


s: execution, or received by the critic, who will judge of it only


s: by its own merits, with the unfriendly welcome which it very


s: probably deserves, I trust that I shall at least be pardoned for


s: making an attempt, a failure in which does not necessarily imply


s: disgrace, and which, by leading the way, may perhaps become the


s: means of inducing some abler and more worthy (but not more


s: earnest) labourer to enter upon the same field, the riches of


s: which will remain unaltered and undiminished in value, even


s: although they may be for the moment tarnished by the hands of the


s: I have taken advantage of the publication of a Second Edition


s: of my translation of the Poems of Goethe (originally published in


s: classical Poem of Hermann and Dorothea, which was previously


s: omitted by me in consequence of its length. Its universal


s: popularity, however, and the fact that it exhibits the


s: versatility of Goethe's talents to a greater extent than,


s: perhaps, any other of his poetical works, seem to call for its


s: On the other hand I have not thought it necessary to include


s: the sketch of Goethe's Life that accompanied the First Edition.


s: At the time of its publication, comparatively little was known in


s: avowedly written as a temporary stop-gap, as it were, pending the


s: Goethe. Not to mention other contributions to the literature of


s: the subject, Mr. Lewis's important volumes give the English


s: reader all the information he is likely to require respecting


s: Goethe's career, and my short memoir appeared to be no longer


s: I need scarcely add that I have availed myself of this


s: opportunity to make whatever improvements have suggested


s: themselves to me in my original version of these Poems.


s: To a Golden Heart that he wore round his neck


s: Ballad of the banished and returning Count


s: Death--lament of the noble Wife of Asan Aga


s: To Father Kronos. Written in a Post-chaise


s: Thoughts on Jesus Christ's descent into Hell


s: From Heaven there fell upon the foaming wave


s: The Bequest of the ancient Persian faith


s: From Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship :--


s: In addition to the above, there are nearly 20 minor dramatic


s: In addition to the above, Goethe produced an almost endless


s: number of translations, criticisms, essays, &c.


s: Other than those embraced in the plan of the present volume.


s: Theatrical Prologues and Epilogues (12, including


s: the Epilogue to the Song of the Bell, given in


s: The morn arrived; his footstep quickly scared


s: The gentle sleep that round my senses clung,


s: And I, awak'ning, from my cottage fared,


s: And up the mountain side with light heart sprung;


s: By new-born flow'rs that full of dew-drops hung;


s: And all things quicken'd were, to quicken me.


s: A streaky mist, that upward slowly spread,


s: Then bent, as though my form it would enclose,


s: Then, as on pinions, soar'd above my head:


s: My gaze could now on no fair view repose,


s: in mournful veil conceal'd, the world seem'd dead;


s: The clouds soon closed around me, as a tomb,


s: At once the sun his lustre seem'd to pour,


s: And through the mist was seen a radiant light;


s: Here sank it gently to the ground once more,


s: There parted it, and climb'd o'er wood and height.


s: How did I yearn to greet him as of yore,


s: After the darkness waxing doubly bright!


s: Then blinded by a dazzling glow I stood.


s: A hasty glance with boldness round to throw;


s: At first mine eyes had scarcely strength to see,


s: For all around appear'd to burn and glow.


s: Then saw I, on the clouds borne gracefully,


s: In life I ne'er had seen a form so fair--


s: She gazed at me, and still she hover'd there.


s: "Dost thou not know me?" were the words she said


s: In tones where love and faith were sweetly bound;


s: "Knowest thou not Her who oftentimes hath shed


s: The purest balsam in each earthly wound?


s: Thou knows't me well; thy panting heart I led


s: To join me in a bond with rapture crown'd.


s: Did I not see thee, when a stripling, yearning


s: To welcome me with tears, heartfelt and burning?"


s: "Yes!" I exclaim'd, whilst, overcome with joy,


s: I sank to earth; "I long have worshipp'd thee;


s: Thou gav'st me rest, when passions rack'd the boy,


s: Thy heav'nly pinions thou didst then employ


s: The scorching sunbeams to ward off from me.


s: From thee alone Earth's fairest gifts I gain'd,


s: Through thee alone, true bliss can be obtain'd.


s: "Thy name I know not; yet I hear thee nam'd


s: By many a one who boasts thee as his own;


s: Each eye believes that tow'rd thy form 'tis aim'd,


s: Yet to most eyes thy rays are anguish-sown.


s: Ah! whilst I err'd, full many a friend I claim'd,


s: I needs must veil and hide thy radiance fair.


s: She smiled, and answering said: "Thou see'st how wise,


s: Scarce from the clumsiest cheat are clear'd thine eyes,


s: Scarce hast thou strength thy childish bars to scale,


s: When thou dost rank thee 'mongst the deities,


s: And so man's duties to perform would'st fail!


s: How dost thou differ from all other men?


s: Live with the world in peace, and know thee then!"


s: "Oh, pardon me," I cried, "I meant it well:


s: Not vainly did'st thou bless mine eyes with light;


s: Those treasures in my breast for others dwell,


s: The buried pound no more I'll hide from sight.


s: If hidden from my brethren 'twere to be?"


s: And as I answer'd, tow'rd me turn'd her face,


s: With kindly sympathy, that god-like one;


s: Within her eye full plainly could I trace


s: What I had fail'd in, and what rightly done.


s: She smiled, and cured me with that smile's sweet grace,


s: To draw yet closer, and observe her there.


s: Through the light cloud she then stretch'd forth her hand,


s: At once it seemed to yield to her command,


s: Contracted, and no mist then met mine eye.


s: My glance once more survey'd the smiling land,


s: Nought but a veil of purest white she held,


s: And round her in a thousand folds it swell'd.


s: "I know thee, and I know thy wav'ring will.


s: I know the good that lives and glows in thee!"--


s: Thus spake she, and methinks I hear her still--


s: "The prize long destined, now receive from me;


s: That blest one will be safe from ev'ry ill,


s: Who takes this gift with soul of purity,--"


s: The veil of Minstrelsy from Truth's own hand,


s: Of sunlight and of morn's sweet fragrance plann'd.


s: "And when thou and thy friends at fierce noon-day


s: Are parched with heat, straight cast it in the air!


s: Then Zephyr's cooling breath will round you play,


s: Distilling balm and flowers' sweet incense there;


s: The grave become a bed of clouds so fair,


s: To sing to rest life's billows will be seen,


s: The day be lovely, and the night serene."--


s: Come, then, my friends! and whensoe'er ye find


s: Upon your way increase life's heavy load;


s: If by fresh-waken'd blessings flowers are twin'd


s: Around your path, and golden fruits bestow'd,


s: We'll seek the coming day with joyous mind!


s: Thus blest, we'll live, thus wander on our road


s: And when our grandsons sorrow o'er our tomb,


s: Our love, to glad their bosoms, still shall bloom.


s: * In the cases in which the date is marked thus (*), it


s: signifies the original date of publication--the year of


s: composition not being known. In other cases, the date given is


s: that of the actual composition. All the poems are arranged in the


s: (* The name of a game, known in English as "Jack's alight.")


s: And wherefore shouldst thou catch but me?


s: Would that such moments ne'er would end!


s: Through the fields her clear notes rang:


s: And earth seem'd with me whirling there.


s: as expressing the manner in which his poetical effusions used to


s: COME to the dance with me, come with me, fair one!


s: Dances a feast-day like this may well crown.


s: If thou my sweetheart art not, thou canst be so,


s: But if thou wilt not, we still will dance on.


s: Come to the dance with me, come with me, fair one!


s: Loved one, without thee, what then would all feast be?


s: Sweet one, without thee, what then were the dance?


s: If thou my sweetheart wert not, I would dance not.


s: If thou art still so, all life is one feast.


s: Loved one, without thee, what then would all feasts be?


s: Let them but love, then, and leave us the dancing!


s: Languishing love cannot bear the glad dance.


s: Let us whirl round in the waltz's gay measure,


s: And let them steal to the dim-lighted wood.


s: Let them whirl round, then, and leave us to wander!


s: Cupid, the near one, o'erhears their deriding,


s: Vengeance takes suddenly, vengeance takes soon.


s: Her leg, while her small foot treads on,


s: "Hush!" whisper'd she: "My loved one, hush!


s: But with fresh-strengthen'd longing flies


s: Wouldst thou e'er see those joys unfold.


s: Worthy thy choice,--let her choose thee,


s: When death shall take thee from her side,


s: No diff'rence at the change thoult prove.


s: HALF vex'd, half pleased, thy love will feel,


s: Thou precious gift, thou beauteous prey.


s: How beats thy heart, when thou dost hear


s: How glow'st thou for those lips so dear,


s: Grows, like a night-light, dim and small.


s: WEEP, maiden, weep here o'er the tomb of Love;


s: He died of nothing--by mere chance was slain.


s: But is he really dead?--oh, that I cannot prove:


s: A nothing, a mere chance, oft gives him life again.


s: Brings many a loved friend to our sight,


s: I THINK of thee, whene'er the sun his beams


s: I think  of thee, whene'er the moonlight gleams


s: At midnight's hour, when on the fragile bridge


s: I hear thee, when yon billows rise on high,


s: I'm near thee, though thou far away mayst be--


s: The sun then sets, the stars soon lighten me.


s: The lark high o'er him chaunts his strain:


s: Through bush, through forest, o'er the lea;


s: To break one's word is pleasure-fraught,


s: On to sweet folly's fragile bark once more,


s: No longer will I guard thee from surprise;


s: But, oh, forgive the friend who from thee turns away,


s: THE stones in the streamlet I make my bright pillow,


s: And open my arms to the swift-rolling billow,


s: That lovingly hastens to fall on my breast.


s: Then fickleness soon bids it onwards be flowing;


s: A second draws nigh, its caresses bestowing,--


s: And so by a twofold enjoyment I'm blest.


s: And yet thou art trailing in sorrow and sadness


s: The moments that life, as it flies, gave for gladness,


s: Because by thy love thou'rt remember'd no more!


s: Oh, call back to mind former days and their blisses!


s: The lips of the second will give as sweet kisses


s: As any the lips of the first gave before!


s: QUICK throbb'd my heart: to norse! haste, haste,


s: Where darkness through the thicket broke,


s: The winds their soft wings flutter'd soon,


s: HEART! my heart! what means this feeling?


s: evening after he had taken his last farewell of her.]


s: WHEREFORE drag me to yon glittering eddy,


s: And I dream'd of hours with joy o'erflowing,


s: While thine image so beloved was glowing


s: Now to the card-table hast thou bound me,


s: Spring-flow'rs are to me more rapture-giving,


s: Where thou, angel, art, is Nature living,


s: How this prospect would enchant my sight!


s: Could I find, or here, or there, delight?


s: Move onward, ye sheep, then, move onward!


s: At years like thine, man's blest with strength.


s: That touched the heart's innermost chord,


s: "See with what strength these sinews thrill'd!


s: These bones, what knightly marrow fill'd!


s: which was then about to be terminated for ever.]


s: OH thou token loved of joys now perish'd


s: That I still wear from my neck suspended,


s: Art thou stronger than our spirit-bond so cherish'd?


s: Or canst thou prolong love's days untimely ended?


s: Lily, I fly from thee! I still am doom'd to range


s: Thro' distant vales and woods, link'd on to thee!


s: Ah, Lily's heart could surely never fall


s: As when a bird bath broken from his thrall,


s: Proof of imprisonment he bears behind him,


s: A morsel of the thread once used to bind him;


s: The free-born bird of old no more is seen,


s: How dreary, how dead doth the world still appear,


s: When only half-dried on the eye is the tear!


s: Ilmenau, on the walls of a little hermitage where Goethe composed


s: THE plain with still and wand'ring feet,


s: SHOULD these songs, love, as they fleet,


s: And when Time spreads his fleeting wing,


s: Ye by whom the sea-toss'd sailor's lighted,


s: Who with radiant beams the heav'ns adorn,


s: For ye love not,--ne'er have learnt to love!


s: In the spacious sky your charms displaying,


s: What far travels ye have hasten'd through,


s: Since, within my loved one's arms delaying,


s: THE only one whom, Lida, thou canst love,


s: Thou claim'st, and rightly claim'st, for only thee;


s: He too is wholly thine; since doomed to rove


s: Far from thee, in life's turmoils nought I see


s: Save a thin veil, through which thy form I view,


s: As though in clouds; with kindly smile and true,


s: It cheers me, like the stars eterne that gleam


s: Across the northern-lights' far-flick'ring beam.


s: But soon as night and silence round us reign,


s: moonlight night led to the composition of this sweet song, which


s: was "the dearer to him because he could not say whence it came


s: A little, little boy, yon churchyard past,


s: To Father Vicar's house; the stars on high


s: On all around their beauteous radiance cast,


s: And when, in journeying o'er the path of life,


s: My love I follow'd, as she onward moved,


s: With stars and northern lights o'er head in strife,


s: Going and coming, perfect bliss I proved


s: Until at length the full moon, lustre-fraught,


s: Burst thro' the gloom wherein she was enshrined;


s: And then the willing, active, rapid thought


s: Around the past, as round the future twined,


s: Though my heart with grief throbs wilder,


s: (Not in the English sense of the word, but the German, where it


s: I SLEPT,--'twas midnight,--in my bosom woke,


s: As though 'twere day, my love-o'erflowing heart;


s: To me it seemed like night, when day first broke;


s: What is't to me, whate'er it may impart?


s: She was away; the world's unceasing strife


s: For her alone I suffer'd through the heat


s: At cooling eve!--my guerdon was complete.


s: The sun now set, and wand'ring hand in hand,


s: His last and blissful look we greeted then;


s: While spake our eyes, as they each other scann'd:


s: "From the far east, let's trust, he'll come again!"


s: At midnight!--the bright stars, in vision blest,


s: Guide to the threshold where she slumbers calm:


s: Oh be it mine, there too at length to rest,--


s: Yet howsoe'er this prove, life's full of charm!


s: He who found thee one fair morn in Spring


s: In the wood where thou thy flight didst wing.


s: Hark! flutes' sweet strains and love's refrains


s: Reach the loved one, borne there by the wind,


s: Hark! flutes' sweet strains and love's refrains,


s: Hark!--yet blissful love their echo pains.


s: Raven hair around his smooth brow strays,


s: Happy his breast, with pureness bless'd,


s: And the dark eyes 'neath his eyebrows placed,


s: With full many a beauteous line are graced.


s: Soon as seen, thy love must be confess'd.


s: On his lips morn's fragrant incense lies,


s: Round his lips the cooling Zephyr sighs.


s: With one glance from him, all sorrow's fled.


s: In his soft arms, strength, protection, dwells


s: Blest the one whom those dear arms may woo!


s: Though the wolf's blood might have dyed them;


s: IN the drizzling mist, with the snow high-pil'd,


s: In the Winter night, in the forest wild,


s: I heard the wolves with their ravenous howl,


s: Upon me, at night, seven were-wolves came down,


s: Seven women they were, from out of the town.


s: I knew them all; ay, I knew them straight;


s: First, Anna, then Ursula, Eve, and Kate,


s: Then call'd I their names with angry threat:


s: "What wouldst thou, Anna? What wouldst thou, Bet?"


s: At hearing my voice, themselves they shook,


s: And howling and yelling, to flight they took.


s: in the year 1613, see SCHILLER's History of the Thirty Years'


s: Thy charms fair maids and matrons crown;


s: O'er gardens and o'er well--till'd lands


s: The roofs they smoke, the flames out fly,


s: THE Gesellige Lieder, which I have angicisled as above, as


s: several of them cannot be called convivial songs, are separated


s: by Goethe from his other songs, and I have adhered to the same


s: arrangement. The Ergo bibamus is a well-known drinking song in


s: Germany, where it enjoys vast popularity.


s: If house and land thou seek'st to guard,


s: Coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo!


s: at the time of Goethe's happy connection with Lily.]


s: of the departure for France of the hereditary prince, who was one


s: Here's His health, through Whom we live!


s: I HAVE loved; for the first time with passion I rave!


s: I then was the servant, but now am the slave;


s: By this creature so charming I now am fast bound,


s: To love and love's guerdon she turns all around,


s: l've had faith; for the first time my faith is now strong!


s: And though matters go strangely, though matters go wrong,


s: Though ofttimes 'twas dark and though ofttimes 'twas drear,


s: In the pressure of need, and when danger was near,


s: I have eaten; but ne'er have thus relish'd my food!


s: For when glad are the senses, and joyous the blood,


s: As for youth, it but swallows, then whistles an air;


s: As for me, to a jovial resort I'd repair,


s: I have drunk; but have never thus relish'd the bowl!


s: For wine makes us lords, and enlivens the soul,


s: And loosens the trembling slave's tongue.


s: Let's not seek to spare then the heart-stirring drink,


s: For though in the barrel the old wine may sink,


s: In its place will fast mellow the young.


s: I have danced, and to dancing am pledged by a vow!


s: Though no caper or waltz may be raved about now,


s: In a dance that's becoming, whirl round.


s: And he who a nosegay of flowers has dress'd,


s: And cares not for one any more than the rest,


s: Then once more be merry, and banish all woes!


s: For he who but gathers the blossoming rose.


s: To-day still, as yesterday, glimmers the star;


s: Take care from all heads that hang down to keep far,


s: LEAVE we the pedants to quarrel and strive,


s: Smile, nod, and join in the chorus with me:


s: "Vain 'tis to wait till the dolt grows less silly!


s: Play then the fool with the fool, willy-nilly,--


s: Children of wisdom,--remember the word!"


s: Merlin the old, from his glittering grave,


s: When I, a stripling, once spoke to him,--gave


s: Just the same answer as that I've preferr'd;


s: Must rattle his glass, and in chorus combine,


s: The beds were bad, and strange the food,


s: 'Midst tears at length we go from there,


s: FOR a praiseworthy object we're now gather'd here,


s: Tho' talk may be hush'd, yet the glasses ring clear,


s: In truth 'tis an old, 'tis an excellent word,


s: With its sound so befitting each bosom is stirr'd,


s: And an echo the festal hall filling is heard,


s: I saw mine own love in her beauty so rare,


s: So I gently approach'd, and she let me stand there,


s: While I help'd myself, thinking: BIBAMUS!


s: And when she's appeased, and will clasp you and kiss,


s: Or when those embraces and kisses ye miss,


s: Take refuge, till sound is some worthier bliss,


s: I am call'd by my fate far away from each friend;


s: With wallet light-laden from hence I must wend.


s: Yet regard for the joyous will ever be had,


s: For gladness lends over its charms to the glad,


s: And what shall we say of to-day as it flies?


s: 'Tis one of those truly that seldom arise,


s: For joy through a wide-open portal it guides,


s: Bright glitter the clouds, as the curtain divides,


s: An a form, a divine one, to greet us in glides,


s: THE three holy kings with their star's bright ray,--


s: They eat and they drink, but had rather not pay;


s: They eat and drink, but had rather not pay.


s: The three holy kings have all come here,


s: In number not four, but three they appear;


s: The first am I,--the fair and the white,


s: I ought to be seen when the sun shines bright!


s: But, alas! with all my spices and myrrh,


s: No girl now likes me,--I please not her.


s: Known well to women, known well to song.


s: I like to eat and to drink full measure,


s: I eat and drink, and give thanks with pleasure.


s: The three holy kings are friendly and mild,


s: They seek the Mother, and seek the Child;


s: We're bringing gold, we're bringing myrrh,


s: We three to drink like six are not loth.


s: KNOW'ST thou the land where the fair citron blows,


s: Where the bright orange midst the foliage glows,


s: Where soft winds greet us from the azure skies,


s: Where silent myrtles, stately laurels rise,


s: That I with thee, beloved one, would repair.


s: Know'st thou the house? On columns rests its pile,


s: Its halls are gleaming, and its chambers smile,


s: And marble statues stand and gaze on me:


s: "Poor child! what sorrow hath befallen thee?"


s: That I with thee, protector, would repair!


s: Know'st thou the mountain, and its cloudy bridge?


s: The mule can scarcely find the misty ridge;


s: In caverns dwells the dragon's olden brood,


s: The frowning crag obstructs the raging flood.


s: Our path lies--Father--thither, oh repair!


s: Star placed by star! What heavenly sight!


s: The minstrel straightway closed his eyes,


s: The knights look'd on in knightly guise,


s: The bowl he raised, the bowl he quaff'd:


s: Oh, house thrice-blest, where such a draught


s: the old tradition which forms the subject of this Ballad, but he


s: OH, enter old minstrel, thou time-honour'd one!


s: We children are here in the hall all alone,


s: Our mother is praying, our father is gone


s: Oh sing us a ballad, the tale then repeat,


s: We long have been hoping a minstrel to meet,


s: "At midnight, when darkness its fearful veil weaves,


s: His lofty and stately old castle he leaves,


s: What figure is that in his arms one perceives,


s: As the Count quits the gateway by stealth?


s: O'er what is his mantle so hastily thrown?


s: A daughter it is, and she gently sleeps on"--


s: "The morning soon glimmers. the world is so wide,


s: In valleys and forests a home is supplied,


s: Thus lives he and wanders, while years onward glide,


s: But the maiden so fair in his arms grows amain,


s: 'Neath her star all-protecting and bright,


s: Secured in the mantle from wind and from rain--"


s: "And year upon year with swift footstep now steals,


s: The mantle it fades, many rents it reveals,


s: The father he sees her, what rapture he feels!


s: How worthy she seems of the race whence she springs,


s: What wealth to her dearly-loved father she brings!"--


s: "Then comes there a princely knight galloping by,


s: She stretches her hand out, as soon as he's nigh,


s: He seizes her hand, with a smile in his eye:


s: 'Thou art mine!' he exclaims, 'while I live!'


s: 'When thou know'st,' cries the old man, 'the treasure that's


s: Betroth'd be she now, on this spot green and fair--'"


s: "So she's bless'd by the priest on the hallowed place,


s: And she goes with a smiling but sorrowful face,


s: From her father she fain would not part.


s: The old man still wanders with ne'er-changing pace,


s: So I think of my daughter, as years pass away,


s: I bless them by night, and I bless them by day"--


s: He blesses the children: a knocking they hear,


s: The father it is! They spring forward in fear,


s: "Thou beggar, wouldst lure, then, my children so dear?


s: Straight seize him, ye vassals of steel!


s: To the dungeon most deep, with the fool-hardy knave!"


s: She hastens with flatt'ring entreaty to crave--


s: The vassals they suffer the Bard to stand there,


s: And mother and children implore him to spare,


s: 'Till driven to fury at hearing their prayer,


s: "Thou pitiful race! Oh, thou beggarly crew!


s: Ye'll bring me destruction, ye sorely shall rue!"


s: The old man still stands there with dignified mien,


s: The vassals of steel quake before him, I ween,


s: "My wedded existence a curse long has been,


s: And these are the fruits from that flower!


s: 'Tis ever denied, and the saying is true,


s: That to wed with the base-born is right;


s: The beggar has borne me a beggarly crew,--"


s: "If the husband, the father, thus treats you with scorn,


s: If the holiest bonds by him rashly are torn,


s: The beggar may gladden life's pathway forlorn,


s: This castle is mine! thou hast made it thy prey,


s: The tokens I bear will confirm what I say"--


s: "The king who erst govern'd returneth again,


s: And restores to the Faithful the goods that were ta'en,


s: The laws shall be gentle, and peaceful the reign"--


s: "Take courage, my son! all hath turned out for good,


s: Those the princess hath borne thee are princely in blood,"--


s: She laugh'd and wept, and vow'd and pray'd,


s: He saw his sweetheart 'midst the throng,


s: Wrapp'd up in grave-clothes white and long;


s: (* This ballad is introduced in Act II. of Claudine of Villa


s: Bella, where it is suddenly broken off, as it is here.)


s: WHO rides there so late through the night dark and drear?


s: The father it is, with his infant so dear;


s: He holdeth the boy tightly clasp'd in his arm,


s: He holdeth him safely, he keepeth him warm.


s: "My son, wherefore seek'st thou thy face thus to hide?"


s: "Look, father, the Erl-King is close by our side!


s: Dost see not the Erl-King, with crown and with train?"


s: "My son, 'tis the mist rising over the plain."


s: "Oh, come, thou dear infant! oh come thou with me!


s: Full many a game I will play there with thee;


s: On my strand, lovely flowers their blossoms unfold,


s: My mother shall grace thee with garments of gold."


s: "My father, my father, and dost thou not hear


s: The words that the Erl-King now breathes in mine ear?"


s: "Be calm, dearest child, 'tis thy fancy deceives;


s: 'Tis the sad wind that sighs through the withering leaves."


s: "Wilt go, then, dear infant, wilt go with me there?


s: My daughters shall tend thee with sisterly care


s: My daughters by night their glad festival keep,


s: They'll dance thee, and rock thee, and sing thee to sleep."


s: "My father, my father, and dost thou not see,


s: How the Erl-King his daughters has brought here for me?"


s: "My darling, my darling, I see it aright,


s: 'Tis the aged grey willows deceiving thy sight."


s: "I love thee, I'm charm'd by thy beauty, dear boy!


s: And if thou'rt unwilling, then force I'll employ."


s: "My father, my father, he seizes me fast,


s: Full sorely the Erl-King has hurt me at last."


s: The father now gallops, with terror half wild,


s: He grasps in his arms the poor shuddering child;


s: He reaches his courtyard with toil and with dread,--


s: The child in his arms finds he motionless, dead.


s: belonging to the village of Brienen, who perished on the 13th of


s: January, 1809, whilst giving help on the occasion of the breaking


s: "I'll bear thee, mother, across the swell,


s: 'Tis not yet high, I can wade right well."


s: "Remember us too! in what danger are we!


s: The trembling woman!--Thou'rt going away!"


s: "Quick! haste to the mound, and awhile there wait,


s: I'll soon return, and all will be straight.


s: The mound's close by, and safe from the wet;


s: She places the mother safe on the shore;


s: Fair Susan then turns tow'rd the flood once more.


s: "Oh whither? Oh whither? The breadth fast grows,


s: Both here and there the water o'erflows.


s: Wilt venture, thou rash one, the billows to brave?"


s: Fair Susan returns by the way she had tried,


s: The waves roar around, but she turns not aside;


s: She reaches the mound, and the neighbour straight,


s: But for her and the children, alas, too late!


s: The foaming abyss gapes wide, and whirls round,


s: The women and children are borne to the ground;


s: The horn of the goat by one is seized fast,


s: Fair Susan still stands-there, untouch'd by the wave;


s: The youngest, the noblest, oh, who now will save?


s: Fair Susan still stands there, as bright as a star,


s: But, alas! all hope, all assistance is far.


s: To save her, no bark pushes off from the shore.


s: Her gaze once again she lifts up to Heaven,


s: Then gently away by the flood she is driven.


s: The rushing water the wilderness covers,


s: Yet Susan's image still o'er it hovers.--


s: Fair Susan's lamented with many a tear,--


s: Be neglected in life and in death as well!


s: Shines not with twofold charms their face,


s: The deep, deep heavens, then lure thee not,--


s: (* This ballad is also introduced in Faust, where it is sung by


s: Though from this castle's walls so steep


s: But still thou'rt not the flower whose grace


s: Yet what can make the Count's heart glow


s: THE tale of the Count our glad song shall record


s: Where now ye are feasting the new-married lord,


s: The Count as Crusader had blazon'd his fame,


s: Through many a triumph exalted his name,


s: And when on his steed to his dwelling he came,


s: 'Tis true that thou, Count, hast return'd to thy home,


s: The winds through the chambers at liberty roam,


s: What's best to be done in a cold autumn night?


s: Full many I've pass'd in more piteous plight;


s: The morn ever settles the matter aright.


s: Then quick, while the moon shines so clear,


s: And whilst in a soft pleasing slumber he lay,


s: The rat, an he likes it, may rattle away!


s: But lo! there appears a diminutive wight,


s: A dwarf 'tis, yet graceful, and bearing a light,


s: With orator-gestures that notice invite,


s: "We've long been accustom'd to hold here our feast,


s: And as we believed thou wert far in the East,


s: And if thou'lt allow it, and seek not to chide,


s: We dwarfs will all banquet with pleasure and pride,


s: To honour the wealthy, the beautiful bride


s: Says the Count with a smile, half-asleep;--


s: Three knights then advance, riding all in a group,


s: And then is a singing and noise-making troop


s: And waggon on waggon with all kinds of things--


s: The clatter they cause through the ear loudly rings--


s: The like ne'er was seen save in castles of kings;


s: Then all at full gallop make haste to advance,


s: With whirling and waltzing, and light joyous dance,


s: They begin with their sweethearts the ball.


s: The fife and the fiddle all merrily sound,


s: Thy twine, and they glide, and with nimbleness bound,


s: Thy whisper, and chatter, and, chatter around;


s: They hustle, and bustle, and rattle away


s: Then all who had joined in the festival gay


s: With their partners attempt to grow cool.


s: The hams and the sausages nimbly they bear,


s: And meat, fish, and poultry in plenty are there,


s: Surrounded with wine of the vintage most rare:


s: And if we're to sing all that further occurr'd,


s: For what he so gladly in small saw and heard


s: For trumpets, and singing, and shouts without end


s: On the bridal-train, chariots and horsemen attend,


s: They come and appear, and they bow and they bend,


s: THE father's name ye ne'er shall be told


s: "Shame, shame," ye cry, "on the strumpet bold!"


s: To whom I'm wedded, ye ne'er shall be told,


s: We'll go there, o'urselves from his rays to hide,


s: And then in some glade all-verdant and deep--


s: Within mine arms thou gently wilt sleep.


s: Since I have seen the miller's daughter,


s: Like others, then, can grief, poor brook,


s: "Flow on!"--thus she'll, with smiling look,


s: Perchance some day thou'lt breathe of love


s: Throughout the night, that endless seem'd,


s: Sweet flowers for sixteen years alone.--


s: "Then I sprang up, and raved, and swore,


s: What's this thou singest so falsely, forsooth,


s: She dreads no more the threats of her mother,


s: She dreads far less the blows of her brother,


s: Of selfishness sing and treacherous lies,


s: Such actions false will cause no surprise,


s: When  they share their booty, both clothes and purse,--


s: Her face and eyes were radiant and bright,


s: And the maid of the mill was disclosed to the sight


s: Thou sweetest, fairest, dearly-loved life!


s: But blows I dread not, nor sharp-edged knife,--


s: By whom hast thou now to awake from thy sleep


s: If still with as fond and heartfelt love,


s: As thou once didst swear, I'm cherish'd,


s: Then nought of the rapture we used to prove


s: So take the woman so dear to thy breast!


s: In her young and innocent charms be blest,


s: Now, sun, sink to rest! Now, sun, arise!


s: As long as the fountain may spring and run,


s: CANST thou give, oh fair and matchless maiden,


s: 'Neath the shadow of the lindens yonder,--


s: Where I'd fain one moment cease to wander,--


s: Wouldst thou find refreshment, traveller weary,


s: Bread, ripe fruit and cream to meet thy wishes,--


s: None but Nature's plain and homely dishes,--


s: Near the spring may soothe thy wanderings dreary.


s: Dreams of old acquaintance now pass through me,


s: Ne'er-forgotten queen of hours of blisses.


s: Likenesses I've often found, but this is


s: But their wonder soon see cause to smother;


s: Fair and dark are often like each other,


s: Both inspire the mind with equal pleasure.


s: It was brightest midst the constellation


s: In the hail adorn'd with festal splendour.


s: To complete thy strange and merry story!


s: Floated, when thou saw'st her in that hour.


s: No, in truth, thou hast not sung it rightly!


s: Spirits may have told thee all about it;


s: Pearls and gems they spoke of, do not doubt it,--


s: By her gaze eclipsed,--it gleam'd so brightly!


s: That the fair one--(say nought, I entreat thee!)


s: Seeking gold and honour, too, to capture!


s: When my wand'rings end, then oh, what rapture,


s: 'Tis the daughter of the race now banish'd


s: Helen and her brother, glad though lonely,


s: Till this farm of their estate now vanish'd.


s: Of these plains, with ev'ry beauty teeming?


s: Verdant fields, broad meads, and pastures gleaming,


s: Gushing springs, all heav'nly and enchanting.


s: Thou must hunt the world through, wouldst thou find him!--


s: We have wealth enough in our possession,


s: When the good man leaves the world behind him.


s: I have learnt the owner's own condition,


s: And, fair maiden, thou indeed canst buy it;


s: But the cost is great, I won't deny it,--


s: Helen is the price,--with thy permission!


s: And must Love take this road, and no other?


s: Yonder comes my dear and trusty brother;


s: THE queen in the lofty hall takes her place,


s: She speaks to the page: "With a nimble pace


s: The fairest of maidens was sipping sherbet


s: Near her mouth broke the cup,--and she got so wet!


s: The boy was returning, and quickly came,


s: None knew of the fact,--and yet with Love's flame,


s: With kisses that well nigh might smother.


s: To reach the queen the page hies him fast,


s: Midst the swords and the fans crowded thickly.


s: To her chief attendant she forthwith cried


s: And thou didst assert, with obstinate pride,


s: That the spirit through space never wended,--


s: That afar nought was fashion'd--not even


s: "Now see! while a goblet beside me they drain'd,


s: They spilt all the drink in the chalice;


s: And straightway the boy had his waistcoat stain'd


s: It waddles fast, though strange it seem;


s: "OH, would we were further! Oh, would we were home,


s: The phantoms of night tow'rd us hastily come,


s: They hitherward speed, and on finding us here,


s: They'll drink, though with toil we have fetch'd it, the beer,


s: Thus speaking, the children with fear take to flight,


s: When sudden an old man appears in their sight:


s: From hunting they come, and their thirst they would still,


s: So leave them to swallow as much as they will,


s: And the Evil Ones then will be gracious."


s: As said, so 'twas done! and the phantoms draw near,


s: And shadowlike seem they, and grey they appear,


s: The beer has all vanish'd, the pitchers are void;


s: With cries and with shouts the wild hunters, o'erjoy'd,


s: Speed onward o'er vale and o'er mountain.


s: The children in terror fly nimbly tow'rd home,


s: And with them the kind one is careful to come:


s: "They'll blame us and beat us, until we are dead."--


s: "No, no! ye will find that all goes well," he said;


s: "And he by whose counsels thus wisely ye're taught,


s: Is he who with children loves ever to sport.


s: Ye have heard of the wonder for many a day,


s: But ne'er had a proof of the marvellous lay,--


s: Your hands hold a proof most convincing."


s: They arrive at their home, and their pitchers they place


s: By the side of their parents, with fear on their face,


s: But see what they're tasting: the choicest of beer!


s: Though three times and four times they quaff the good cheer


s: The marvel it lasts till the dawning of day;


s: All people who hear of it doubtless will say:


s: "What happen'd at length to the pitchers?"


s: In secret the children they smile, as they wait;


s: At last, though, they stammer, and stutter, and prate,


s: And straightway the pitchers were empty.


s: And if, children, with kindness address'd ye may be,


s: Whether father, or master, or alderman he,


s: And if 'tis unpleasant to bridle the tongue,


s: Yet talking is bad, silence good for the young--


s: And then will the beer fill your pitchers!


s: THE warder looks down at the mid hour of night,


s: The moon fills the place with her silvery light,


s: And the churchyard like day seems to glow.


s: When see! first one grave, then another opes wide,


s: And women and men stepping forth are descried,


s: In haste for the sport soon their ankles they twitch,


s: The young and the old, and the poor, and the rich,


s: And as modesty cannot avail them aught here,


s: They shake themselves all, and the shrouds soon appear


s: Now waggles the leg, and now wriggles the thigh,


s: As the troop with strange gestures advance,


s: And a rattle and clatter anon rises high,


s: The sight to the warder seems wondrously queer,


s: When the villainous Tempter speaks thus in his ear:


s: "Seize one of the shrouds that lie yonder!"


s: Quick as thought it was done! and for safety he fled


s: The moon still continues her clear light to shed


s: But the dancers at length disappear one by one,


s: And their shrouds, ere they vanish, they carefully don,


s: But one of them stumbles and shuffles there still,


s: Yet 'tis by no comrade he's treated so ill


s: So he rattles the door--for the warder 'tis well


s: That 'tis bless'd, and so able the foe to repel,


s: The shroud he must have, and no rest will allow,


s: On the ornaments Gothic the wight seizes now,


s: And from point on to point hastes to climb.


s: Alas for the warder! his doom is decreed!


s: Like a long-legged spider, with ne'er-changing speed,


s: The warder he quakes, and the warder turns pale,


s: When the end,--now can nothing to save him avail,--


s: With vanishing lustre the moon's race is run,


s: When the bell thunders loudly a powerful One,


s: And the skeleton fails, crush'd to atoms.


s: friendly contest in the art of ballad-writing between the two


s: great poets, to which many of their finest works are owing.]


s: From a certain townsman there might claim,


s: Should thereafter bride and bridegroom be.


s: Save tis dearly bought, now hope to get?


s: They are Christians and have been baptized,


s: Love and truth to root out oft will threat.


s: Bidding him good night. she leaves him straight.


s: Meat and drink forgets the wearied youth,


s: And, still dress'd, he lays him on the bed.


s: Through the open door with silent tread.


s: With a black and gold band round her brow,


s: "Am I," cries she, "such a stranger here,


s: That the guest's approach they could not name?


s: Well nigh feel I vanquish'd by my shame.


s: "Stay, thou fairest maiden!" cries the boy,


s: Starting from his couch with eager haste:


s: "Here are Ceres', Bacchus' gifts of joy;


s: Prove the raptures the Immortals taste."


s: "From the house, so silent now, are driven


s: All the gods who reign'd supreme of yore;


s: While his eager soul drinks in each sound:


s: Stands my loved one on this silent ground?


s: With Heav'ns blessing will our love be crown'd."


s: And thoult find that joy is not yet flown,


s: Then exchange they tokens of their truth;


s: Now the ghostly hour of midnight knell'd,


s: And she seem'd right joyous at the sign;


s: But she drank of nought but blood-red wine.


s: Nought he spoke could make the maid incline.


s: To the youth the goblet then she brought,--


s: Love to crown the silent feast he sought,


s: Ah! full love-sick was the stripling's soul.


s: And she comes, and lays her near the boy:


s: If thou think'st to clasp my form with joy,


s: Thou must learn this secret sad to know;


s: Is as cold as ice, though white as snow."


s: While love's youthful might pervades his frame:


s: "Thou might'st hope, when with me, to grow warm,


s: Dost not thou, like me, feel passion's flame?"


s: Love still closer rivets now their lips,


s: Tears they mingle with their rapture blest,


s: From his mouth the flame she wildly sips,


s: Each is with the other's thought possess'd.


s: In her care to see that nought went wrong,


s: At the door long hearkens she, full long,


s: Wond'ring at the sounds that greet her ear.


s: When the night returns!"--then kiss on kiss.


s: But unfastens straight the lock with ease


s: "In this house are girls become so bold,


s: As to seek e'en strangers' lusts to please?"


s: Sight of horror!--'tis her child she sees.


s: Fain the youth would, in his first alarm,


s: With the veil that o'er her had been spread,


s: With the carpet, shield his love from harm;


s: But she casts them from her, void of dread,


s: "Mother! mother!"--Thus her wan lips say:


s: While the blessings and the chaunting sounds


s: That your priests delight in, useless prove.


s: Ah, e'en Earth can never cool down love!


s: "When that infant vow of love was spoken,


s: Mother! thou that promise since hast broken,


s: Still to seek The Good's long-sever'd link,


s: Still to love the bridegroom I have lost,


s: And the life-blood of his heart to drink;


s: And the young must 'neath my vengeance sink,


s: "Beauteous youth! no longer mayst thou live;


s: Let a funeral pile be straightway dress'd;


s: That the flames may give the lovers rest!


s: To the gods of old we'll hasten, blest."


s: (MAHADEVA is one of the numerous names of Seeva, the destroyer,--


s: And when he the town as a trav'ller hath seen,


s: Observing the mighty, regarding the mean,


s: He quits it, to go on his journey, at eve.


s: The cymbal she hastens to play for the dance,


s: Well skill'd in its mazes the sight to entrance,


s: Then by her with grace is the nosegay bestow'd.


s: She busily seeks his feign'd suff'rings to ease;


s: Then smiles the Immortal; with pleasure he sees


s: That with kindness a heart so corrupted can beat.


s: But sharper and sharper the maiden to prove,


s: The Discerner of all things below and above,


s: Feigns pleasure, and horror, and maddening pain.


s: And so the bright hours with gladness prepare


s: Their dark, pleasing veil of a texture so fair,


s: And over the couch softly, tranquilly reign.


s: Then hears she the priests and the funeral song,


s: Then madly she runs, and she severs the throng:


s: "Why press tow'rd the pile thus? Why scream thus, and rave?"


s: The priests chaunt in chorus: "We bear out the old,


s: When long they've been weary, and late they've grown cold:


s: We bear out the young, too, so thoughtless and light.


s: Ye trumpets, your sacred lament haste to raise


s: Oh, welcome, ye gods, the bright lustre of days!


s: Oh, welcome to heaven the youth from the flame!"


s: In the sinner repentant the Godhead feels joy;


s: Immortals delight thus their might to employ.


s: Lost children to raise to a heavenly place.


s: But thou, Brama, thou shouldst prize us,


s: rhymeless trochaic metre in this and in many other Poems will


s: Brings she back refreshments precious;--


s: When she sees him, straightway feels she


s: And, perplex'd, she bends her flood-wards


s: Can she think, when thought and counsel,


s: Thou thy wife perchance might'st slaughter,


s: WHAT is yonder white thing in the forest?


s: Is it snow, or can it swans perchance be?


s: Were it snow, ere this it had been melted,


s: Were it swans, they all away had hastend.


s: Snow, in truth, it is not, swans it is not,


s: Bashfully his wife delays to come there.


s: When the torment of his wounds had lessen'd,


s: To his faithful wife he sent this message:


s: At my court, or e'en amongst my people."


s: When the woman heard this cruel message,


s: Mute and full of sorrow stood that true one.


s: At the doors she hears the feet of horses,


s: And bethinks that Asan comes--her husband,


s: To the tower she springs, to leap thence headlong,


s: And whilst weeping bitter tears, exclaim they:


s: Clasps her arms in anguish round her brother:


s: "See thy sister's sad disgrace, oh brother!


s: How I'm banish'd--mother of five children!"


s: Wrapp'd in deep red-silk, and ready written,


s: Draweth forth the letter of divorcement,


s: To return home to her mother's dwelling,


s: Free to be another's wife thenceforward.


s: When the woman saw that mournful letter,


s: Fervently she kiss'd her two sons' foreheads,


s: And her two girls' cheeks with fervour kiss'd she,


s: Could not tear herself, so deep her sorrow!


s: So she's torn thence by her fiery brother,


s: On his nimble steed he lifts her quickly,


s: And so hastens, with the heart-sad woman,


s: Straightway tow'rd his father's lofty dwelling.


s: Short the time was--seven days had pass'd not,--


s: Sought the woman in her widow's-mourning.


s: Sought the woman,--as their wife they sought her.


s: And the woman weeping begg'd her brother:


s: By thy life, my brother, I entreat thee,


s: Of my poor, my dearly-cherish'd children!"


s: To her prayer her brother would not hearken,


s: Yet the good one ceaselessly implored him:


s: "Send, at least a letter, oh, my brother,


s: 'The young widow sends thee friendly greeting;


s: Earnestly she prays thee, through this letter,


s: That, when thou com'st hither, with thy Suatians,


s: A long veil thou'lt bring me, 'neath whose shadow


s: I may hide, when near the house of Asan,


s: And not see my dearly cherish'd orphans.'"


s: Than he gather'd all his Suatians round him,


s: And then tow'rd the bride his course directed,


s: And the veil she ask'd for, took he with him.


s: Happily they reach'd the princess' dwelling,


s: But when they approach'd the house of Asan,


s: Lo! the children saw from high their mother,


s: And they shouted: "To thy halls return thou!


s: Eat thy supper with thy darling children!"


s: Tow'rd the Suatian prince then turn'd she, saying:


s: "Let, I pray, the Suatians and the horses


s: At the loved ones' door a short time tarry,


s: That I may give presents to my children."


s: And before the loved ones' door they tarried,


s: And she presents gave to her poor children,


s: To the boys gave gold-embroider'd buskins,


s: To the girls gave long and costly dresses,


s: To the suckling, helpless in the cradle,


s: For your mother's breast is turn'd to iron,


s: Lock'd for ever, closed to all compassion!"


s: When the wife of Asan heard him speak thus,


s: On the ground, all pale and trembling, fell she,


s: And her spirit fled her sorrowing bosom,


s: When she saw her children flying from her.


s: THE Poems composed by Goethe under this title are five in


s: number, of which three are here given. The other two are entirely


s: them is a Requiem on the Prince de Ligne, who died in 1814, and


s: whom Goethe calls "the happiest man of the century," and the


s: other was composed in honour of the 70th birthday of his friend


s: Zelter the composer, when Goethe was himself more than 79 (1828).


s: When wreath'd for a friend dear and kind.


s: A village Chorus is supposed to be assembled, and about to


s: Oh, how I yearn from out the crowd to flee!


s: What joy a secret glade would give to me!


s: Confined the plain, the breezes e'en appear.


s: fainter, till it dies away in the distance.]


s: In vain ye call, in vain would lure me on;


s: True my heart speaks,--but with itself alone.


s: Thou hast'nest not to join the festal throng?


s: Thou'rt welcome, friend! but suffer me to roam


s: Where these old beeches hide me from man's view:


s: But homage thou must share with all, believe me!


s: Yes, they come; their course they're bending


s: Tow'rd the wood's green sward so bright.


s: to music by Winter, the Prince singing the part of Rinaldo.--See


s: (* See Tasso's Gerusalemme Liberata, Canto XVI.)


s: Oh, let me linger one short moment here!


s: 'Tis heaven's decree, I may not hence away.


s: The rugged cliffs, the wood-encircled bay,


s: Hold me a prisoner, and my flight delay.


s: Ye were so fair, but now that dream is o'er;


s: The charms of earth, the charms of heaven are nought.


s: What keeps me in this spot so terror-fraught?


s: Through and through with flames are glowing!


s: THESE are the most singular of all the Poems of Goethe, and to


s: many will appear so wild and fantastic, as to leave anything but


s: a pleasing impression. Those at the beginning, addressed to his


s: friend Behrisch, were written at the age of eighteen, and most of


s: Despite, however, the extravagance of some of them, such as the


s: Winter Journey over the Hartz Mountains, and the Wanderer's


s: Storm-Song, nothing can be finer than the noble one entitled


s: Mahomet's Song, and others, such as the Spirit Song' over the


s: Waters, The God-like, and, above all, the magnificent sketch of


s: Prometheus, which forms part of an unfinished piece bearing the


s: same name, and called by Goethe a 'Dramatic Fragment.'


s: tutor to Count Lindenau, and of whom Goethe gives an odd account


s: Each bar then is broken, I'm free then as thou!


s: entitled Mahomet, the plan of which was not carried out by


s: Goethe. He mentions that it was to have been sung by Ali towards


s: the end of the piece, in honor of his master, Mahomet, shortly


s: before his death, and when at the height of his glory, of which


s: 'Neath his footsteps spring the flowers,


s: Leaves the towers' flame-tipp'd summits,


s: ode in any way intelligible. The Poet is supposed to leave his


s: companions, who are proceeding on a hunting expedition in winter,


s: also to see the mining in the Hartz mountains. The ode


s: alternately describes, in a very fragmentary and peculiar manner,


s: unhappiness of his friend; it pictures the wildness of the road


s: and the dreariness of the prospect, which is relieved at one spot


s: his companions have gone; and after an address to Love, concludes


s: Which thou from the veins of thy brethren


s: (* In the original, Schwager, which has the twofold meaning of


s: of several strange hymns and dithyrambs composed by him at a


s: period of great unhappiness, when the love-affair between him and


s: wandering wildly about the country. This particular one was


s: caused by his being caught in a tremendous storm on one of these


s: Thou wilt shelter with thy guardian wing


s: Ye are pure, like the heart of the water,


s: And brightly gleaming, warmth-spreading fire?


s: Then thy soul was brightly glowing, Pindar--


s: MANY a day and night my bark stood ready laden;


s: Waiting fav'ring winds, I sat with true friends round me,


s: And they spoke thus with impatience twofold:


s: In the distant world is waiting for thee,


s: In our arms thoult find thy prize, and love too,


s: And the sailors' joyous shouts awoke us;


s: All was stirring, all was living, moving,


s: Bent on sailing with the first kind zephyr.


s: And the sails soon in the breeze are swelling,


s: Fill'd the sails are, clouds on high are floating,


s: On the shore each friend exulting raises


s: Joy the voyage through, as on the morn of sailing,


s: And the earliest starry nights so radiant.


s: But by God-sent changing winds ere long he's driven


s: Sideways from the course he had intended,


s: And he feigns as though he would surrender,


s: While he gently striveth to outwit them,


s: To his goal, e'en when thus press'd, still faithful.


s: But from out the damp grey distance rising,


s: Softly now the storm proclaims its advent,


s: Presseth down each bird upon the waters,


s: Presseth down the throbbing hearts of mortals.


s: With the anguish-laden ball are sporting


s: And on yonder shore are gather'd standing,


s: Friends and lovers, trembling for the bold one:


s: "Why, alas, remain'd he here not with us!


s: Must the good one perish in this fashion?


s: Might not he perchance.... Ye great immortals!"


s: Yet he, like a man, stands by his rudder;


s: With the bark are sporting wind and water,


s: Wind and water sport not with his bosom:


s: On the fierce deep looks he, as a master,--


s: In his gods, or shipwreck'd, or safe landed,


s: IN search of prey once raised his pinions


s: Throughout three long, three weary nights;


s: While in his noble eye there gleams a tear.


s: Then, rustling through the myrtle boughs, behold,


s: Hast thou not pleasure in the golden bough


s: That shields thee from the day's fierce glow?


s: Canst thou not raise thy breast to catch,


s: Here thou mayst wander through the flowers' fresh dew,


s: "Oh, wise one!" said the eagle, while he sank


s: My cottage too, which was not raised by thee;


s: (* Aganippe--A spring in Boeotia, which arose out of Mount


s: Helicon, and was sacred to Apollo and the Muses.)


s: honour of his love Lily, as being "designed to change his


s: surrender of her into despair, by drolly-fretful images."]


s: She keeps the strangest creatures in it,


s: And their clipp'd pinions wildly wave,--


s: What is the fairy's name?--Is't Lily?--Ask not me!


s: Give thanks to Heaven if she's unknown to thee.


s: Alive all the trees and the bushes appear,


s: While to her feet whole troops draw near;


s: Splash with impatience and their heads protrude;


s: With such a look!--the very gods delighting


s: (To say nought of beasts). There begins, then, a biting,


s: And each o'er the legs of another is tripping,


s: And pushing, and pressing, and flapping,


s: To which, though dry, her fair hands give a taste,


s: As though it in ambrosia had been plac'd.


s: Would draw Jove's eagle from his throne;


s: Soon as that tone had reach'd them through the air.


s: (Up to a certain point, be't understood!)


s: She seem'd to be! I would have drain'd my blood


s: "Thou sayest: I! Who? How? And where?"--


s: Well, to be plain, good Sirs--I am the bear;


s: I'm laughed at by each trim and upstart tree


s: And roll myself half dead, and foam, and cry,


s: In all my members blissful feelings reign!


s: 'Tis she who singeth yonder in her bower!


s: I hear that darling, darling voice again.


s: The air is warm, and teems with fragrance clear,


s: Sings she perchance for me alone to hear?


s: I haste, and trample down the shrubs amain;


s: The trees make way, the bushes all retreat,


s: She looks at him: "The monster's droll enough!


s: Upon his back she gently strokes her foot;


s: What feelings through his seven senses shoot!


s: She suffers it; my ears then tickles she,


s: Then speaks she in a sweet vain jest, I wot


s: She doth a flask of balsam-fire possess,


s: One drop of which she'll on her finger take,


s: When soften'd by his love and faithfulness,


s: Wherewith her monster's raging thirst to slake;


s: Then leaves me to myself, and flies at last,


s: The hapless creature thus tormenteth she,


s: Ha! oft half-open'd does she leave the door for me,


s: And sideways looks to learn if I will fly or no.


s: Can end the spell that's o'er me thrown;


s: Free me, and gratitude my heart will fill;


s: And yet from heaven ye send me down no aid--


s: Not quite in vain doth life my limbs pervade:


s: Charlotte, I remember, we remember thee,


s: Well 'tis that thy worth I rightly knew,--


s: While the first impression fill'd me yet,


s: Call'd thee then a girl both good and true.


s: Rear'd in silence, calmly, knowing nought,


s: Hundred thousand billows round us sport;


s: Many grieve us, and as hour on hour is stealing,


s: First we feel, and then we find each feeling


s: By the changeful world-stream borne away.


s: Ah! 'twould fain be understood, 'twould fain o'erflow


s: In some creature's fellow-feelings blest,


s: And, with trust, in twofold measure know


s: All the grief and joy in Nature's breast.


s: But in vain, for all seems closed for ever.


s: Thus the fairest part of life is madly pass'd


s: Which, 'mid all thy pleasures and thy pains,


s: Thus found I thee, and gladly went to meet thee;


s: And pray'd that Heaven with purest bliss might greet thee,


s: Which in thy friend it richly hath supplied.


s: WHO will hear me? Whom shall I lament to?


s: Who would pity me that heard my sorrows?


s: Used to taste, and used to give responsive,


s: By my mistress having caught me fiercely,


s: To secure her friend more firmly to her:


s: By the winds, o'er rime and frost proceeding,


s: Pointed, sharp, unloving, having met me.


s: Now the noble grape's bright juice commingled


s: With the bee's sweet juice, upon the fire


s: Of my hearth, shall ease me of my torment.


s: Ah, what use will all this be, if with it


s: Bring the lamp's soft glimm'ring lustre,


s: When at length return'd the spring-time,


s: That chains down the youth so strongly!"


s: Tell me what great sin have I committed,


s: That thou keep'st me to the rack thus fasten'd,


s: That thou hast thy solemn promise broken?


s: 'Twas but yestere'en that thou with fondness


s: Press'd my hand, and these sweet accents murmured:


s: "Yes, I'll come, I'll come when morn approacheth,


s: Come, my friend, full surely to thy chamber."


s: On the latch I left my doors, unfasten'd,


s: Having first with care tried all the hinges,


s: And rejoic'd right well to find they creak'd not.


s: For I watch'd, and ev'ry chime I number'd;


s: If perchance I slept a few short moments,


s: Yes, then bless'd I night's o'erhanging darkness,


s: That so calmly cover'd all things round me;


s: If perchance the slightest sounds were stirring.


s: "Had she only thoughts, my thoughts resembling,


s: Had she only feelings, like my feelings,


s: She would not await the dawn of morning.


s: But, ere this, would surely have been with me."


s: Scratch'd a mouse a panel in the corner,


s: Was there in the house the slightest motion,


s: Ever thought I that I heard thee coming.


s: And both here and there were signs of movement.


s: Looking tow'rd the door, now half-apparent,


s: Both the wings upon the latch continued,


s: And the day grew bright and brighter ever;


s: And I heard my neighbour's door unbolted,


s: And ere long I heard the waggons rumbling,


s: While the market-place, in ev'ry corner,


s: Teem'd with life and bustle and confusion.


s: Up and down the stairs, and doors were creaking


s: Backwards now, now forwards,--footsteps clatter'd


s: Yet, as though it were a thing all-living,


s: From my cherish'd hope I could not tear me.


s: When at length the sun, in hated splendour.


s: Up I sprang, and hasten'd to the garden,


s: There to blend my breath, so hot and yearning,


s: With the cool refreshing morning breezes,


s: And, it might be, even there to meet thee:


s: FAIN had I to-day surprised my mistress,


s: But soon found I that her door was fasten'd.


s: When I found her wrapp'd in pleasing slumbers,


s: While at work had slumber stolen o'er her;


s: And held counsel, whether I should wake her.


s: On her cheeks had loveliness its dwelling,


s: All her limbs were gracefully reclining,


s: Set at rest by sweet and godlike balsam.


s: Held the strong desire I felt to wake her


s: Firmer and firmer down, with mystic fetters.


s: "Oh, thou love," methought, "I see that slumber,


s: Slumber that betrayeth each false feature,


s: That could serve to harm thy friend's soft feelings.


s: "Now thy beauteous eyes are firmly closed,


s: That, when open, form mine only rapture.


s: And thy sweet lips are devoid of motion,


s: Of thine arms, so wont to twine around me,


s: Were my thoughts of thee but based on error,


s: Were the love I bear thee self-deception,


s: I must now have found it out, since Amor


s: Is, without his bandage, placed beside me."


s: Long I sat thus, full of heartfelt pleasure


s: She had so delighted me while slumbering,


s: Gently, gently stole I from her chamber.


s: When her eyes the darling one shall open,


s: She will straightway spy these colourd presents,


s: And the friendly gift will view with wonder,


s: For the door will still remain unopen'd.


s: One would think, must needs be captured,


s: Soon, in truth, the spears are prison'd;


s: ONCE I held a well-carved brimming goblet,--


s: In my two hands tightly clasp'd I held it,


s: Eagerly the sweet wine sipp'd I from it,


s: Seeking there to drown all care and sorrow.


s: Smiled as though the foolish one he pitied.


s: "Friend, I know a far more beauteous vessel,


s: Say, what wilt thou give me, if I grant it,


s: And with other nectar fill it for thee?"


s: Oh, how kindly hath he kept his promise!


s: For to me, who long had yearn'd, he granted


s: Thee, my Lida, fill'd with soft affection.


s: When I clasp mine arms around thee fondly,


s: When I drink in love's long-hoarded balsam


s: From thy darling lips so true, so faithful,


s: Fill'd with bliss thus speak I to my spirit


s: Never god hath fashion'd or been lord of!


s: Such a form was ne'er produced by Vulcan


s: With his cunning, reason-gifted hammers!


s: On the leaf-crown'd mountains may Lyaeus


s: Bid his Fauns, the oldest and the wisest,


s: Pass the choicest clusters through the winepress,


s: And himself watch o'er the fermentation:


s: Such a draught no toil can e'er procure him!"


s: Phoebus' self, too, needs must love thee;


s: Though Earth's daughter, free from suff'ring,


s: EV'RY youth for love's sweet portion sighs,


s: Thou, kind soul, bewailest, lov'st him well,


s: From disgrace his memory's saved by thee;


s: an edition of 'Werther,' published at that time.]


s: ONCE more, then, much-wept shadow, thou dost dare


s: To meet me on fresh blooming meadows fair,


s: Those happy times appear return'd once more.


s: When on one field we quaff'd refreshing dew,


s: And, when the day's unwelcome toils were o'er,


s: The farewell sunbeams bless'd our ravish'd view;


s: Fate bade thee go,--to linger here was mine,--


s: Going the first, the smaller loss was thine.


s: The life of man appears a glorious fate:


s: The day how lovely, and the night how great!


s: And we 'mid Paradise-like raptures plac'd,


s: The sun's bright glory scarce have learn'd to taste.


s: When strange contending feelings dimly cover,


s: Now us, and now the forms that round us hover;


s: One's feelings by no other are supplied,


s: 'Tis dark without, if all is bright inside;


s: An outward brightness veils my sadden'd mood,


s: When Fortune smiles,--how seldom understood!


s: Now think we that we know her, and with might


s: A woman's beauteous form instils delight;


s: The spring-time treads, as though the spring were he


s: Ravish'd, amazed, he asks, how this is done?


s: He looks around, the world appears his own.


s: With careless speed he wanders on through space,


s: Nor walls, nor palaces can check his race;


s: As some gay flight of birds round tree-tops plays,


s: So 'tis with him who round his mistress strays;


s: He seeks from AEther, which he'd leave behind him,


s: The faithful look that fondly serves to bind him.


s: Yet first too early warn'd, and then too late,


s: He feels his flight restrain'd, is captur'd straight


s: And years in one short moment are enshrin'd;


s: But, oh, the harsh farewell is hid behind!


s: Thou smilest, friend, with fitting thoughts inspired;


s: By a dread parting was thy fame acquired,


s: For weal and woe thou left'st us evermore,


s: And then again the passions' wavering force


s: At length must part--and parting is to die!


s: How moving is it, when the minstrel sings,


s: To 'scape the death that separation brings!


s: Oh grant, some god, to one who suffers so,


s: To tell, half-guilty, his sad tale of woe


s: When man had ceased to utter his lament,


s: A god then let me tell my tale of sorrow.


s: WHAT hope of once more meeting is there now


s: In the still-closed blossoms of this day?


s: Both heaven and hell thrown open seest thou;


s: What wav'ring thoughts within the bosom play


s: No longer doubt! Descending from the sky,


s: She lifts thee in her arms to realms on high.


s: And thus thou into Paradise wert brought,


s: Nothing was left, no wish, no hope, no thought,


s: Here was the boundary of thine inmost strife:


s: The fount of yearning tears was straightway dried.


s: No motion stirr'd the day's revolving wheel,


s: In their own front the minutes seem'd to go;


s: The evening kiss, a true and binding seal,


s: Ne'er changing till the morrow's sunlight glow.


s: The hours resembled sisters as they went.


s: The last hour's kiss, so sadly sweet, effac'd


s: Now on the threshold pause the feet, now haste.


s: As though a flaming cherub bade them move;


s: The unwilling eye the dark road wanders o'er,


s: Backward it looks, but closed it sees the door.


s: And now within itself is closed this breast,


s: As though it ne'er were open, and as though,


s: Had, in its presence, felt a kindling glow;


s: Sadness, reproach, repentance, weight of care,


s: Is not the world still left? The rocky steeps,


s: Are they with holy shades no longer crown'd?


s: Grows not the harvest ripe? No longer creeps


s: The espalier by the stream,--the copse around?


s: Doth not the wondrous arch of heaven still rise,


s: Now rich in shape, now shapeless to the eyes?


s: As, seraph-like, from out the dark clouds' chorus,


s: With softness woven, graceful, light, and fair,


s: Resembling Her, in the blue aether o'er us,


s: Thus didst thou see her joyously advance,


s: The fairest of the fairest in the dance.


s: Back to thine heart! thou'lt find it better there,


s: For there in changeful guise her image stirs


s: What erst was one, to many turneth fast,


s: In thousand forms, each dearer than the last.


s: And step by step my faithful ardour bless'd,


s: And on my lips the last last kiss impress'd,--


s: Thus clearly traced, the lov'd one's form we view,


s: With flames engraven on a heart so true,--


s: A heart that, firm as some embattled tower,


s: Conscious alone, when she herself appears;


s: Feels itself freer in so sweet a thrall,


s: And only beats to give her thanks in all.


s: The power of loving, and all yearning sighs


s: For love responsive were effaced and drown'd;


s: While longing hope for joyous enterprise


s: Was form'd, and rapid action straightway found;


s: And 'twas through her!--an inward sorrow lay


s: To mournful phantoms was my sight a prey,


s: In the drear void of a sad tortured breast;


s: Now on the well-known threshold Hope hath smil'd,


s: Unto the peace of God, which, as we read,


s: Blesseth us more than reason e'er bath done,


s: Love's happy peace would I compare indeed,


s: When in the presence of the dearest one.


s: There rests the heart, and there that sweetest thought,


s: The thought of being hers, is check'd by nought.