THEDROPSOFNECTAR。
WHENMinerva,togivepleasureToPrometheus,herwell-lovedone,BroughtabrimmingbowlofnectarFromthegloriousrealmsofheavenAsablessingforhiscreatures,AndtopourintotheirbosomsImpulsesforartsennobling,Shewithrapidfootstephasten’d,FearingJupitermightseeher,Andthegoldengoblettrembled,AndtherefellafewdropsfromitOntheverdantplainbeneathher。
ThenthebusybeesflewthitherStraightway,eagerlytodrinkthem,AndthebutterflycamequicklyThathe,too,mightfindadropthere。
EventhemisshapenspiderThithercrawl’dandsuck’dwithvigour。
Toahappyendtheytasted,They,andothergentleinsects!
ForwithmortalsnowdividetheyArt膖hatnoblestgiftofall。
1789。*——
THEWANDERER。
[PublishedintheGottingenMusenAlmanach,havingbeenwrittentoexpresshisfeelingsandcapricesafterhisseparationfromFrederica。]
WANDERER。
YOUNGwoman,mayGodblessthee,Thee,andthesuckinginfantUponthybreast!
Letme,’gainstthisrockywall,Neaththeelm-tree’sshadow,Layasidemyburden,Neartheetakemyrest。
WOMAN。
Whatvocationleadsthee,Whilethedayisburning,Upthisdustypath?
Bring’stthougoodsfromoutthetownRoundthecountry?
Smil’stthou,stranger,Atmyquestion?
WANDERER。
FromthetownnogoodsIbring。
Coolisnowtheevening。
Showtomethefountain’Whencethoudrinkest,Womanyoungandkind!
WOMAN。
Uptherockypathwaymount。
Gothoufirst!AcrossthethicketLeadsthepathwaytow’rdthecottageThatIlivein,TothefountainWhenceIdrink。
WANDERER。
Signsofman’sarranginghandSeeI’midthetrees!
Notbytheethesestoneswerejoin’d,Nature,whosofreelyscatterest!
WOMAN。
Up,stillup!
WANDERER。
Lo,amossyarchitraveishere!
Idiscernthee,fashioningspirit!
Onthestonethouhastimpress’dthyseal。
WOMAN。
Onward,stranger!
WANDERER。
OveraninscriptionamItreading!
’Tiseffaced!
Yeareseennolonger,Wordssodeeplygraven,Whoyourmaster’struedevotionShouldhaveshowntothousandgrandsons!
WOMAN。
Atthesestones,whyStart’stthou,stranger?
ManystonesarelyingyonderRoundmycottage。
WANDERER。
Yonder?
WOMAN。
Throughthethicket,Turningtotheleft,Here!
WANDERER。
YeMusesandyeGraces!
WOMAN。
This,then,ismycottage。
WANDERER。
’Tisaruin’dtemple!*
WOMAN。
Justbelowit,see,SpringsthefountainWhenceIdrink。
WANDERER。
ThoudosthoverO’erthygrave,allglowing,Genius!whileupontheeHaththymaster-pieceFallencrumbling,ThouImmortalOne!
WOMAN。
Stay,acupI’llfetchtheeWhencetodrink。
WANDERER。
IvycirclesthyslenderFormsogracefulandgodlike。
HowyeriseonhighFromtheruins,Column-pairAndthou,theirlonelysisteryonder,——
Howthou,Duskymossuponthysacredhead,——
LookestdowninmournfulmajestyOnthybrethren’sfiguresLyingscatter’dAtthyfeet!
IntheshadowofthebrambleEarthandrubbishveilthem,Loftygrassiswavingo’erthemIsitthusthou,Nature,prizestThygreatmasterpiece’smasterpiece?
CarelesslydestroyestthouThineownsanctuary,Sowingthistlesthere?
WOMAN。
Howtheinfantsleeps!
Wiltthouresttheeinthecottage,Stranger?WouldstthouratherIntheopenairstilllinger?
Now’tiscool!takethouthechildWhileIgoanddrawsomewater。
Sleepon,darling!sleep!
WANDERER。
Sweetisthyrepose!
How,withheaven-bornhealthimbued,Peacefullyheslumbers!
Ohthou,bornamongtheruinsSpreadbygreatantiquity,Ontheerestherspirit!
HewhomitencirclesWill,ingodlikeconsciousness,Ev’rydayenjoy。
Full,ofgerm,unfold,Asthesmilingspringtime’sFairestcharm,Outshiningallthyfellows!
Andwhentheblossom’shuskisfaded,MaythefullfruitshootforthFromoutthybreast,Andripeninthesunshine!
WOMAN。
Godblesshim!——Ishesleepingstill?
TothefreshdraughtInoughtcanadd,Savingacrustofbreadfortheetoeat。
WANDERER。
Ithanktheewell。
Howfairtheverdureallaround!
Howgreen!
WOMAN。
MyhusbandsoonWillhomereturnFromlabour。Tarry,tarry,man,Andwithuseatoureveningmeal。
WANDERER。
Is’thereyedwell?
WOMAN。
Yonder,withinthosewallswelive。
Myfather’twaswhobuiltthecottageOftilesandstonesfromouttheruins。
’Tisherewedwell。
Hegavemetoahusbandman,Andinourarmsexpired——
Hastthoubeensleeping,dearestheartHowlively,andhowfullofplay!
Sweetrogue!
WANDERER。
Nature,thoueverbuddingone,Thouformesteachforlife’senjoyments,And,likeamother,allthychildrendear,Blessestwiththatsweetheritage,——ahomeTheswallowbuildsthecorniceround,UnconsciousofthebeautiesSheplastersup。
Thecaterpillarspinsaroundthebough,Tomakeherbroodawinterhouse。
Andthoudostpatch,betweenantiquity’sMostgloriousrelics,Forthymeanuse,Ohman,ahumblecot,——
Enjoyeste’enmidtombs!——
Farewell,thouhappywoman!
WOMAN。
Thouwiltnotstay,then?
WANDERER。
MayGodpreservethee,Andblessthyboy!
WOMAN。
Ahappyjourney!
WANDERER。
WhitherconductsthepathAcrossyonhill?
WOMAN。
ToCuma。
WANDERER。
Howfarfromhence?
WOMAN。
’Tisfullthreemiles。
WANDERER。
Farewell!
OhNature,guidemeonmyway!
Thewanderingstrangerguide,Whoo’erthetombsOfholybygonetimesIspassing,Toakindshelteringplace,FromNorthwindssafe,AndwhereapoplargroveShutsoutthenoontideray!
AndwhenIcomeHometomycotAtevening,Illuminedbythesettingsun,Letmeembraceawifelikethis,Herinfantinherarms!
1772。
*Comparewiththebeautifuldescriptioncontainedinthesubsequentlines,anaccountofaruinedtempleofCeres,givenbyChamberlayneinhisPharonnidapublishedin1659……WithmournfulmajesiyAheapofsolitaryruinslie,Halfsepulchredindust,thebankruptheirToprodigalantiquity——
LOVEASALANDSCAPEPAINTER。
ONarockypeakoncesatIearly,Gazingonthemistwitheyesunmoving。
Stretch’doutlikeapallofgreyishtexture,Allthingsround,andallaboveitcover’d。
Suddenlyaboyappear’dbesideme,SayingFriend,whatmeanestthoubygazingOnthevacantpallwithsuchcomposure?
HastthoulostforevermoreallpleasureBothinpaintingcunningly,andforming?
OnthechildIgazed,andthoughtinsecret:
Wouldtheboypretendtobeamaster?
Wouldstthoubeforeverdullandidle,
Saidtheboy,nowisdomthou’ltattainto。
See,I’llstraightwaypaintfortheeafigure,——
Howtopaintabeauteousfigure,showthee。
Andhethenextendedhisfore-finger,——
Ruddywasitasayouthfulrosebud
Tow’rdthebroadandfaroutstretchingcarpet,Andbegantodrawtherewithhisfinger。
Firstonhigharadiantsunhepainted,Whichuponmineeyeswithsplendourglisten’d,Andhemadethecloudswithgoldenborder,Throughthecloudsheletthesunbeamsenter。
PaintedthenthesoftandfeatherysummitsOfthefreshandquicken’dtrees,behindthemOnebyonewithfreedomdrewthemountains。
Underneathheleftnolackofwater,ButtheriverpaintedsolikeNature,Thatitseem’dtoglitterinthesunbeams,Thatitseem’dagainstitsbankstomurmur。
Ah,thereblossom’dflowersbesidetheriver,Andbrightcoloursgleam’duponthemeadow,Gold,andgreen,andpurple,andenamell’d,Alllikecarbunclesandemeraldsseeming!
Brightandclearheaddedthentheheavens,Andtheblue-tingedmountainsfarandfarther,SothatI,asthoughnewborn,enrapturedGazedon,nowthepainter,nowthepicture。
Thenspakehe:AlthoughIhaveconvincedtheeThatthisartIunderstandfullsurely,Yetthehardeststillislefttoshowthee。
Thereuponhetraced,withpointedfinger,Andwithanxiouscare,upontheforest,Attheutmostverge,wherethestrongsunbeamsFromtheshininggroundappear’dreflected,Tracedthefigureofalovelymaiden,Fairinform,andcladingracefulfashion,Freshthecheeksbeneathherbrownlocks’ambush,Andthecheekspossess’dtheselfsamecolourAsthefingerthathadservedtopaintthem。
Ohthouboy!exclaim’dIthen,whatmasterInhisschoolreceivedtheeashispupil,TeachingtheesotruthfullyandquicklyWiselytobegin,andwelltofinish?
WhilstIstillwasspeaking,lo,azephyrSoftlyrose,andsetthetree-topsmoving,Curlingallthewaveletsontheriver,Andtheperfectmaiden’sveil,too,fill’dit,Andtomakemywondermentstillgreater,Soonthemaidensetherfootinmotion。
Onshecame,approachingtow’rdthestationWherestillsatIwithmyarchinstructor。
Asnowall,yes,allthusmovedtogether,——
Flowers,river,trees,theveil,——allmoving,——
Andthegentlefootofthatmostfairone,CanyethinkthatonmyrockIlinger’d,Likearock,asthoughfast-chain’dandsilent?
1788——
GOD,SOUL,ANDWORLD——
RHYMEDDISTICHS。
[TheDistichs,ofwhichthesearegivenasaspecimen,areaboutfortyinnumber。]
WHOtrustsinGod,FearsnotHisrod——
THIStruthmaybebyallbelieved:
WhomGoddeceives,iswelldeceived——
HOW?when?andwhere?——Noanswercomesfromhigh。
Thouwait’stfortheBecause,andyetthouask’stnotWhy?——
IFthewholeisevertogladdenthee,Thatwholeinthesmallestthingthoumustsee——
WATERitslivingstrengthfirstshows,Whenobstaclesitscourseoppose——
TRANSPARENTappearstheradiantair,Thoughsteelandstoneinitsbreastitmaybear。
Atlengththey’llmeetwithfierypower,Andmetalandstonesontheearthwillshower——
WHATE’ERalivingflamemaysurround,Nolongerisshapeless,orearthlybound。
’Tisnowinvisible,fliesfromearth,Andhastensonhightotheplaceofitsbirth。
1815。*——
PROCEMION。
INHisblestname,whowasHisowncreation,Whofromalltimemakesmakinghisvocation。
ThenameofHimwhomakesourfaithsobright,Love,confidence,activity,andmight。
InthatOne’sname,who,namedthoughoftHebe,UnknowniseverinReality:
Asfarasearcanreach,oreyesightdim,ThoufindestbuttheknownresemblingHim。
Howhighso’erthyfieryspirithovers,ItssimileandtypeitstraightdiscoversOnwardthou’rtdrawn,withfeelingslightandgay,Where’erthougoest,smilingistheway。
Nomorethounumbrest,reckonestnotime,Eachstepisinfinite,eachstepsublime。
1816——
WHATGodwouldoutwardlyalonecontrol,AndonhisfingerwhirlthemightyWhole?
Helovestheinnerworldtomove,toviewNatureinHim,HimselfinNaturetoo,SothatwhatinHimworks,andis,andlives,ThemeasureofHisstrength,Hisspiritgives。
1816——
WITHINusallauniversedothdwell。
Andhenceeachpeople’susagelaudable,Thatev’ryonetheBestthatmeetshiseyesAsGod,yeae’enhisGod,dothrecognise。
ToHimbothearthandheavensurrendershe,FearsHim,andlovesHimtoo,ifthatmaybe。
1816——
THEMETAMORPHOSISOFPLANTS。
THOUartconfused,mybeloved,at,seeingthethousandfoldunionShowninthisflowerytroop,overthegardendispers’d。
anyanamedostthouhearassign’d。oneafteranotherFallsonthylist’ningear,withabarbariansound。
Noneresemblethanother,yetalltheirformshavealikeness。
Therefore,amysticallawisbythechorusproclaim’d。
Yes,asacredenigma!Oh,dearestfriend,couldIonlyHappilyteachtheetheword,whichmaythemysterysolve!
Closelyobservehowtheplant,bylittleandlittleprogressing,Stepbystepguidedon,changethtoblossomandfruit!
Firstfromtheseeditunravelsitself,assoonasthesilentFruit-bearingwomboftheearthkindlyallowsItsescape,Andtothecharmsofthelight,theholy,theever-in-motion,Trusteththedelicateleaves,feeblybeginningtoshoot。
Simplyslumber’dtheforceintheseed。agermofthefuture,Peacefullylock’dinitself,’neaththeintegumentlay,Leafandroot,andbud,stillvoidofcolour,andshapeless。
Thusdoththekernel,whiledry,coverthatmotionlesslife。
Upwardthenstrivesittoswell,ingentlemoistureconfiding,And,fromthenightwhereitdwelt,straightwayascendethtolight。
Yetstillsimpleremainethitsfigure,whenfirstitappeareth。
And’tisatokenlikethis,pointsoutthechild’midtheplants。
Soonashoot,succeedingit,risethonhigh,andreneweth,Piling-upnodeuponnode,evertheprimitiveform。
Yetnoteveralike:forthefollowingleaf,asthouseest,Everproducethitself,fashionedinmanifoldways。
Longer,moreindented,inpointsandinpartsmoredivided,Which。all-deform’duntilnow,sleptintheorganbelow,Soatlengthitattaineththenobleanddestinedperfection,Which,infullmanyatribe,fillstheewithwonderingawe。
Manyribb’dandtooth’d,onasurfacejuicyandswelling,Freeandunendingtheshootseemethinfullnesstobe。
YethereNaturerestraineth,withpowerfulhands,theformation,Andtoaperfecterend,guidethwithsoftnessitsgrowth,Lessabundantlyyieldingthesap,contractingthevessels,Sothatthefigureerelonggentlereffectsdothdisclose。
Soonandinsilenceischeck’dthegrowthofthevigorousbranches,Andtheribofthestalkfullerbecomethinform。
Leafless,however,andquickthetendererstemthenup-springeth,Andamiraculoussightdoththeobserverenchant。
Rangedinacircle,innumbersthatnowaresmall,andnowcountless,Gatherthesmaller-sizedleaves,closebythesideoftheirlike。
Roundtheaxiscompress’dtheshelteringcalyxunfoldeth,And,astheperfectesttype,brilliant-huedcoronalsforms。
ThusdothNaturebloom,inglorystillnoblerandfuller,Showing,inorderarranged,memberonmemberuprear’d。
Wondermentfreshdostthoufeel,assoonasthestemrearstheflowerOverthescaffoldingfrailofthealternatingleaves。
Butthisgloryisonlythenewcreation’sforeteller,Yes,theleafwithitshuesfeeleththehandalldivine,Andonasuddencontractethitself。thetenderestfiguresTwofoldasyet,hastenon,destinedtoblendintoone。
Lovinglynowthebeauteouspairsarestandingtogether,Gather’dincountlessarray,therewherethealtarisraised。
Hymenhoveretho’erthem,andscentsdeliciousandmightyStreamforththeirfragrancesosweet,allthingsenliv’ningaround。
Presently,parcell’dout,unnumber’dgermsareseenswelling,Sweetlyconcealdinthewomb,whereismadeperfectthefruit。
HeredothNatureclosetheringofherforceseternal。
Yetdothanewone,atonce,clingtotheonegonebefore,Sothatthechainbeprolongedforeverthroughallgenerations,Andthatthewholemayhavelife,e’enasenjoy’dbyeachpart。
Now,mybelovedone,turnthygazeonthemany-huedthousandsWhich,confusingnomore,gladdenthemindastheywave。
Everyplantuntotheeproclaimeththelawseverlasting,Everyfloweredspeakslouderandloudertothee。
Butifthouherecanstdecipherthemysticwordsofthegoddess,Everywherewilltheybeseen,e’enthoughthefeaturesarechanged。
Creepinginsectsmaylinger,theeagerbutterflyhasten,——
Plasticandforming,maymanchangee’enthefiguredecreed!
Oh,then,bethinkthee,aswell,howoutofthegermofacquaintance,Kindlyintercoursesprang,slowlyunfoldingitsleaves。
Soonhowfriendshipwithmightunveil’ditselfinourbosoms,AndhowAmor,atlength,broughtforthblossomandfruitThinkofthemanifoldwayswhereinNaturehathlenttoourfeelings,Silentlygivingthembirth,eitherthefirstorthelast!
Yes,andrejoiceinthepresentday!ForlovethatisholySeekeththenoblestoffruits,——thatwherethethoughtsarethesame,Wheretheopinionsagree,——thatthepairmay,inraptcontemplation,Lovinglyblendintoone,——findthemoreexcellentworld。
1797——
PROVERBS——
’TISeasierfarawreathtobind,Thanagoodownerforttofind——
IKILL’Dathousandfliesovernight,Yetwaswaken’dbyone,assoonastwaslight——
TothemotherIgive。
ForthedaughterIlive——
ABREACHiseveryday,Bymanyamortalstorm’d。
Letthemfallinthegapsastheymay,Yetaheapofdeadisne’erform’d——
WHATharmhasthypoormirrordone,alas?
Looknotsougly,prythee,intheglass!
1815。*——
TAMEXENIA。
THEEpigramsbearingthetitleofXENIAwerewrittenbyGoetheandSchillertogether,havingbeenfirstoccasionedbysomeviolentattacksmadeonthembysomeinsignificantwriters。Theyareextremelynumerous,butscarcelyanyofthemcouldbetranslatedintoEnglish。Thoseheregivenaremerelypresentedasaspecimen。
GODgavetomortalsbirth,Inhisownimagetoo。
ThencameHimselftoearth,Amortalkindandtrue。
1821。*——
BARBARIANSoftendeavourGodsforthemselvestomakeButthey’remorehideouseverThandragonorthansnake。
1821。*——
WHATshallIteachthee,theveryfirstthing?——
FainwouldIlearno’ermyshadowtospring!
1827。*——
WHATisscience,rightlyknown?
’Tisthestrengthoflifealone。
Lifecanstthouengendernever,Lifemustbelife’sparentever。
1827。*——
Itmattersnot,Iween,Wherewormsourfriendsconsume,Beneaththeturfsogreen,Or’neathamarbletomb。
Remember,yewholive,Thoughfrownsthefleetingday,ThattoyourfriendsyegiveWhatneverwilldecay。
1827。*——
RELIGIONANDCHURCH——
THOUGHTSONJESUSCHRIST’SDESCENTINTOHELL。
[THEremarkablePoemofwhichthisisaliteralbutfaintrepresentation,waswrittenwhenGoethewasonlysixteenyearsold。Itderivesadditionalinterestfromthefactofitsbeingtheveryearliestpieceofhisthatispreserved。ThefewotherpiecesincludedbyGoetheunderthetitleofReligionandChurcharepolemical,anddevoidofinteresttotheEnglishreader。]
WHATwondrousnoiseisheardaround!
Throughheavenexultingvoicessound,AmightyarmymarchesonBythousandmillionsfollow’d,lo,ToyondarkplacemakeshastetogoGod’sSon,descendingfromHisthrone!
Hegoes——thetempestsroundHimbreak,AsJudgeandHerocomethHe。
Hegoes——theconstellationsquake,Thesun,theworldquakefearfully。
IseeHiminHisvictor-car,Onfieryaxlesborneafar,Whoonthecrossforusexpired。
ThetriumphtoyonrealmsHeshows,——
Remotefromearth,wherestarne’erglows,ThetriumphHeforusacquired。
Hecometh,Helltoextirpate,WhomHe,bydying,wellnighkill’d。
HeshallpronounceherfearfulfateHark!nowthecurseisstraightfulfill’d。
Hellseesthevictorcomeatlast,Shefeelsthatnowherreignispast,ShequakesandfearstomeetHissight。
SheknowsHisthunders’terrorsdread,Invainsheseekstohideherhead,Attemptstofly,butvainisflight。
Vainlyshehastesto’scapepursuitAndtoavoidherJudge’seye。
TheLord’sfiercewrathrestrainsherfootLikebrazenchains,——shecannotfly。
HereliestheDragon,trampleddown,Helies,andfeelsGod’sangryfrown,Hefeels,andgrinnethhideously。
HefeelsHell’sspeechlessagonies,Athousandtimeshehowlsandsighs:
Oh,burningflames!quick,swallowme!
Thereliesheinthefierywaves,Bytormentsrack’dandpangsinfernal,Instantannihilationcraves,Andhears,thosepangswillbeeternal。
Thosemightysquadrons,too,arehere,Thepartnersofhiscursedcareer,Yetfarlessbadthanhewerethey。
Hereliesthecountlessthrongcombined,Inblackandfearfulcrowdsentwined,Whileroundhimfierytempestsplay。
HeseeshowtheytheJudgeavoid,Heseesthestormuponthemfeed,Yetisnotatthesighto’erjoy’d,Becausehispangse’entheirsexceed。
TheSonofManintriumphpassesDowntoHell’swildandblackmorasses,AndthereunfoldsHismajesty。
Hellcannotbearthebrightarray,For,sinceherfirstcreatedday。
Darknessalonee’ergovern’dshe。
Shelayremotefromev’rylightWithtormentsfill’dinChaoshere。
Godturn’dforeverfromhersightHisradiantfeatures’gloryclear。
Withintherealmsshecallsherown,SheseesthesplendouroftheSon,Hisdreadedgloriesshiningforth。
SheseesHimcladinrollingthunder,Sheseestherocksallquakewithwonder,WhenGodbeforeherstandsinwrath。
SheseesHecomesherJudgetobe,Shefeelstheawfulpangsinsideher,Herselftoslayendeavoursshe,Bute’enthiscomfortisdeniedher。
Nowlookssheback,withpainsuntold,Uponthosehappytimesofold,Whenthosegloriesgaveherjoy。
Whenyetherheartreveredthetruth,Whenhergladsoul,inendlessyouthAndrapturedwelt,withoutalloy。
Shecallstomindwithmadden’dthoughtHowovermanherwilesprevail’d。
TotakerevengeonGodshesought,Andfeelsthevengeanceitentail’d。
Godwasmademan,andcametoearth。
ThenSatancriedwithfearfulmirth:
E’enHemyvictimnowshallbe!
HesoughttoslaytheLordMostHigh,Theworld’sCreatornowmustdie。
But,Satan,endlesswoetothee!
Thouthought’sttoovercomeHimthen,RejoicinginHissuffering。
ButheintriumphcomesagainTobindthee:Death!whereisthysting?
Speak,Hell!whereisthyvictory?
Thypowerdestroy’dandscatter’dsee!
Know’stthounotnowtheHighest’smight?
See,Satan,seethyruleo’erthrown!
Bythousand-varyingpangsweigh’ddown,Thoudwell’stindarkandendlessnight。
Asthoughbylightningstruckthouliest,Nogleamofrapturefarorwide。
Invain!nohopethoutheredecriest,——
FormealoneMessiahdied!
Ahowlingrisesthroughtheair,Atremblingfillseachdarkvaultthere,WhenChristtoHellisseentocome。
Shesnarlswithrage,butneedsmustcowerBeforeourmightyhero’spower。
Hesigns——andHellisstraightwaydumb。
Beforehisvoicethethundersbreak,OnhighHisvictor-bannerblows。
E’enangelsatHisfuryquake,WhenChristtothedreadjudgmentgoes。
NowspeaksHe,andHisvoiceisthunder,Hespeaks,therocksarerentinsunder,Hisbreathislikedevouringflames。
ThusspeaksHe:Tremble,yeaccurs’d!
HewhofromEdenhurl’dyouerst,Yourkingdom’soverthrowproclaims。
Lookup!Mychildrenoncewereye,YourarmsagainstMethenyeturn’d,Yefell,thatyemightsinnersbe,Ye’venowthewagesthatyeearn’d。
Mygreatestfoemanfromthatday,Yeledmydearestfriendsastray,——
Asyehadfallen,manmustfall。
Tokillhimevermoreyesought,’Theyallshalldiethedeath,’yethought。
Buthowl!forMeIwonthemall。
ForthemalonedidIdescend,Forthempray’d,suffer’d,perish’dI。
Yene’ershallgainyourwickedend。
WhotrustsinMeshallneverdie。
Inendlesschainsherelieyenow,Nothingcansaveyoufromtheslough。
Notboldness,notregretforcrime。
Lie,then,andwritheinbrimstonefire!
’TwasyeyourselvesdrewdownMineire,Lieandlamentthroughoutalltime!
Andalsoye,whomIselected,E’enyeforeverIdisown,ForyeMysavinggracerejectedYemurmur?blameyourselvesalone!
YemighthavelivedwithMeinbliss,ForIofyorehadpromis’dthis。
Yesinn’d,andallMypreceptsslightedWrapp’dinthesleepofsinyedwelt,NowisMyfearfuljudgmentfelt,Byajustdoomyourguiltrequited——
ThusspakeHe,andafearfulstormFromHimproceeds,thelightningsglow,Thethundersseizeeachwickedform,Andhurltheminthegulfbelow。
TheGod-manclosethHell’ssaddoors,InallHismajestyHesoarsFromthosedarkregionsbacktolight。
HesittethattheFather’sside。
Oh,friends,whatjoydoththisbetide!
Forus,forusHestillwillfight!
TheangelssacredquirearoundRejoicebeforethemightyLord,Sothatallcreatureshearthesound:
Zebaoth’sGodbeayeador’d!
1765——
ANTIQUES——
LEOPOLD,DUKEOFBRUNSWICK。
[Writtenontheoccasionofthedeath,bydrowning,ofthePrince。]
THOUwertforciblyseizedbythehoarylordoftheriver,——
Holdingthee,everheshareswiththeehisstreamingdomain,Calmlysleepestthounearhisurnasitsilentlytrickles,Tillthoutoactionartroused,wakedbytheswift-rollingflood。
Kindlybetothepeople,aswhenthoustillwertamortal,Perfectingthatasagod,whichthoudidstfailin,asman。
1785——
TOTHEHUSBANDMAN。
SMOOTHLYandlightlythegoldenseedbythefurrowiscover’d。
Yetwilladeeperone,friend,coverthybonesatthelast。
Joyouslyplough’dandsow’d!Herefoodalllivingisbudding,E’enfromthesideofthetombHopewillnotvanishaway。
1789。*——
ANACREON’SGRAVE。
HEREwheretherosesblossom,wherevinesroundthelaurelsaretwining,Wheretheturtle-dovecalls,wheretheblithecricketisheard,Say,whosegravecanthisbe,withlifebyalltheImmortalsBeauteouslyplantedanddeck’d?——HeredothAnacreonsleepSpringandsummerandautumnrejoicedthethrice-happyminstrel,Andfromthewinterthismoundkindlyhathscreen’dhimatlast。
1789。*——
THEBRETHREN。
SLUMBERandSleep,twobrethrenordain’dbythegodstotheirservice,WerebyPrometheusimplored,comforttogivetohisrace。
Butthoughsolighttothegods,tooheavyformanwastheirburden,Weintheirslumberfindsleep,weintheirsleepmeetwithdeath。
1789。*——
MEASUREOFTIME。
EROS,whatmean’stthoubythis?Ineachofthinehandsisanhourglass!
What,ohthoufrivolousgod!twofoldthymeasureoftime?
Slowlyrunfromtheone,thehoursofloverswhenparted。
Whilethroughtheothertheyrushswiftly,assoonastheymeet。
1789。*——
WARNING。
WAKENnotAmorfromsleep!Thebeauteousurchinstillslumbers。
Go,andcompletethouthetask,thattothedayisassign’d!
Thusdoththeprudentmotherwithcareturntimetoherprofit,Whileherbabeisasleep,for’twillawakebuttoosoon。
1785。*——
SOLITUDE。
OHyekindlynymphs,whodwell’mongsttherocksandthethickets,Grantuntoeachwhatsoe’erhemayinsilencedesire!
Comfortimparttothemourner,andgivetothedoubterinstruction,Andlettheloverrejoice,findingtheblissthathecraves。
Forfromthegodsyereceivedwhattheyeverdenieduntomortals,Powertocomfortandaidallwhoinyoumayconfide。
1782——
THECHOSENCLIFF。
HEREinsilencetheloverfondlymusedonhislovedone。
Gladlyhespaketomethus:Bethoumywitness,thoustone!
Yetthoumustnotbevainglorious,thouhastmanycompanions。
Untoeachrockontheplain,whereI,thehappyone,dwell,UntoeachtreeofthewoodthatIclingto,asonwardIramble,’Bethouasignofmybliss!’shoutI,andthen’tisordain’d。
YettotheeonlyIlendavoice,asaMusefromthepeopleChoosethoneforherself,kissinghislipsasafriend。
1782——
THECONSECRATEDSPOT。
WHENinthedanceoftheNymphs,inthemoonlightsoholyassembled,MingletheGraces,downfromOlympusinsecretdescending,Heredoththeminstrelhide,andlisttotheirnumbersenthralling,Heredothhewatchtheirsilentdances’mysteriousmeasure。
AllthatisgloriousinHeaven,andallthattheearthinherbeautyEverhathbroughtintolife,thedreamerawakeseesbeforehim。
AllherepeatstotheMuses,andlestthegodsshouldbeanger’d,Howtotellofsecretsdiscreetly,theMusesinstructhim。
1789。*——
THEINSTRUCTORS。
WHENDiogenesquietlysunn’dhimselfinhisbarrel,WhenCalanuswithjoyleaptintheflame-breathinggrave,Oh,whatnoblelessonswerethosefortherashsonofPhilip,Werenotthelordoftheworlde’enforinstructiontoogreat!
1789。*——
THEUNEQUALMARRIAGE,EVENthisheavenlypairwereunequallymatch’dwhenunited:
Psychegrewolderandwise,Amorremain’dstillachild,1789。*——
EXCUSE。
THOUdostcomplainofwomanforchangingfromonetoanother?
Censurehernot:forsheseeksonewhowillconstantremain。
1789。*——
SAKONTALA。
WOULDSTthoutheblossomsofspring,aswellasthefruitsoftheautumn,Wouldstthouwhatcharmsanddelights,wouldstthouwhatplenteously,feeds,WouldthouincludebothHeavenandearthinonedesignation,Allthatisneededisdone,whenISakontalaname。
1792——
THEMUSE’SMIRROR。
EARLYoneday,theMuse,wheneagerlybentonadornment,Follow’daswift-runningstreamlet,thequietestnookbyitseeking。
Quicklyandnoisilyflowing,thechangefulsurfacedistortedEverhermovingform。thegoddessdepartedinanger。
Yetthestreamcall’dmockinglyafterher,saying:What,truly!
Wiltthounotview,then,thetruth,inmymirrorsoclearlydepicted?
Butshealreadywasfaraway,onthebrinkoftheocean,Inherfigurerejoicing,anddulyarranginghergarland。
1799。*——
PHOEBUSANDHERMES。
DELOS’statelyruler,andMaia’sson,theadroitone,Warmlywerestriving,forbothsoughtthegreatprizetoobtain。
Hermesthelyredemanded,thelyrewasclaim’dbyApollo,Yetweretheheartsofthefoesfruitlesslynourish’dbyhope。
ForonasuddenAresburstin,withfurydecisive,Dashingintwainthegoldtoy,brandishingwildlyhissword。
Hermes,maliciousone,laughedbeyondmeasure。yetdeep-seatedsorrowSeizeduponPhoebus’sheart,seizedontheheartofeachMuse。
1799。*——
THENEWAMOR。
AMOR,notthechild,theyouthfulloverofPsyche,Look’droundOlympusoneday,boldly,totriumphinured。
Thereheespiedagoddess,thefairestamongsttheimmortals,——
VenusUraniashe,——straightwashispassioninflamed。
Eventheholyonepowerlessproved,alas!’gainsthiswooing,——
Tightlyembracedinhisarm,heldherthedaringonefast。
Thenfromtheirunionaroseanew,amorebeauteousAmor,Whofromhisfatherhiswit,gracefromhismotherderives。
Everthou’ltfindhimjoin’dinthekindlyMuses’communion,Andhischarm-ladenboltfoundeththeloveofthearts。
1792——
THEGARLANDS。
KLOPSTOCKwouldleadusawayfromPindus。nolongerforlaurelMaywebeeager——thehomelyacornalonemustcontentus。
Yethehimselfhismore-than-epiccrusadeisconductingHighonGolgotha’ssummit,thatforeigngodshemayhonour!
Yet,onwhathillheprefers,lethimgathertheangelstogether,Sufferdeserteddisciplestoweepo’erthegraveofthejustone:
Therewhereaheroandsainthathdied,whereabardbreath’dhisnumbers,BothforourlifeandourdeathanensampleofcourageresplendentAndoftheloftiesthumanworthtobequeath,——ev’rynationTherewilljoyouslykneelindevotionecstatic,reveringThornandlaurelgarland,andallitscharmsanditstortures。
1815。*——
THESWISSALPS。
YESTERDAYbrownwasstillthyhead,asthelocksofmylovedone,Whosesweetimagesodearsilentlybeckonsafar。
Silver-greyistheearlysnowto-dayonthysummit,Throughthetempestuousnightstreamingfastoverthybrow。
Youth,alas,throughoutlifeascloselytoageisunitedAs,insomechangeabledream,yesterdayblendswithto-day。
Uri,October7th,1797——
DISTICHS。
CHORDSaretouch’dbyApollo,——thedeath-ladenbow,too,hebendeth。
Whilehetheshepherdesscharms,Pythonhelaysinthedust——
WHATismercifulcensure?Tomakethyfaultsappearsmaller?
Maybetoveilthem?No,no!O’erthemtoraisetheeonhigh!——
DEMOCRATICfoodsooncloysonthemultitude’sstomach。
ButI’llwager,erelong,otherthou’ltgivetheminstead——
WHATinFrancehaspass’dby,theGermanscontinuetopractise,Fortheproudestofmenflattersthepeopleandfawns——
WHOisthehappiestofmen?Hewhovaluesthemeritsofothers,Andintheirpleasuretakesjoy,evenasthough’twerehisown——
NOTinthemorningalone,notonlyatmid-dayhecharmeth。
Evenatsetting,thesunisstillthesamegloriousplanet——
VENETIANEPIGRAMS。
Writtenin1790。——
URNandsarcophaguserstwerewithlifeadorn’dbytheheathenFaunsaredancingaround,whilewiththeBacchanaltroopChequerdcirclestheytrace。andthegoat-footed,puffy-cheekdplayerWildlyproducethhoarsetonesoutoftheclamoroushorn。
Cymbalsanddrumsresound。weseeandwehear,too,themarble。
Flutteringbird!ohhowsweettastestheripefruittothybill!
Noisethereisnonetodisturbthee,stilllesstoscareawayAmor,Who,inthemidstofthethrong,learnstodelightinhistorch。
Thusdothfullnessovercomedeath。andtheashestherecover’dSeem,inthatsilentdomain,stilltobegladdendwithlife。
Thusmaytheminstrel’ssarcophagusbehereaftersurroundedWithsuchascroll,whichhimselfrichlywithlifehasadorn’d——
CLASP’DinmyarmsforevereagerlyholdImymistress,Evermypantingheartthrobswildlyagainstherdearbreast,Andonherkneesforeverisleaningmyhead,whileI’mgazingNowonhersweet-smilingmouth,nowonherbrightsparklingeyes。
Ohthoueffeminate!spakeone,andthus,then,thydaysthouartspending?
Ah,theyinsorrowarespent。ListwhileItelltheemytale:
Yes!Ihaveleftmyonlyjoyinlifefarbehindme,Twentylongdayshathmycarbornemeawayfromhersight。
Vettrinidefyme,whilecraftychamberlainsflatter,AndtheslyValetdeplacethinksbutofliesanddeceit。
IfIattempttoescape,thePostmasterfastensuponme,Postboystheupperhandget,custom-housedutiesenrage。
Truly,Ican’tunderstandthee!thoutalkestenigmas!thouseemestWrapp’dinablissfulrepose,gladasRinaldoofyore:
Ah,Imyselfunderstandfullwell。’tismybodythattravels,And’tismyspiritthatrestsstillinmymistress’sarms——
IWOULDlikenthisgondolauntothesoft-rockingcradle,Andthechestonitsdeckseemsavastcoffintobe。
Yes!’tweenthecradleandcoffin,wetotterandwaverforeverOnthemightycanal,carelessourlifetimeisspent——
WHYarethepeoplethusbusilymoving?Forfoodtheyareseeking,Childrentheyfainwouldbeget,feedingthemwellastheycan。
Traveller,markthiswell,andwhenthouarthome,dothoulikewise!
Morecannomortaleffect,workwithwhatardourhewill——
IWOULDcomparetothelandthisanvil,itslordtothehammer,Andtothepeopletheplate,whichinthemiddleisbent。
Sadisthepoortin-plate’slot,whentheblowsarebutgivenatrandom:
Ne’erwillthekettlebemade,whiletheyuncertainlyfall——
WHATisthelifeofaman?Yetthousandsareeveraccustom’dFreelytotalkaboutman,——whathehasdone,too,andhow。
Evenlessisapoem。yetthousandsreadandenjoyit,Thousandsabuseit——Myfriend,liveandcontinuetorhyme!——
MERRY’Sthetradeofapoet。butsomewhatadearone,IfearmeFor,asmybookgrowsapace,allofmysequinsIlose——
Is’thou’rtinearnest,nolongerdelay,butrendermehappy。
Artthouinjest?Ah,sweetlove!timeforalljestingispast——
ARTthou,then,vex’datmysilence?WhatshallIspeakof?ThoumarkestNeithermysorrowfulsigh,normysofteloquentlook。
Onlyonegoddessisablethesealofmylipstounloosen,——
WhenbyAuroraI’mfound,slumberingcalmonthybreast。
Ah,thenmyhymnintheearsoftheearliestgodsshallbechaunted,AstheMemnonianformbreath’dforthsweetsecretsinsong——
INthetwilightofmorningtoclimbtothetopofthemountain,——
Theetosalute,kindlystar,earliestheraldofday,——
Andtoawait,withimpatience,thegazeoftherulerofheaven,——
Youthfuldelight,ohoftlur’stthoumeoutinthenight!
Ohyeheraldsofday,yeheavenlyeyesofmymistress,Nowyeappear,andthesunevermorerisethtoosoon——
THOUartamazed,anddostpointtotheocean。Itseemstobeburning,Flame-crestedbillowsinplaydartroundournight-movingbark。
Meitastonishethnot,——oftheoceanwasbornAphrodite,——
Didnotaflame,too,proceedfromherforus,inherson?——
GLEAMINGtheoceanappear’d,thebeauteousbillowsweresmiling,Whileafresh,favouringwind,fillingthesails,droveuson。
Freewasmybosomfromyearning。yetsoonmylanguishingglancesTurn’dthemselvesbackwardinhaste,seekingthesnow-cover’dhills。
Treasuresunnumber’daresouthwardslying。YetonetothenorthwardsDrawsmeresistlesslyback,likethestrongmagnetinforce——
SPACIOUSandfairistheworld。yetoh!howIthankthekindheavensThatIagardenpossess,smallthoughitbe,yetmineown。
Onewhichenticethmehomewards。whyshouldagardenerwander?
Honourandpleasurehefinds,whentohisgardenhelooks——
AH,mymaidenisgoing!shemountsthevessel!Mymonarch,AEolus!potentatedread!keepev’rystormfaraway!
Oh,thoufool!criedthegod:ne’erfeartheblusteringtempest。
WhenLovefluttershiswings,thenmaystthoudreadthesoftbreeze——
ELEGIES——
PARTI。
ROMANELEGIES。
[TheRomanElegieswerewritteninthesameyearastheVenetianEpigrams——viz。1790。]
SPEAK,yestones,Ientreat!Ohspeak,yepalaceslofty!
Utteraword,ohyestreets!Wiltthounot,Genius,awake?
Allthatthysacredwalls,eternalRome,holdwithinthemTeemethwithlife。buttome,allisstillsilentanddead。
Oh,whowillwhisperuntome,——whenshallIseeatthecasementThatonebeauteousform,which,whileitscorcheth,revives?
CanIasyetnotdiscerntheroad,onwhichIforeverToherandfromhershallgo,heedingnottimeasitflies?
StilldoImarkthechurches,palaces,ruins,andcolumns,Asawisetravellershould,wouldhehisjourneyimprove。
Soonallthiswillbepast。andthenwilltherebebutonetemple,Amor’stemplealone,wheretheInitiatemaygo。
Thouartindeedaworld,ohRome。andyet,wereLoveabsent,Thenwouldtheworldbenoworld,thenwoulde’enRomebenoRome——
Donotrepent,mineownlove,thatthousosoondidstsurrenderTrustme,Ideemtheenotbold!reverenceonlyIfeel。
ManifoldworkingsthedartsofAmorpossess。somebutscratching,Yetwithinsidiouseffect,poisonthebosomforyears。
Othersmightilyfeather’d,withfreshandnewly-bornsharpnessPiercetotheinnermostbone,kindlethebloodintoflame。
Intheheroicaltimes,whenlovedeachgodandeachgoddess,Longingattendedonsight。thenwithfruitionwasbless’d。
Think’stthouthegoddesshadlongbeenthinkingofloveanditspleasuresWhenshe,inIda’sretreats,own’dtoAnchisesherflame?
HadbutLunadelaydtokissthebeautifulsleeper,Oh,byAurora,erelong,hehadinenvybeenrous’d!
HeroLeanderespiedatthenoisyfeast,andtheloverHotlyandnimbly,erelong,plungedinthenight-cover’dflood。
RheaSilvia,virginprincess,roam’dneartheTiber,Seekingtherewatertodraw,whenbythegodshewasseiz’d。
ThuswerethesonsofMarsbegotten!Thetwinsdidashe-wolfSuckleandnurture,——andRomecall’dherselfqueenoftheworld,——
ALEXANDER,andCaesar,andHenry,andFred’rick,themighty,Onmewouldgladlybestowhalfoftheglorytheyearn’d,CouldIbutgrantuntoeachonenightonthecouchwhereI’mlying。
Butthey,byOrcus’snight,sternly,alas!arehelddown。
Thereforerejoice,ohthoulivingone,blestinthylove-lightedhomestead,ErethedarkLethe’ssadwavewetteththyfugitivefoot——
THESEfewleaves,ohyeGraces,abardpresents,inyourhonour,Onyouraltarsopure,addingsweetrosebudsaswell,Andhedoesitwithhope。Theartistisgladinhisworkshop,WhenaPantheonitseemsroundhimforevertobring。
Jupiterknitshisgodlikebrow,——her’s,Junoup-lifteth。
Phoebusstridesonbefore,shakinghiscurly-lock’dheadCalmlyanddrilyMinervalooksdown,andHermesthelightone,Turnethhisglancesaside,roguishandtenderatonce。
Buttow’rdsBacchus,theyielding,thedreaming,raisethCythereLooksbothlongingandsweet,e’eninthemarbleyetmoist。
Ofhisembracesshethinkswithdelight,andseemstobeaskingShouldnotourglorioussontakeuphisplacebyourside?