The Poems of Goethe | Page 9

lambs, the scoffer
Laugh'd at heart and ribbons too,--?Still 'twas Ia! le ralla, &c.
1791.

THE CONVERT.
As at sunset I was straying
Silently the wood along,?Damon on his flute was playing,
And the rocks gave back the song,?So la, Ia! &c.
Softly tow'rds him then he drew me;
Sweet each kiss he gave me then!?And I said, "Play once more to me!"
And he kindly play'd again,?So la, la! &c.
All my peace for aye has fleeted,
All my happiness has flown;?Yet my ears are ever greeted
With that olden, blissful tone,?So la, la! &c.
1791.

PRESERVATION.
My maiden she proved false to me;
To hate all joys I soon began,
Then to a flowing stream I ran,--?The stream ran past me hastily.
There stood I fix'd, in mute despair;
My head swam round as in a dream;
I well-nigh fell into the stream,?And earth seem'd with me whirling there.
Sudden I heard a voice that cried--
I had just turn'd my face from thence--
It was a voice to charm each sense:?"Beware, for deep is yonder tide!"
A thrill my blood pervaded now,
I look'd and saw a beauteous maid
I asked her name--twas Kate, she said--?"Oh lovely Kate! how kind art thou!
"From death I have been sav'd by thee,
'Tis through thee only that I live;
Little 'twere life alone to give,?My joy in life then deign to be!"
And then I told my sorrows o'er,
Her eyes to earth she sweetly threw;
I kiss'd her, and she kiss'd me too,?And--then I talked of death no more.
1775.*

THE MUSES' SON.
[Goethe quotes the beginning of this song in his Autobiography, as expressing the manner in which his poetical effusions used to pour out from him.]
THROUGH field and wood to stray,?And pipe my tuneful lay,--
'Tis thus my days are pass'd;?And all keep tune with me,?And move in harmony,
And so on, to the last.
To wait I scarce have power?The garden's earliest flower,
The tree's first bloom in Spring;?They hail my joyous strain,--?When Winter comes again,
Of that sweet dream I sing.
My song sounds far and near,?O'er ice it echoes clear,
Then Winter blossoms bright;?And when his blossoms fly,?Fresh raptures meet mine eye,
Upon the well-till'd height.
When 'neath the linden tree,?Young folks I chance to see,
I set them moving soon;?His nose the dull lad curls,?The formal maiden whirls,
Obedient to my tune.
Wings to the feet ye lend,?O'er hill and vale ye send
The lover far from home;?When shall I, on your breast,.
Ye kindly muses, rest,?And cease at length to roam?
1800.*

FOUND.
ONCE through the forest
Alone I went;?To seek for nothing
My thoughts were bent.
I saw i' the shadow
A flower stand there?As stars it glisten'd,
As eyes 'twas fair.
I sought to pluck it,--
It gently said:?"Shall I be gather'd
Only to fade?"
With all its roots
I dug it with care,?And took it home
To my garden fair.
In silent corner
Soon it was set;?There grows it ever,
There blooms it yet.
1815.*

LIKE AND LIKE.
A FAIR bell-flower
Sprang tip from the ground;?And early its fragrance
It shed all around;?A bee came thither
And sipp'd from its bell;?That they for each other
Were made, we see well.
1814.

RECIPROCAL INVITATION TO THE DANCE.
THE INDIFFERENT.
COME to the dance with me, come with me, fair one!
Dances a feast-day like this may well crown.?If thou my sweetheart art not, thou canst be so,
But if thou wilt not, we still will dance on.?Come to the dance with me, come with me, fair one!
Dances a feast-day like this may well crown.
THE TENDER.
Loved one, without thee, what then would all feast be?
Sweet one, without thee, what then were the dance??If thou my sweetheart wert not, I would dance not.
If thou art still so, all life is one feast.?Loved one, without thee, what then would all feasts be?
Sweet one, without thee, what then were the dance?
THE INDIFFERENT.
Let them but love, then, and leave us the dancing!
Languishing love cannot bear the glad dance.?Let us whirl round in the waltz's gay measure,
And let them steal to the dim-lighted wood.?Let them but love, then, and leave us the dancing!
Languishing love cannot bear the glad dance.
THE TENDER.
Let them whirl round, then, and leave us to wander!
Wand'ring to love is a heavenly dance.?Cupid, the near one, o'erhears their deriding,
Vengeance takes suddenly, vengeance takes soon.?Let them whirl round, then, and leave us to wander!
Wand'ring to love is a heavenly dance.
1789.*

SELF-DECEIT.
My neighbour's curtain, well I see,
Is moving to and fin.?No doubt she's list'ning eagerly,
If I'm at home or no.
And if the jealous grudge I bore
And openly confess'd,?Is nourish'd by me as before,
Within my inmost breast.
Alas! no fancies such as these
E'er cross'd the dear child's thoughts.?I see 'tis but the ev'ning breeze
That with the curtain sports.
1803.

DECLARATION OF WAR.
OH, would I resembled
The country girls fair,?Who rosy-red ribbons
And yellow hats wear!
To believe I was pretty
I thought was allow'd;?In the town I believed it
When by the youth vow'd.
Now that Spring hath return'd,
All my joys disappear;?The girls of the country
Have lured him from here.
To change dress and figure,
Was needful I found,?My bodice is longer,
My petticoat round.
My hat now is yellow.
My bodice like snow;?The clover to sickle
With others I go.
Something pretty, e'er long
Midst the troop he explores;?The eager boy signs