The Poems of Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe [e novels for free .txt] 📗

>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 me

To go within doors.

I bashfully go,--

Who I am, he can't trace; He pinches my cheeks,

And he looks in my face.

The town girl now threatens

You maidens with war; Her twofold charms pledges .

Of victory are.

1803. -----

LOVER IN ALL SHAPES.

To be like a fish, Brisk and quick, is my wish; If thou cam'st with thy line. Thou wouldst soon make me thine. To be like a fish, Brisk and quick, is my wish.

Oh, were I a steed! Thou wouldst love me indeed. Oh, were I a car Fit to bear thee afar! Oh, were I a steed! Thou wouldst love me indeed.

I would I were gold That thy fingers might hold! If thou boughtest aught then, I'd return soon again. I would I were gold That thy fingers might hold!

I would I were true, And my sweetheart still new! To be faithful I'd swear, And would go away ne'er. I would I were true, And my sweetheart still new!

I would I were old, And wrinkled and cold, So that if thou said'st No, I could stand such a blow! I would I were old, And wrinkled and cold.

An ape I would be, Full of mischievous glee; If aught came to vex thee, I'd plague and perplex thee. An ape I would be, Full of mischievous glee

As a lamb I'd behave, As a lion be brave, As a lynx clearly see, As a fox cunning be. As a lamb I'd behave, As a lion be brave.

Whatever I were, All on thee I'd confer; With the gifts of a prince My affection evince. Whatever I were, All on thee I'd confer.

As nought diff'rent can make me, As I am thou must take me! If I'm not good enough, Thou must cut thine own stuff. As nought diff'rent can make me, As I am thou must take me!

1815.* -----

THE GOLDSMITH'S APPRENTICE.

My neighbour, none can e'er deny,

Is a most beauteous maid; Her shop is ever in mine eye,

When working at my trade.

To ring and chain I hammer then

The wire of gold assay'd, And think the while: "For Kate, oh when

Will such a ring be made?"

And when she takes her shutters down,

Her shop at once invade, To buy and haggle, all the town,

For all that's there displayd.

I file, and maybe overfile

The wire of gold assay'd; My master grumbles all the while,--

Her shop the mischief made.

To ply her wheel she straight begins,

When not engaged in trade; I know full well for what she spins,--

'Tis hope guides that dear maid.

Her leg, while her small foot treads on,

Is in my mind portray'd; Her garter I recall anon,--

I gave it that dear maid.

Then to her lips the finest thread

Is by her hand convey'd. Were I there only in its stead,

How I would kiss the maid!

1808. -----

ANSWERS IN A GAME OF QUESTIONS.

THE LADY.

IN the small and great world too,

What most charms a woman's heart? It is doubtless what is new,

For its blossoms joy impart; Nobler far is what is true,

For fresh blossoms it can shoot

Even in the time of fruit.

THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN.

With the Nymphs in wood and cave

Paris was acquainted well, Till Zeus sent, to make him rave,

Three of those in Heav'n who dwell; And the choice more trouble gave

Than e'er fell to mortal lot,

Whether in old times or not.

THE EXPERIENCED.

Tenderly a woman view,

And thoult win her, take my word; He who's quick and saucy too,

Will of all men be preferr'd; Who ne'er seems as if he knew

If he pleases, if he charms,--

He 'tis injures, he 'tis harms.

THE CONTENTED.

Manifold is human strife,

Human passion, human pain; Many a blessing yet is rife,

Many pleasures still remain. Yet the greatest bliss in life,

And the richest prize we find,

Is a good, contented mind.

THE MERRY COUNSEL.

He by whom man's foolish will

Is each day review'd and blamed, Who, when others fools are still,

Is himself a fool proclaim'd,-- Ne'er at mill was beast's back press'd

With a heavier load than he. What I feel within my breast

That in truth's the thing for me!

1789. -----

DIFFERENT EMOTIONS ON THE SAME SPOT.

THE MAIDEN.

I'VE seen him before me! What rapture steals o'er me!

Oh heavenly sight! He's coming to meet me; Perplex'd, I retreat me,

With shame take to flight. My mind seems to wander! Ye rocks and trees yonder,

Conceal ye my rapture.

Conceal my delight!

THE YOUTH.

'Tis here I must find her, 'Twas here she enshrined her,

Here vanish'd from sight. She came, as to meet me, Then fearing to greet me,

With shame took to flight. Is't hope? Do I wander? Ye rocks and trees yonder,

Disclose ye the loved one,

Disclose my delight!

THE LANGUISHING.

O'er my sad, fate I sorrow, To each dewy morrow,

Veil'd here from man's sight By the many mistaken, Unknown and forsaken,

Here I wing my flight! Compassionate spirit! Let none ever hear it,--

Conceal my affliction,

Conceal thy