Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Page 266
Honor is his merit,
‘Gainst each in- and outward foe
He’s our rock and tower.
Of his maintenance thinks he though,
More that grows his power.
Next to her good health I drink,
Who has stirr’d my passion;
Of his mistress let each think,
Think in knightly fashion.
If the beauteous maid but see
Whom ’tis I now call so,
Let her smiling nod to me:
“Here’s my love’s health also!”
To those friends, — the two or three, —
Be our next toast given,
In whose presence revel we,
In the silent even, —
Who the gloomy mist so cold
Scatter gently, lightly;
To those friends, then, new or old,
Let the toast ring brightly.
Broader now the stream rolls on,
With its waves more swelling,
While in higher, nobler tone,
Comrades, we are dwelling, —
We who with collected might,
Bravely cling together,
Both in fortune’s sunshine bright,
And in stormy weather.
Just as we are gather’d thus,
Others are collected;
On them, therefore, as on us,
Be Fate’s smile directed!
From the springhead to the sea,
Many a mill’s revolving,
And the world’s prosperity
Is the task I’m solving.
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WONT AND DONE.
I HAVE lov’d; for the first time with passion I rave!
I then was the servant, but now am the slave;
I then was the servant of all:
By this creature so charming I now am fast bound,
To love and love’s guerdon she turns all around,
And her my sole mistress I call.
I’ve had faith; for the first time my faith is now strong!
And though matters go strangely, though matters go wrong,
To the ranks of the faithful I’m true:
Though ofttimes ’twas dark and though oftimes ’twas drear,
In the pressure of need, and when danger was near,
Yet the dawning of light I now view.
I have eaten; but ne’er have thus relish’d my food!
For when glad are the senses, and joyous the blood,
At table all else is effac’d:
As for youth, it but swallows, then whistles an air;
As for me, to a jovial resort I’d repair,
Where to eat, and enjoy what I taste.
I have drunk; but have never thus relish’d the bowl!
For wine makes us lords, and enlivens the soul,
And loosens the trembling slave’s tongue.
Let’s seek not to spare then the heart-stirring drink,
For though in the barrel the old wine may sink,
In its place will fast mellow the young.
I have danc’d, and to dancing am pledg’d by a vow!
Though no caper or waltz may be rav’d about now,
In a dance that’s becoming, whirl round.
And he who a nosegay of flowers has dress’d,
And cares not for one any more than the rest,
With a garland of mirth is aye crown’d.
Then once more be merry, and banish all woes!
For he who but gathers the blossoming rose,
By its thorns will be tickl’d alone.
To-day still, as yesterday, glimmers the star;
Take care from all heads that hang down to keep far,
And make but the future thine own.
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GENERAL CONFESSION.
IN this noble ring to-day
Let my warning shame ye!
Listen to my solemn voice, —
Seldom does it name ye.
Many a thing have ye intended,
Many a thing have badly ended,
And now I must blame ye.
At some moment in our lives
We must all repent us!
So confess, with pious trust,
All your sins momentous!
Error’s crooked pathways shunning,
Let us, on the straight road running,
Honestly content us!
Yes! we’ve oft, when waking, dream’d,
Let’s confess it rightly;
Left undrain’d the brimming cup,
When it sparkl’d brightly;
Many a shepherd’s-hour’s soft blisses,
Many a dear mouth’s flying kisses
We’ve neglected lightly.
Mute and silent have we sat,
Whilst the blockheads prated,
And above e’en song divine
Have their babblings rated;
To account we’ve even call’d us
For the moments that enthrall’d us,
With enjoyment freighted.
If thou’lt absolution grant
To thy true ones ever,
We, to execute thy will,
Ceaseless will endeavor,
From half-measures strive to wean us,
Wholly, fairly, well demean us,
Resting, flagging never.
At all blockheads we’ll at once
Let our laugh ring clearly,
And the pearly-foaming wine
Never sip at merely.
Ne’er with eye alone give kisses,
But with boldness suck in blisses
From those lips lov’d dearly.
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COPTIC SONG.
LEAVE we the pedants to quarrel and strive,
Rigid and cautious the teachers to be!
All of the wisest men e’er seen alive
Smile, nod, and join in the chorus with me:
“Vain ’tis to wait till the dolt grows less silly!
Play then the fool with the fool, willy-nilly, —
Children of wisdom, — remember the word!”
Merlin the old, from his glittering grave,
When I, a stripling, once spoke to him, — gave
Just the same answer as that I’ve preferr’d:
“Vain ’tis to wait till the dolt grows less silly!
Play then the fool with the fool, willy-nilly, —
Children of wisdom, — remember the world!”
And on the Indian breeze as it booms,
And in the depths of Egyptian tombs,
Only the same holy saying I’ve heard:
“Vain ’tis to wait till the dolt grows less silly!
Play then the fool with the fool, willy-nilly, —
Children of wisdom, — remember the world!”
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ANOTHER.
O! obedient to my call,
Turn to profit thy young days,
Wiser make betimes thy breast!
In Fate’s balance as it sways,
Seldom is the cock at rest;
Thou must either mount or fall,
Thou must either rule and win
Or submissively give in,
Triumph, or else yield to clamor:
Be the anvil or the hammer.
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VANITAS! VANITATUM VANITAS!
MY trust in nothing now is plac’d,
Hurrah!
So in the world true joy I taste,
Hurrah!
Then he who would be a comrade of mine
Must rattle his glass, and in chorus combine,
Over these dregs of wine.
I plac’d my trust in gold and wealth,
Hurrah!
But then I lost all joy and health,
Lack-a-day!
Both here and there the money roll’d,
And when I had it here, behold,
From there had fled the gold!
I plac’d my trust in women next,
Hurrah!
But there in truth was sorely vex’d,
Lack-a-day!
The False another portion sought,
The True with tediousness were fraught,
The Best could not be bought.
My trust in travels then I plac’d,
Hurrah!
And left my native land in haste,
Lack-a-day!
But not a single thing seem’d good,
The beds were bad, and strange the food,
And I not understood.
I plac’d my trust in rank and fame,
Hurrah!
Another put me straight to shame,
Lack-a-day!
And as I had been prominent,
All scowl’d upon me as I went,
I found not one content.
I plac’d my trust in war and fight,
Hurrah!
We gain’d full many a triumph bright,
Hurrah!
Into the foeman’s land we cross’d,
We put our friends to equal cost,
And there a leg I lost.
My trust is plac’d in nothing now,
Hurrah!
At my command the world must bow,
Hurrah!
And as we’ve ended feast and strain,
The cup we’ll to the bottom drain;
No dregs must there remain!
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SWISS SONG.
UP in the mountain
I was a-sitting,
With the bird there
As my guest,
Blithely singing,
Blithely springing,
And building
His nest.
In the garden
I was a-standing,
And the bee there
Saw as well,
Buzzing, humming,
Going, coming,
And building
His cell.
O’er the meadow
I was a-going,
And there saw the
Butterflies,
Sipping, dancing,
Flying, glancing,
And charming
The eyes.
And then came my
Dear Hansel,
And I show’d them
With glee,
Sipping, quaffing,
And he, laughing,
Sweet kisses
Gave me.
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FORTUNE OF WAR.
NOUGHT more accurs’d in war I know
Than getting off scot-free;
Inur’d to danger, on we go
In constant victory;
We first unpack, then pack again,
With only this reward,
That when we’re marching, we complain,
And when in camp, are bor’d.
The time for billeting comes next, —
The peasant curses it;
Each nobleman is sorely vex’d,
’Tis hated by the cit.
Be civil, bad though be thy food,
The clowns politely treat;
If to our hosts we’re ever rude,
Jail-bread we’re forc’d to eat.
And when the cannons growl around,
And small arms rattle clear,
And trumpet, trot, and drum resound,
We merry all appear;
And as it in the fight may chance,
We yield, then charge amain,
And now retire, and now advance,
And yet a cross ne’er gain.
At length there comes a musket-ball,
And hits the leg, please Heaven;
And then our troubles vanish all,
For to the town we’re driven,
(Well cover’d by the victor’s force,)
Where we in wrath first came, —
The women, frighten’d then, of course,
Are loving now and tame.
Cellar and heart are open’d wide,
The cook’s allow’d no rest;
While beds with softest down suppli’d
Are by our members press’d.
The nimble lads upon us wait,
No sleep the hostess takes;
Her shift is torn in pieces straight, —
What wondrous lint it makes!
If one has tended carefully
The hero’s wounded limb,
Her neighbor cannot rest, for she
Has also tended him.
A third arrives in equal haste,
At length they all are there,
And in the middle he is plac’d
Of the whole band so fair!
On good authority the king
Hears how we love the fight,
And bids them cross and ribbon bring,
Our coat and breast to dight.
Say if a better fate can e’er
A son of Mars pursue!
‘Midst tears at length we go from there,
Belov’d and honor’d too.
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OPEN TABLE.
MANY a guest I’d see to-day,
Met to taste my dishes!
Food in plenty is prepar’d,
Birds, and game, and fishes.
Invitations all have had,
All propos’d attending.
Johnny, go and look around!
Are they hither wending?
Pretty girls I hope to see,
Dear and guileless misses,
Ignorant how sweet it is
Giving tender kisses.
Invitations all have had,
All propos’d attending.
Johnny, go and look around!
Are they hither wending?
Women also I expect,
Loving tow’rd their spouses,
Whose rude grumbling in their breasts
Greater love but rouses.
Invitations they’ve had too,
All propos’d attending!
Johnny, go and look around!
Are they hither wending?
I’ve too ask’d young gentlemen,
Who are far from haughty,
And whose purses are well-stock’d,
Well-behav’d, not naughty.
These especially I ask’d,
All propos’d attending.
Johnny, go and look around!
Are they hither wending?
Men I summon’d with respect,
Who their own wives treasure;
Who in ogling other Fair
Never take a pleasure.
To my greetings they replied,
All propos’d attending.
Johnny, go and look around!
Are they hither wending?
Then to make our joy complete,
Poets I invited,
Who love other’s songs far more
Than what they’ve indited.
All acceded to my wish,
All propos’d attending.
Johnny, go and look around!
Are they hither wending?
Not a single one appears,
None seem this way posting.
All the soup boils fast away,
Joints are over-roasting.
Ah, I fear that we have been
Rather too unbending!
Johnny, tell me what you think!
None are hither wending.
Johnny, run and quickly bring
Other guests to me now!
Each arriving as he is �
�
That’s the plan, I see now.
In the town at once ’tis known,
Ev’ry one’s commending.
Johnny, open all the doors:
All are hither wending!
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THE RECKONING.
Leader.
LET no cares now hover o’er us!
Let the wine unsparing run!
Wilt thou swell our merry chorus?
Hast thou all thy duty done?
Solo.
Two young folks — the thing is curious —
Lov’d each other; yesterday
Both quite mild, to-day quite furious,
Next day, quite the deuce to pay!
If her neck she there was stooping,
He must here needs pull his hair.
I reviv’d their spirits drooping,
And they’re now a happy pair.
Chorus.
Surely we for wine may languish!
Let the bumper then go round!
For all sighs and groans of anguish
Thou to-day in joy hast drown’d.
Solo.
Why, young orphan, all this wailing?
“Would to heaven that I were dead!
For my guardian’s craft prevailing
Soon will make me beg my bread.”
Knowing well the rascal genus,
Into court I dragg’d the knave;
Fair the judges were between us,
And the maiden’s wealth did save.
Chorus.
Surely we for wine may languish!
Let the bumper then go round!
For all sighs and groans of anguish
Thou to-day in joy hast drown’d.
Solo.
To a little fellow, quiet,
Unpretending and subdu’d,
Has a big clown, running riot,
Been to-day extremely rude.
I bethought me of my duty,
And my courage swell’d apace,
So I spoil’d the rascal’s beauty,
Slashing him across the face.
Chorus.
Surely we for wine may languish!
Let the bumper then go round!
For all sighs and groans of anguish
Thou to-day in joy hast drown’d.
Solo.
Brief must be my explanation,
For I really have done nought.
Free from trouble and vexation,
I a landlord’s business bought.
There I’ve done, with all due ardor,
All that duty order’d me;
Each one ask’d me for the larder,
And there was no scarcity.
Chorus.
Surely we for wine may languish!
Let the bumper then go round!
For all sighs and groans of anguish
Thou to-day in joy hast drown’d.
Leader.
Each should thus make proclamation
Of what he did well to-day!
That’s the match whose conflagration
Should inflame our tuneful lay.
Let it be our precept ever