THESEVENSLEEPERS。
Sixamongthecourtiersfavour’dFlybeforetheCaesar’sfury,Whowouldasagodbeworshipp’d,Thoughintruthnogodappearing,ForaflypreventshimeverFromenjoyingfoodattable。
Thoughwithfanshisservantsscareit,Theytheflycanneverbanish。
Ittormentshim,stings,andtroubles,Andthefestalboardperplexes,ThenreturningliketheheraldOftheoldencraftyFly-God。
What!——thestriplingssaytogether——
Shallaflyagodembarrass?
Shallagoddrink,eatattable,Likeusmortals?No,theOnly,Whothesunandmooncreated,Andtheglowingstarsarch’do’erus,HeisGod,——we’llfly!——Thegentle,Lightlyshod,anddaintystriplingsDidashepherdmeet,andhidethem,Withhimself,withinacavern。
Andthesheep-dogwillnotleavethem,——
Scaredaway,hisfootall-mangled,Tohismasterstillhepresses,Andhejoinsthehiddenparty,Joinsthefavoritesofslumber。
Andtheprince,whomtheyhadfledfrom,Fondly-furious,thinksofvengeance,And,discardingswordandfire,Hasthemwalled-upinthecavern,Walled-upfastwithbricksandmortar。
Buttheothersslumberever,AndtheAngel,theirprotector,GivesbeforeGod’sthronethisnoticeTotherightandleftalternateHaveIevercaredtoturnthem,ThattheirfairandyouthfulmembersBenotbythemould-dampinjured。
CleftswithintherocksIopen’d,Thatthesunmay,rising,setting,Keeptheircheeksinyouthfulfreshness。
Sotheyliethere,bless’dbyHeaven。
And,withforepawssoundandscatheless,Sleepsthedogingentleslumber。
Yearscomeround,andyearsflyonward,Andtheyouthsatlengthawaken,Andthewall,whichnowhadmoldered,Fromitsveryagehasfallen。
AndJamblikasays,——whosebeautyFarexceedethalltheothers,——
Whenthefearfulshepherdlingers:——
Iwillrun,andfoodprocureyou,LifeandpieceofgoldI’llwager!——
EphebushadmanyayearnowOwn’dtheteachingoftheProphetJesusPeacebewiththeGoodOne!
Andheran,andatthegatewayWerethewardersandtheothers。
Yethetothenearestbaker’s,Seekingbread,wentswiftlyonwards——
Rogue!thuscriedthebaker——hastthou,Youth,atreasure,then,discover’d?
Giveme,——forthegoldbetraysthee,——
Givemehalf,tokeepthysecret!——
Andtheyquarrel——TothemonarchComesthematter。andthemonarchFainwouldhalveit,likethebaker。
NowthemiracleisprovenSlowlybyahundredtokens。
Hecane’enhisrightestablishTothepalaceheerected,Forapillar,whenpiercedopen。
Leadstowealthhesaid’twouldleadto。
Soonaregather’dtherewholeraces,Theirrelationshiptoshowhim。
Andasgreat-grandfather,noblyStandsJamblika’syouthfulfigure。
Asofancestors,hehearsthem,Speakingofhissonandgrandsons。
Hisgreat-grandsonsstandaroundhim,Likearaceofvaliantmortals,Himtohonour,——him,theyoungest。
AndonetokenonanotherRisesup,theproofcompleting。
TheidentityisprovenOfhimself,andofhiscomrades。
Nowreturnshetothecavern,Withhimgobothkingandpeople——
NeithertothekingnorpeopleE’erreturnsthatchosenmortal。
FortheSeven,whoforages——
Eightwas,withthedog,theirnumber——
Hadfromalltheworldbeensunder’d,Gabriel’smysteriouspower,TothewillofGodobedient,HathtoParadiseconducted,——
Andthecavewasclosedforever。
1814-15——
SONGSFROMVARIOUSPLAYS,ETC——
FROMFAUST。
I。
DEDICATION。
YEshadowyforms,againye’redrawingnear,Sowontofyoretomeetmytroubledgaze!
Wereitinvaintoseektokeepyouhere?
Lovesstillmyheartthatdreamofoldendays?
Oh,comethen!andinpristineforceappear,Partingthevapormistthatroundmeplays!
Mybosomfindsitsyouthfulstrengthagain,Feelingthemagicbreezethatmarksyourtrain。
Yebringtheformsofhappydaysofyore,Andmanyashadowlovedattendsyoutoo。
Likesomeoldlay,whosedreamwaswellnigho’er,First-loveappearsagain,andfriendshiptrue。
Uponlife’slabyrinthinepathoncemoreIsheardthesigh,andgriefrevivesanew。
Thefriendsaretold,who,intheirhourofpride,Deceivedbyfortune,vanish’dfrommyside。
Nolongerdotheyhearmyplaintivesong,ThesoulstowhomIsanginlife’syoungday。
Scatter’dforevernowthefriendlythrong,Andmute,alas!eachsweetresponsivelay。
Mystrainsbuttothecarelesscrowdbelong,Theirsmilesbutsorrowtomyheartconvey。
Andallwhoheardmynumberserstwithgladness,Iflivingyet,roamo’ertheearthinsadness。
Longburiedyearningsinmybreastarise,Yoncalmandsolemnspirit-realmtogain。
LiketheAEONIANharp’ssweetmelodies,Mymurmuringsongbreathesforthitschangefulstrain。
Atremblingseizesme,tearsfillmineeyes,Andsoftergrowsmyruggedheartamain。
AllIpossessfardistantseemstobe,Thevanish’donlyseemsreality。
II。
PROLOGUEINHEAVEN。
THEARCHANGELS’SONG。
RAPHAEL。
THEsunstillchaunts,asinoldtime,Withbrother-spheresinchoralsong,Andwithhisthunder-marchsublimeMoveshispredestinedcoursealong。
Strengthfindtheangelsinhissight,Thoughhebynonemayfathomedbe。
StillgloriousiseachworkofmightAswhenfirstform’dinmajesty。
GABRIEL。
Andswiftandswift,inwondrousguise,Revolvestheearthinsplendourbright,TheradianthuesofParadiseAlternatingwithdeepestnight。
Fromoutthegulfagainsttherock,Inspreadingbillowsfoamstheocean,——
Andcliffandseawithmightyshock,Thesphereswhirlroundinendlessmotion。
MICHAEL。
AndstormsinemulationgrowlFromlandtosea,fromseatoland,Andfashion,astheywildlyhowl,Acircling,wonder-workingband。
DestructiveflamesinmadcareerPrecedeThythundersontheirway。
Yet,Lord,ThymessengersrevereThesoftmutationsofThyday。
THETHREE。
StrengthfindtheangelsinThysight,ThoughnonemayhopetofathomThee。
StillgloriousareThyworksofmight,Aswhenfirstform’dinmajesty。
III。
CHORUSOFANGELS。
CHRISTisarisen!
Mortal,allhail!
Thou,ofEarth’sprisonDrearyandfrail,Burstingtheveil,Proudlyhastrisen!
CHORUSOFWOMEN。
Richspicesandmyrrh,ToembalmHimwebrought。
HiscorpsetointerHistruefollowerssought。
Inpurecerementsshrin’d,’TwasplacedinthebierBut,alas!wenowfindThatChristisnothere。
CHORUSOFANGELS。
Christisarisen!
SpeechlessHislove。
WhotoEarth’sprisonCamefromabove,Trialstoprove。
NowisHerisen!
CHORUSOFYOUTHS。
Death’sgloomyportalNowhathHerended,——
Living,immortal,Heavenwardascended。
FreedfromHisanguish,SeesHeGod’sthrone。
Westillmustlanguish,Earthbound,alone。
NowthatHe’sreftus,Heart-sadwepine。
WhyhastThouleftus,Masterdivine?
CHORUSOFANGELS。
Christisarisen,DeathhathHeslain。
Burstyeyourprison,Rendyeeachchain!
Songsofpraiseleadye,——
Lovetoshow,heedye,——
Hungryonesfeedye,——
Preaching,onspeedye,——
Comingjoyspleadye,——
ThenistheMasternear,ThenisHehere!
IV。
CHORUSOFSPIRITS。
VANISH,darkcloudsonhigh,Offspringofnight!
LetamoreradiantbeamThroughtheblueethergleam,Charmingthesight!
WouldthedarkcloudsonhighMeltintoair!
Starsglimmertenderly,PlanetsmorefairShedtheirsoftlight。
Spiritsofheav’nlybirth,Fairerthansonsofearth,QuiveringemotionstrueHoverabove。
Yearningaffections,too,Intheirtrainmove。
Seehowthespirit-band,Bythesoftbreezesfann’d,Coversthesmilingland,——
Coverstheleafygrove,Wherehappyloversrove,Deepinadreamoflove,Truelovethatneverdies!
Bowersonbowersrise,Softtendrilstwine。
Whilefromthepressescapes,Bornofthejuicygrapes,Foaming,thewine。
AndasthecurrentflowsO’erthebrightstonesitgoes,——
LeavingthehillylandsFar,farbehind,——
Intoaseaexpands,LovingtowindRoundthegreenmountain’sbase。
Andtheglad-wingedrace,Rapturesipin,Astheythesunnylight,Andthefairislandsbright,Hastentowin,ThatonthebillowsplayWithsweetdeceptiveray,WhereingladchoralsongShouttheexultingthrong。
WhereontheverdantplainDancerswesee,SpreadingthemselvesamainOverthelea。
SomeboldlyclimbingareO’erthesteepbrake,OthersarefloatingfarO’erthesmoothlake。
Allforapurposemove,Allwithlifeteem,WhilethesweetstarsaboveBlissfullygleam。
V。
MARGARETATHERSPINNING-WHEEL。
MYheartissad,Mypeaceiso’er。
IfinditneverAndnevermore。
Whengoneishe,ThegraveIsee。
Theworld’swideallIsturnedtogall。
Alas,myheadIswell-nighcrazed。
MyfeeblemindIssoreamazed。
Myheartissad,Mypeaceiso’er。
IfinditneverAndnevermore。
ForhimfromthewindowAloneIspy。
ForhimaloneFromhomegoI。
Hisloftystep,Hisnobleform,Hismouth’ssweetsmile,Hisglanceswarm,HisvoicesofraughtWithmagicbliss,Hishand’ssoftpressure,And,ah,hiskiss!
Myheartissad,Mypeaceiso’er。
IfinditneverAndnevermore。
MybosomyearnsForhisformsofair。
Ah,couldIclasphimAndholdhimthere!
MykissessweetShouldstophisbreath,And’neathhiskissesI’dsinkindeath!
VI。
SCENE——AGARDEN,Margaret。Faust。
MARGARET。
DOSTthoubelieveinGod?
FAUST。
DothmortalliveWhodarestosaythathebelievesinGod?
Go,bidthepriestatruthfulanswergive,Go,askthewisestwhoonearthe’ertrod,——
TheiranswerwillappeartobeGivenaloneinmockery。
MARGARET。
Thenthoudostnotbelieve?Thissayestthou?
FAUST。
Sweetlove,mistakenotwhatIutternow!
WhoknowsHisname?
Whodaresproclaim:——
HimIbelieve?
WhosocanfeelHishearttosteelTosaribelieveHimnot?
TheAll-Embracer,TheAll-Sustained,HoldsandsustainsHenotThee,me,Himself?
Hangnottheheavenstheirarchoverhead?
Liesnottheearthbeneathus,firm?
GleamnotwithkindlyglancesEternalstarsonhigh?
Looksnotmineeyedeepintothine?
AnddonotallthingsCrowdonthyheadandheart,Androundtheetwine,inmysteryeterne,Invisible,yetvisible?
Fill,then,thyheart,howevervast,withthis,Andwhenthefeelingperfecteththybliss,O,callitwhatthouwilt,Callitjoy!heart!love!God!
NonameforitIknow!
’Tisfeelingall——noughtelse。
Nameisbutsoundandsmoke,Obscuringheaven’sbrightglow。
VII。
MARGARET,Placingfreshflowersintheflower-pots。
OTHOUwell-triedingrief,Granttothychildrelief,Andviewwithmercythisunhappyone!
Theswordwithinthyheart,Speechlesswithbittersmart,ThouLookestuptowardsthydyingson。
Thoulook’sttoGodonhigh,AndbreathestmanyasighO’erhisandthydistress,thouholyOne!
Whoe’ercanknowThedepthofwoePiercingmyverybone?
Thesorrowsthatmybosomfill,Itstrembling,itsaye-yearningwill,Areknowntothee,totheealone!
WhereverImaygo,Withwoe,withwoe,withwoe,Mybosomsadisaching!
Iscarcealonecancreep,Iweep,Iweep,Iweep,Myveryheartisbreaking。
TheflowersatmywindowMyfallingtearsbedewed,WhenI,atdawnofmorning,Fortheetheseflow’retsstrewed。
WhenearlytomychamberThecheerfulsunbeamsstole,Isatuponmypallet,Inagonyofsoul。
Help!rescuemefromdeathandmisery!
Oh,thouwell-triedingrief,Granttothychildrelief,Andviewwithmercymydeepagony!
FROMFAUST——SECONDPART。
I。
ARIEL。
WHENinspringthegentlerainBreathesintotheflowernewbirth,WhenthegreenandhappyplainSmilesuponthesonsofearth,Hastetogivewhathelpwemay,Littleelvesofwondrousmight!
Whethergoodorevilthey,Pityforthemfeelsthesprite。
II。
CHORUSOFSPIRITS。
WHENthemoistandbalmygaleRoundtheverdantmeadowsighs,OdorssweetinmistyveilAtthetwilight-hourarise。
MurmuringssoftofcalmreposeRockthehearttochild-likerest,Andtheday’sbrightportalscloseOntheeyeswithtoiloppress’d。
Nightalreadyreignso’erall,Strangelystarislink’dtostar。
Planetsmighty,sparklingsmall,Glitternearandgleamafar。
Gleamaboveinclearernight,Glitterintheglassysea。
Pledgingpureandcalmdelight,Rulesthemooninmajesty。
Noweachwell-knownhourisover,Joyandgriefhavepass’daway。
Feelbetimes!thoultthenrecover:
Trustthenewborneyeofday。
Valesgrowverdant,hillocksteem,Shadynooksthebushesyield,Andwithwaving,silverygleam,Rockstheharvestinthefield。
Wouldstthouwishforwishobtain,Lookuponyonglitteringray!
Lightlyontheeliesthechain,Casttheshellofsleepaway!
Tarrynot,butbethoubold,Whenthemanyloiterstill。
Allwitheasemaybecontroll’dBythemanofdaringwill。
III。
ARIEL。
HARK!thestormofhoursdrawsnear,Loudlytothespirit-earSignsofcomingdayappear。
Rockygatesarewildlycrashing,Phoebus’wheelsareonwarddashing。
Awonderfulnoiseproclaimstheapproachofthesun。
Lightdothmightysoundsbeget!
Pealingloudasrollingthunder,Eyeandearitfillswithwonder,Thoughitselfunconsciousyet。
Downwardstealsit,’mongsttheflowersSeekingdeeper,stillerbowers,’Mongstthefoliage,’neaththerock。
Thou’ltbedeafenedbytheshock!——
FROMFAUST——SECONDPART。
SCENETHELAST。
ANGELS。
[Hoveringinthehigherregionsofair,andhearingtheimmortalpartofFaust。]
THEspirit-region’snoblelimbHath’scaledtheArchfiend’spower。
ForwehavestrengthtorescuehimWholaboursev’ryhour。
AndifhefeelswithinhisbreastArayoflovefromheaven。
He’smetbyallthesquadronblestWithwelcomegladlygiven。
THEYOUNGERANGELS。
Yonderroses,fromtheholyHandsofpenitentssolowly,Help’dtorenderusvictorious,Andtodothedeedall-glorious。
Fortheygain’dusthissoul-treasure。
Evilonesthoserosesbanish’d,Devils,whenwemetthem,vanish’d。
Spiritsfeltlove’spangswithpleasure,Wherehell’stormentsusedtodwell。
E’enthehoarykingofhellFeltsharptormentsthroughhimrun。
Shoutforjoy!theprizeiswon。
THEMOREPERFECTANGELS。
StrainsofmortalityLonghaveoppress’dus。
Purecouldtheyeverbe,Ifofasbestos。
Ifmightyspirit-strengthElementseverKnewhowtoseizeatlength,AngelscouldneverLink’dtwofoldnaturesmove,Wheresingle-hearted。
BynoughtbutdeathlessloveCantheybeparted。
THEYOUNGERANGELS。
Seewhereaspirit-raceBurstsonthesight!
DimlytheirformsItraceRoundthefarheight。
Eachcloudbecomethclear,WhilethebrighttroopsappearOftheblestboys,FromtheEarth’sburdenfree,InagladcompanyDrinkinginjoys,Bornoftheworldabove,Springtimeandbliss。
MaytheyforerunnersproveOfamoreperfectlove,Link’dontothis!
THEBEATIFIEDCHILDREN。
ThusasachrysalisGladlywegainhim,AndasapledgeofblissSafelyretainhim。
Whenfromtheshellhe’sfreeWherebyhe’stainted,Perfectandfairhe’llbe,Holyandsainted。
DOCTORMARINAS。
Inthehighest,purestcell。
Wideistheprospecthere,Raisedisthesoul。
Womenonhighappear,Seekingtheirgoal。
’Mongatthemtheradiantone,Queenoftheskies,InherbrightstarrycrownGreetsmygladeyes。
Withecstasy。
Thouwhoartofearththequeen。
Letme,’neaththeblueHeav’nlycanopysereneThysweetmysteryview!
GrantthegentlesolemnforceWhichthebreastcanmove。
AnddirectouronwardcourseTow’rdthyperfectlove。
Dauntlessletourcouragebe,Atthybrightbehest。
Mildourardoursuddenly,Whenthoubidd’stusrest。
Virgin,typeofholiness,Mother,honour-crown’d,Thouwhomweasqueenconfess,Godlikeandrenowned。
Roundher,ingentleplay,Lightcloudsarestealing。
Penitentsfairarethey,Who,humblykneeling,Sipintheethersweet,Astheyforgraceentreat。
Thou,whoartfrompassionsfree,Kindlyartinclin’d,WhenthesonsoffrailtySeekthee,meekinmind。
Bornebyweakness’streamalong,Harditistosavethem。
Whocanburstlust’schainssostrong,That,alas,enslavethem?
Ohowsoonthefootmayslip,Whenthesmoothgroundpressing!
O,howfalseareeyeandlip,Falseabreathcaressing!
MATERGLORLOSAhoverspast。
CHORUSOFPENITENTWOMEN。
TobringrealmsonhighInmajestysoaring,O,harktoourcryThypityimploring,Thouhelptothecheerless,Inglorysopeerless!
MAGNAPECCATRIXSt。Lukevii。36。
Bythelove,whicho’erthefeetOfthyGod-transfigur’dSonDropp’dtheteam,likebalsamsweet,Spiteofev’ryscornfulone。
Bytheboxofointmentrare,Whencethedropssofragrantfell。
Bythelocks,whosegentlecareDriedHisholymemberswell——
mullerSAMARITANASt,Johniv。。
BythewellwhereAbramerstDrovehisflockstodrinktheirfill。
BythebucketwhichthethirstOftheSaviourservedtostill。
Bythefountain,balm-exhaling,Thatfromyonbrightregionflows,Everclearandneverfailing。
Asroundev’ryworlditgoes——
MARIAAEGYPTIACAActaSanctorum。
Bythesacredspotimmortal,WheretheLord’sremainstheyplac’d。
Bythearm,thatfromtheportalDrovemebackwithwarninghaste。
BymyfortyyearsoflowlyPenanceinadesertland。
BythefarewellgreetingsholyThatIwroteuponthesand——
THETHREE。
Thouwhone’erthyradiantfaceFromthegreatestsinnershides,ThouwhoThineatoninggraceThrougheternityprovident,Letthissoul,byvirtuestirr’d,Self-forgetfulthoughwhenliving,Thatperceivednotthatiterr’d,Feelthymercy,sinforgiving!
UNAPOENITENTIUM。
OncenamedMargaret,pressingnearthem。
Ohradiance-spreadingOne,Whoequall’dartbynone,Inmercyviewmineecstasy!
ForhewhomerstIloved,Nomorebysorrowproved,Returnsatlengthtome!
BEATIFIEDCHILDREN。
Approachingastheyhoverround。
HenowinstrengthoflimbFardothoutweighus,And,aswetendedhim,Sowillrepayus。
EarlyremovedwereweFarfromlife’sstory。
Train’dnowhimself,willheTrainusinglory。
THEPENITENT,oncenamedMargaret。
Link’dwiththenoblebandofspirits,ScarcecanthenewonefeelorseeTheradiantlifehenowinherits,Solikethatholybandishe。
Seehowheburstseachbondmaterial,Andpartstheoldenveilatlength,——
Investurecladofgraceethereal,Comesintheglowofyouthfulstrength。
Oh,letmeguidehisstepsvictorious,Whiledazzledbythenew-bornlight。
MATERGLORIOSA。
Come!raisethyselftospheresmoreglorious,He’llfollowwhenthoumatzothhissight。
DOCTORMARINAS。
Prostratedinadoration。
Orepentantsinfulones,Onthatbrightfacegazeye,And,ingratefulorisons,Yourblestfortunepraiseye!
BeeachvirtueofthemindTothyservicegiven!
Virgin,mother,bethoukind!
Goddess,queenofheaven!
CHORUSMYSTICS。
EachthingofmortalbirthIsbutatypeWhatwasoffeebleworthHerebecomesripe。
WhatwasamysteryHeremeetstheeye。
Theever-womanlyDrawsusonhigh。
Finis。——
FROMIPHIGENIAINTAURIS。
ACTIV。SCENE5。
SONGOFTHEFATES。
YEchildrenofmortalsThedeitiesdread!
ThemasteryholdtheyInhandsall-eternal,Andusethem,unquestioned,Whatmannertheylike。
Lethimfearthemdoubly,Whomtheyhaveuplifted!
Oncliffsandonclouds,oh,Roundtablesall-golden,heseatsaremadeready。
Whenrisescontention,TheguestsarehumiddownwardsWithshameanddishonorTodeepdepthsofmidnight,Andvainlyawaitthey,Boundfastinthedarkness,Ajustcondemnation。
ButtheyremaineverInfirmnessunshakenRoundtablesall-golden。
OnstridetheyfrommountainTomountainfardistant:
Fromouttheabysses’
Darkjaws,thebreathrisesOftorment-chokedTitansUptow’rdsthem,likeincenseInlightcloudsascending。
TherulersimmortalAvertfromwholepeoplesTheirblessing-fraughtglances,Andshun,inthechildren,Totracetheoncecherish’d,Still,eloquentfeaturesTheirancestorswore。
ThuschantedtheParae。
Theoldman,thebanish’d,Ingloomyvaultlying,Theirsongoverheareth,Sons,grandsonsremembereth,Andshakethhishead——
FROMGOTZVONBERLICHINGEN。
ACTII。
LIEBETRAUTplaysandsings。
HISbowanddartbearing,Andtorchbrightlyflaring,DanCupidonflies。
Withvictoryladen,TovanquisheachmaidenHeroguishlytries。
Up!up!
On!on!
Hisarmsrattleloudly,Hiswingsrustleproudly,Andflamesfillhiseyes。
ThenfindsheeachbosomDefenselessandbare。
TheygladlyreceivehimAndwelcomehimthere。
ThepointofhisarrowsHelightsintheglow。
TheyclasphimandkisshimAndfondlehimso。
Heeo!Pap!
FROMEGMONT。
ACTI。
CLARAwindsaskein,andsingswithBrackenburg。
THEdrumgivesthesignal!
Loudringstheshrillfife!
MyloveleadshistroopsonFullarm’dforthestrife,WhilehishandgraspshislanceAstheyproudlyadvance。
Mybosompantswildly!
Mybloodhotlyflows!
OhhadIadoublet,Ahelmet,andhose!
ThroughthegatewithboldfootstepIafterhimhied,——
Eachprovince,eachcountryExploredbyhisside。
ThecowardfoetrembledThenrattledourshot:
Whatblisse’erresembledAsoldier’sgladlot!
ACTIII。
CLARAsings。
GladnessAndsadnessAndpensivenessblendingYearningAndburningIntormentne’erending。
Saduntodeath,Proudlysoaringabove。
HappyaloneIsthesoulthatdothlove!
FROMWILHELMMEISTER’SAPPRENTICESHIP。
BOOKII。,CHAP。XIII。
WHOnevereatwithtearshisbread,Whoneverthroughnight’sheavyhoursSatweepingonhislonelybed,——
Heknowsyounot,yeheavenlypowers!
Throughyouthepathsoflifewegain,Yeletpoormortalsgoastray,Andthenabandonthemtopain,——
E’enherethepenaltywepay,——
WHOgiveshimselftosolitude,Soonlonelywillremain。
Eachlives,eachlovesinjoyousmood,Andleaveshimtohispain。
Yes!leavemetomygrief!
Weresolitude’sreliefE’ergrantedme,AloneIshouldnotbe。
Aloversteals,onfootsteplight,Tolearnifhislove’salone。
Thuso’ermesteals,bydayandnight,Anguishbeforeunknown,Thuso’ermestealsdeepgrief。
Ah,whenIfindreliefWithinthetombsolonely,Willrestbemetwithonly!——
BOOKIV。,CHAP。XI。
Mygriefnomortalsknow,Excepttheyearning!
Alone,apreytowoe,Allpleasurespurning,Uptow’rdstheskyIthrowAgazediscerning。
HewhomylovecanknowSeemsne’erreturning。
WithstrangeandfieryglowMyheartisburning。
Mygriefnomortalsknow,Excepttheyearning!——
BOOKV。,CHAP。X。
SINGnomoreinmournfultonesOfthelonelinessofnight。
For’tismade,yebeauteousones,Forallsocialpleasuresbright。
AsofoldtomanawifeAshisbetterhalfwasgiven,Sothenightishalfourlife,Andthefairestunderheaven。
Howcanyeenjoytheday,Whichobstructsourrapture’stide?
Letitwasteitselfaway。
Worthless’tisforaughtbeside。
ButwheninthedarklinghoursFromthelampsoftraysareglowing,Andfrommouthtomouthsweetshowers,Nowofjest,nowlove,areflowing,——
Whenthenimble,wantonboy,Whosowildlyspendshisdays,OftamidlightsportswithjoyO’ersometriflinggiftdelays,?
WhenthenightingaleissingingStrainstheloverholdssodear,ThoughlikesighsandwailingsringingInthemournfulcaptive’sear,——
Withwhatheart-emotionblestDoyehearkentothebell,WontofsafetyandofrestWithtwelvesolemnstrokestotell!
Thereforeineachheavyhour,Letthispreceptfillyourheart:
O’ereachdaywillsorrowloud,Raptureev’rynightimpart——
EPILOGUETOSCHILLER’SSONGOFTHEBELL。
[Thisfinepiece,writtenoriginallyin1805,onSchiller’sdeath,wasalteredandrecastbyGoethein1815,ontheoccasionoftheperformanceonthestageoftheSongoftheBell。Hencetheallusioninthelastverse。]
Tothiscityjoyrevealit!
Peaceasitsfirstsignalpealit!
SongoftheBell——concludinglines。
ANDsoitproved!Thenationfelt,erelong,Thatpeacefulsignal,and,withblessingsfraught,Anew-bornjoyappear’d。ingladsomesongTohailtheyouthfulprincelypairwesought。
Whileinaliving,ever-swellingthrongMingledthecrowdsfromev’ryregionbrought,Andonthestage,infestalpomparray’dTheHOMAGEOFTHEARTS*wesawdisplayed。
*ThetitleofalyricpiececomposedbySchillerinhonourofthemarriageofthehereditaryPrinceofWeimartothePrincessMariaofRussia,andperformedin1804。
When,lo!afearfulmidnightsoundIhear,Thatwithadullandmournfulechorings。
AndcanitbethatofourfriendsodearIttells,towhomeachwishsofondlyclings?
Shalldeathovercomealifethatallrevere?
Howsuchalosstoallconfusionbrings!
Howsuchapartingwemusteverrue!
Theworldisweeping,——shallnotweweeptoo?
Hewasourown!Howsocial,yethowgreatSeem’dinthelightofdayhisnoblemind!
Howwashisnature,pleasingyetsedate,Nowforgladconversejoyouslyincline,Thenswiftlychanging,spirit-fraught,elate,Life’splanwithdeep-feltmeaningitdesign’d,Fruitfulalikeincounselandindeed!
Thishaveweproved,thistasted,inourneed。
Hewasourown!OmaythatthoughtsoblestOvercomethevoiceofwailingandofwoeHemighthavesoughttheLasting,safeatrestInharbour,whenthetempestceasedtoblow。
Meanwhilehismightyspiritonwardpress’dWheregoodness,beauty,truth,forevergrow。
Andinhisrear,inshadowyoutline,layThevulgar,whichweall,alas,obey!
Nowdothhedeckthegarden-turretfairWherethestars’languagefirstilludedhissoul,AssecretlyyetclearlythroughtheairOntheeterne,thelivingsenseitstole。
Andtohisown,andourgreatprofit,thereExchangethhetheseasonsastheyroll。
Thusnoblydothhevanquish,withrenown,Thetwilightandthenightthatweighusdown。
Brighternowglow’dhischeek,andstillmorebright。
Withthatunchanging,ever-youthfulglow,——
Thatcouragewhichovercomes,inhard-foughtfight,Soonerorlater,ev’ryearthlyfoe——
Thatfaithwhich,soaringtotherealmsoflight,NowboldlyPressethon,nowbendethlow,Sothatthegoodmaywork,wax,thriveamain,Sothatthedaythenoblemayattain。
Yet,thoughsoskill’d,ofsuchtranscendentworth,Thisboardedscaffolddothhenotdespise。
ThefatethatonitsaxisturnstheearthFromdaytonight,hereshowshetooureyes,Raising,throughmanyaworkofgloriousbirth,Artandtheartist’sfameuptow’rdtheskies。
Hefillswithblossomsofthenobleststrife,Withlifeitself,thiseffigyoflife。
Hisgiant-step,asyefullsurelyknew,Measuredthecircleofthewillanddeed,Eachcountry’schangingthoughtsandmoralstoo,Thedarksomebookwithclearnesscouldheread。
Yethowhe,breathless’midsthisfriendssotrue,Despairedinsorrow,scarcefrompainwasfreed,——
Allthishavewe,insadlyhappyyears,Forhewasours,bewailedwithfeelingtears。
WhenfromtheagonizingweightofgriefHeraisedhiseyesupontheworldagain,Weshow’dhimhowhisthoughtsmightfindreliefFromtheuncertainpresent’sheavychain,Gavehisfresh-kindledmindarespitebrief,Withkindlyskillbeguilingev’rypain,Ande’enateve,whensettingwashissun,Fromhiswancheeksagentlesmilewewon。
Fullearlyhadhereadthesterndecree,Sorrowanddeathtohim,alas,wereknown。
Ofttimesrecovering,nowdepartedhe,——
Dreadtidings,thatourheartshadfear’dtoown!
YethistransfiguredbeingnowcanseeItself,e’enhereonearth,transfiguredgrown。
Whathisownagereproved,anddeem’dacrime,Hathbeenennoblednowbydeathandtime。
Andmanyasoulthatwithhimstroveinfight,Andhisgreatmeritgrudgedtorecognise,Nowfeelstheimpressofhiswondrousmight,Andinhismagicfettersgladlylies。
E’entothehighestbathhewingedhisflight,Inclosecommunionlink’dwithallweprize。
Extolhimthen!WhatmortalswhiletheyliveButhalfreceive,posterityshallgive。
Thusisheleftus,whosolongago,——
Tenyears,alas,already!——turn’dfromearth。
Weall,toourgreatjoy,hispreceptsknow,Ohmaytheworldconfesstheirpricelessworth!
Inswellingtidetow’rdeveryregionflowThethoughtsthatwerehisownpeculiarbirth。
Hegleamslikesomedepartingmeteorbright,Combining,withhisown,eternallight——
L’ENVOl——
Now,gentlereader,isourjourneyended,Muteisourminstrel,silentisoursong。
Sweetthebard’svoicewhosestrainsourcourseattended,Pleasantthepathsheguidedusalong。
Nowmustwepart,——Ohwordallfullofsadness,Changingtopensiveretrospectourgladness!
Reader,farewell!wepartperchanceforever,ScarcemayIhopetomeetwiththeeagain。
Bute’enthoughfateourfellowshipmaysever,Reader,willaughttomarkthattieremain?
Yes!thereisleftonesadsweetbondofunion,——
Sorrowatpartinglinksusincommunion。
Butofthetwain,thegreaterismysorrow,——
Reader,andwhy?——Bethinktheeofthesun,How,whenhesets,hewaitethforthemorrow,Proudlyoncemorehisgiant-racetorun,——
Yet,e’enwhenset,aglowbehindhimleaving,Gladdeningthespirit,whichhadelsebeengrieving。
Thusmaystthoufeel,forthoutoGOETHEonlyBaldestfarewell,norcamestaughtforme。
Twofoldmyparting,leavingmealllonely,——
InowmustpartfromGOETHEandfromthee,Partingatoncefromcomradeandfromleader,——
Farewell,greatminstrel!farewell,gentlereader!
Hush’distheharp,itsmusicsunkinslumbers,Memoryalonecanwakennowitsnumbers。
End