THEWARNING。
WHENsoundsthetrumpetattheJudgmentDay,Andwhenforeverallthingsearthlydie,WemustafullandtrueaccountsupplyOfev’ryuselesswordwedropp’dinplay。
ButwhateffectwillallthewordsconveyWhereinwitheagerzealandlovingly,ThatImightwinthyfavour,labour’dI,Ifonthineearalonetheydieaway?
Therefore,sweetlove,thyconsciencebearinmind,Rememberwellhowlongthouhastdelay’d,Sothattheworldsuchsufferingsmaynotknow。
IfImustreckon,andexcusesfindForallthingsuselessItotheehavesaid,ToafullyeartheJudgmentDaywillgrow1807?——
THEEPOCHS。
ONPetrarch’sheart,allotherdaysbefore,Inflamingletterswritten,wasimpressdGOODFRIDAY。Andonmine,beitconfess’d,Isthisyear’sADVENT,asitpassetho’er。
Idonotnowbegin,——IstilladoreHerwhomIearlycherish’dinmybreast。,Thenonceagainwithprudencedispossess’d,AndtowhoseheartI’mdrivenbackoncemore。
TheloveofPetrarch,thatall-gloriouslove,Wasunrequited,and,alas,fullsad。
OnelongGoodFriday’twas,oneheartachedrearButmaymymistress’Adventeverprove,Withitspalm-jubilee,sosweetandglad,OneendlessMayday,throughthelivelongyear!
1807——
THEDOUBTERSANDTHELOVERS。
THEDOUBTERS。
YElove,andsonnetswrite!Fate’sstrangebehest!
Theheart,itshiddenmeaningtodeclare,Mustseekforrhymes,unitingpairwithpair:
Learn,children,thatthewillisweak,atbest。
Scarcelywithfreedomtheo’erflowingbreastAsyetcanspeak,andwellmayitbeware。
Tempestuouspassionssweepeachchordthat’sthere,Thenoncemoresinktonightandgentlerest。
Whyvexyourselvesandus,theheavystoneUpthesteeppathbutstepbysteptoroll?
Itfallsagain,andyene’erceasetostrive。
THELOVERS。
Butweareontheproperroadalone!
Ifgladlyistothawthefrozensoul,Thefireoflovemustayebekeptalive。
1807?——
CHARADE。
Twowordsthere’are,bothshort,ofbeautyrare,Whosesoundsourlipssooftenlovetoframe,ButwhichwithclearnessnevercanproclaimThethingswhoseownpeculiarstamptheybear。
’Tiswellindaysofageandyouthsofair,Oneontheotherboldlytoinflame。
Andifthosewordstogetherlink’dwename,Ablissfulrapturewediscoverthere。
ButnowtogivethempleasuredoIseek,Andinmyselfmyhappinesswouldfind。
Ihopeinsilence,butIhopeforthis:
Gently,aslovedone’snames,thosewordstospeakToseethembothwithinoneimageshrin’d,Bothinonebeingtoembracewithbliss。
1807——
EPIGRAMS——
Inthesenumbersbeexpress’dMeaningdeep,’neathmerryjest——
TOORIGINALS。
AFELLOWsays:Iownnoschoolorcollege。
NomasterliveswhomIacknowledge。
Andpraydon’tentertainthethoughtThatfromthedeadIe’erlearntaught。
This,ifIrightlyunderstand,Means:I’mablockheadatfirsthand。
1815——
THESOLDIER’SCONSOLATION。
No!intruththere’sherenolack:
Whitethebread,themaidensblack!
Toanothertown,nextnight:
Blackthebread,themaidenswhite!
1815。*——
GENIALIMPULSE。
THUSrollI,nevertakingease,Mytub,likeSaintDiogenes,Nowseriousam,nowseektoplease。
Nowloveandhateinturnonesees。
Themotivesnowarethose,nowthese。
Nownothings,nowrealities。
ThusrollI,nevertakingease,Mytub,likeSaintDiogenes。
1810——
NEITHERTHISNORTHAT。
IFthoutobeaslaveshouldstwill,Thou’ltgetnopity,butfareill。
Andifamasterthouwouldstbe,Theworldwillviewitangrily。
Andifinstatuquothoustay,Thatthouartbutafool,they’llsay。
1815。*——
THEWAYTOBEHAVE。
THOUGHtempersarebadandpeevishfolksswear,Remembertorufflethybrows,friend,ne’er。
AndletnotthefanciesofwomensofairE’erservethypleasureinlifetoimpair。
1815。*——
THEBEST。
WHENheadandheartarebusy,say,Whatbettercanbefound?
Whoneitherlovesnorgoesastray,Werebetterunderground。
1815。*——
ASBROADASIT’SLONG。
MODESTmenmustneedsendure,Andtheboldmusthumblybow。
Thusthyfate’sthesame,besure,Whetherboldormodestthou。
1815。*——
THERULEOFLIFE。
IFthouwouldstliveunruffledbycare,Letnotthepasttormenttheee’er。
Aslittleaspossiblebethouannoy’d,Andletthepresentbeeverenjoy’d。
Ne’erletthybreastwithhatebesupplied,AndtoGodthefutureconfide。
1815。*——
THESAME,EXPANDED。
IFthouwouldstliveunruffledbycare,Letnotthepasttormenttheee’er。
Ifanylossthouhasttorue,Actasthoughthouwertbornanew。
Inquirethemeaningofeachday,Whateachdaymeansitselfwillsay。
Inthineownactionstakethypleasure,Whatothersdo,thou’ltdulytreasure。
Ne’erletthybreastwithhatebesupplied,AndtoGodthefutureconfide——
IFwealthisgone——thensomethingisgone!
Quick,makeupthymind,Andfreshwealthfind。
Ifhonourisgone——thenmuchisgone!
Seekglorytofind,Andpeoplethenwillaltertheirmind。
Ifcourageisgone——thenallisgone!
’Twerebetterthatthouhadstneverbeenborn——
HEwhowithlifemakessport,Canprospernever。
Whoruleshimselfinnought,Isaslaveever。
MAYeachhonesteffortbeCrown’dwithlastingconstancy——
EACHroadtotheproperendRunsstraighton,withoutabend。
1825——
CALMATSEA。
SILENCEdeepruleso’erthewaters,Calmlyslumb’ringliesthemain,WhilethesailorviewswithtroubleNoughtbutonevastlevelplain。
Notazephyrisinmotion!
Silencefearfulasthegrave!
InthemightywasteofoceanSunktorestisev’rywave。
1795——
THEPROSPEROUSVOYAGE。
THEmistisfastclearing。
Andradiantisheaven,WhilstAEolusloosensOuranguish-fraughtbond。
Thezephyrsaresighing,Alertisthesailor。
Quick!nimblybeplying!
Thebillowsareriven,Thedistanceapproaches。
Iseelandbeyond!
1795——
COURAGE。
CARELESSLYovertheplainaway,WherebytheboldestmannopathCutbeforetheethoucanstdiscern,Makeforthyselfapath!
Silence,lovedone,myheart!
Cracking,letitnotbreak!
Breaking,breaknotwiththee!
1776。*——
MYONLYPROPERTY。
IFEELthatI’mpossess’dofnought,SavingthefreeunfetterdthoughtWhichfrommybosomseekstoflow,AndeachpropitiouspassinghourThatsuffersmeinallitspowerAlovingfatewithtruthtoknow。
1814——
ADMONITION。
WHEREFOREeverrambleon?
FortheGoodislyingnear,Fortunelearntoseizealone,ForthatFortune’severhere。
1789——
OLDAGE。
OLDageiscourteous——noonemore:
Fortimeaftertimeheknocksatthedoor,Butnobodysays,Walkin,sir,pray!
Yetturnshenotfromthedooraway,Butliftsthelatch,andenterswithspeed。
AndthentheycryAcoolone,indeed!
1814——
EPITAPH。
Asaboy,reservedandnaughty。
Asayouth,acoxcombandhaughty。
Asaman,foractioninclined。
Asagreybeard,fickleinmind——
Uponthygravewillpeopleread:
Thiswasaveryman,indeed!
1815。*——
RULESFORMONARCHS。
IFmenarenevertheirthoughtstoemploy,Takecaretoprovidethemalifefullofjoy。
Butiftosomeprofitandusethouwouldstbendthem,Takecaretoshearthem,andthendefendthem。
1815。*——
PAULOPOSTFUTURI。
WEEPyenot,yechildrendear,Thatasyetyeareunborn:
ForeachsorrowandeachtearMakesthefather’shearttomourn。
Patientbeashorttimetoit,Unproduced,andknowntonone。
Ifyourfathercannotdoit,Byyourmother’twillbedone。
1784——
THEFOOL’SEPILOGUE。
MANYgoodworksI’vedoneandended,Yetakethepraise——I’mnotoffended。
Forintheworld,I’vealwaysthoughtEachthingitstruepositionhathsought。
WhenpraisedforfoolishdeedsamI,Isetofflaughingheartily。
Whenblamedfordoingsomethinggood,Itakeitinaneasymood。
Ifsomeonestrongergivesmehardblows,Thatit’sajest,Ifeigntosuppose:
Butif’tisonethat’sbutmyownlike,Iknowthewaysuchfolkstostrike。
WhenFortunesmiles,Imerrygrow,Andsingindulcijubilo。
Whensinksherwheel,andtumblesmeo’er,Ithink’tissuretoriseoncemore。
InthesunshineofsummerIne’erlament,Becausethewinteritcannotprevent。
Andwhenthewhitesnow-flakesfallaround,Idonmyskates,andamoffwithabound。
ThoughIdissembleasIwill,Thesunformewillne’erstandstill。
Theoldandwontedcourseisrun,Untilthewholeoflifeisdone。
Eachdaytheservantlikethelord,Inturnscomeshome,andgoesabroad。
Ifproudorhumblethelinetheytake,Theyallmusteat,drink,sleep,andwake。
Sonothingevervexesme。
Actlikethefool,andwiseye’llbe!
1804——
PARABLES——
Joyfromthatintypeweborrow,Whichinlifegivesonlysorrow——
JOY。
ADRAGON-FLYwithbeauteouswingIshov’ringo’erasilv’ryspring。
Iwatchitsmotionswithdelight,——
Nowdarkitscoloursseem,nowbright。
Chameleon-likeappear,nowblue,Nowred,andnowofgreenishhue。
Woulditwouldcomestillnearerme,ThatIitstintsmightbetterseeIthovers,flutters,restingne’er!
Buthush!itsettlesonthemead。
Ihaveitsafenow,Ideclare!
AndwhenitsformIcloselyview,’Tisofasadanddingyblue——
Such,Joy-Dissector,isthycaseindeed1767-9——
EXPLANATIONOFANANTIQUEGEM,AYOUNGfig-treeitsformliftshighWithinabeauteousgarden。
Andsee,agoatissittingby。
Asifhewereitswarden。
Butoh,Quirites,howoneerrs!
Thetreeisguardedbadly。
ForroundtheothersidetherewhirrsAndhumsabeetlemadly。
Theherowithhiswell-mail’dcoatNibblesthebranchestallso。
AmightylongingfeelsthegoatGentlytoclimbupalso。
Andso,myfriends,erelongyeseeThetreeallleaflessstanding。
Itlooksatypeofmisery,Helpofthegodsdemanding。
Thenlisten,yeingenuousyouth,Whoholdwisesawsrespected:
Fromhe-goatandfrombeetles-toothAtreeshouldbeprotected!
1815——
CAT-PIE。
WHILEheismark’dbyvisionclearWhofathomsNature’streasures,Themanmayfollow,voidoffear,Whoherproportionsmeasures。
Thoughforonemortal,itistrue,Thesetradesmaybothbefitted,Yet,thatthethingsthemselvesaretwoMustalwaysbeadmitted。
OnceonatimetherelivedacookWhoseskillwaspastdisputing,WhoinhisheadafancytookTotryhisluckatshooting。
So,guninhand,hesoughtaspotWherestoresofgamewerebreeding,AndthereerelongacatheshotThatonyoungbirdswasfeeding。
Thiscathefanciedwasahare,Formingajudgmenthasty,Soserveditupforpeople’sfare,Well-spicedandinapasty。
Yetmanyaguestwithwrathwasfill’dAllwhohadnosestender:
Thecatthat’sbythesportsmankill’dNocookaharecanrender。
1810——
LEGEND。
THERElivedinthedesertaholymanTowhomagoat-footedFaunonedayPaidavisit,andthusbeganTohissurprise:IentreattheetoprayThatgracetomeandmyfriendsmaybegiven,ThatwemaybeabletomounttoHeaven,Forgreatisourthirstforheav’nlybliss。
Theholymanmadeanswertothis:
Muchdangerislurkinginthypetition,Norwillitbeeasytogainadmission。
Thoudostnotcomewithanangel’ssalute。
ForIseethouwearestaclovenfoot。
Thewildmanpaused,andthenanswer’dhe:
Whatdothmygoat’sfootmattertothee?
FullmanyI’veknownintoheaventopassStraightandwithease,withtheheadofanass!
1815。*——
AUTHORS。
OVERthemeadows,anddownthestream,Andthroughthegarden-walksstraying,Hepluckstheflowersthatfairestseem。
Histhrobbingheartbrooksnodelaying。
Hismaidenthencomes——oh,whatecstasy!
Thyflowersthougiv’stforoneglanceofhereye!
Thegard’nernextdooro’erthehedgeseestheyouth:
I’mnotsuchafoolasthat,ingoodtruth。
Mypleasureisevertocherisheachflower,Andseethatnobirdsmyfruite’erdevour。
Butwhen’tisripe,yourmoney,goodneighbour!
’TwasnotfornothingItookallthislabour!
Andsuch,methinks,aretheauthor-tribe。
Theonehispleasuresaroundhimstrews,Thathisfriends,thepublic,mayreap,iftheychoose。
Theotherwouldfainmakethemallsubscribe,1776。*——
THECRITIC。
IHADafellowasmyguest,Notknowinghewassuchapest,Andgavehimjustmyusualfare。
Heatehisfillofwhatwasthere,Andfordesertmybestthingsswallow’d,Soonashismealwaso’er,whatfollow’d?
LedbytheDeuce,toaneighbourhewent,Andtalk’dofmyfoodtohisheart’scontent:
Thesoupmightsurelyhavehadmorespice,Themeatwasill-brown’d,andthewinewasn’tnice。
Athousandcursesalightonhishead!
’Tisacritic,Ivow!Letthedogbestruckdead!
1776。*——
THEDILETTANTEANDTHECRITIC。
ABOYapigeononcepossess’d,Ingayandbrilliantplumagedress’d。
Heloveditwell,andinboyishsportItsfoodtotakefromhismouthhetaught,Andinhispigeonhetooksuchpride,Thathisjoytoothersheneedsmustconfide。
Anagedfoxneartheplacechanc’dtodwell,Talkative,clever,andlearnedaswell。
Theboyhissocietyusedtoprize,Hearingwithpleasurehiswondersandlies。
MyfriendthefoxmypigeonmustseeHeran,andstretch’d’mongstthebusheslayheLook,fox,atmypigeon,mypigeonsofair!
HisequalI’msurethouhastlook’duponne’er!
Let’ssee!——Theboygaveit——’Tisreallynotbad。
Andyet,itisfarfromcomplete,Imustadd。
Thefeathers,for,instance,howshort!’Tisabsurd!
Sohesettoworkstraightwaytopluckthepoorbird。
Theboyscreamed——Thoumustnowstrongerpinionssupply,Orelse’twillbeugly,unabletofly——
Soon’twasstripp’d——oh,thevillain!——andtornalltopieces。
Theboywasheart-broken,——andsomytaleceases。
****
Hewhoseesintheboyshadow’dforthhisowncase,Shouldbeonhisguard’gainstthefox’swholerace。
1776。*——
THEWRANGLER。
ONEdayashamelessandimpudentwightWentintoashopfullofsteelwaresbright,Arrangedwithartuponev’ryshelf。
Hefanciedtheywereallmeantforhimself。
Andso,whilethepatientownerstoodby,Theshininggoodsneedsmusthandleandtry,Andvalued,——forhowshouldafoolbetterknow?——
Thebadthingshigh,andthegoodoneslow,Andallwithaneasyself-satisfiedface。
Then,havingboughtnothing,helefttheplace。
Thetradesmannowfeltsorelyvex’d,Sowhenthefellowwenttherenext,Alockofsteelmadequiteredhot。
Theothercrieduponthespot:
Suchwaresasthese,who’deverbuy?
thesteelistarnish’dshamefully,——
Thenpull’dit,likeafoolabout,Butsoonsetupapiteousshout。
Praywhat’sthematter?theshopmanspoke。
Theotherscream’d:Faith,averycooljoke!
1815。*——
THEYELPERS。
OURridesinalldirectionsbend,Forbusinessorforpleasure,Yetyelpingsonourstepsattend,Andbarkingswithoutmeasure。
Thedogthatinourstabledwells,Afterourheelsisstriding,AndallthewhilehisnoisyyellsButshowthatweareriding。
1815。*——
THESTORK’SVOCATION。
THEstorkwhowormsandfrogsdevoursThatinourpondsreside,Whyshouldhedwellonhighchurch-towers,Withwhichhe’snotallied?
Incessantlyhechattersthere,Andgivesourearsnorest。
ButneitheroldnoryoungcandareTodrivehimfromhisnest。
Ihumblyaskit,——howcanheGiveofhistitleproof,SavebyhishappytendencyTosoilthechurch’sroof?——
CELEBRITY。
[AsatireonhisownSorrowsofWerther。]
ONbridgessmallandbridgesgreatStandsNepomucksinev’rystate,Ofbronze,wood,painted,orofstone,Somesmallasdolls,somegiantsgrown。
EachpassermustworshipbeforeNepomuck,Whotodieonabridgechancedtohavetheillluck,WhenonceamanwithheadandearsAsaintinpeople’seyesappears,OrhasbeensentencedpiteouslyBeneaththehangman’shandtodie,He’sasanotedpersonprized,Inportraitisimmortalized。
Engravings,woodcuts,aresupplied,Andthroughtheworldspreadfarandwide。
Uponthemallisseenhisname,Andev’ryoneadmitshisclaim。
EventheimageoftheLordIsnotwithgreaterzealador’d。
Strangefancyofthehumanrace!
Halfsinnerfrail,halfchildofgraceWeseeHERRWERTHERofthestoryInallthepompofwoodcutglory。
Hisworthisfirstmadedulyknown,ByhavinghissadfeaturesshownAtev’ryfairthecountryround。
Inev’ryalehousetoothey’refound。
HisstickispointedbyeachdunceTheballwouldreachhisbrainatonce!
Andeachsays,o’erhisbeerandbread:
ThankHeav’nthat’tisnotwearedead!
1815。*——
PLAYINGATPRIESTS。
WITHINatownwhereparityAccordingtooldformwesee,——
Thatistosay,whereCatholicAndProtestantnoquarrelspick,Andwhere,asinhisfather’sday,EachworshipsGodinhisownway,WeLuth’ranchildrenusedtodwell,Bysongsandsermonstaughtaswell。
TheCatholicclingclangintruthSoundedmorepleasingtoouryouth,Forallthatweencounter’dthere,Tousseem’dvaried,joyous,fair。
Aschildren,monkeys,andmankindToapeeachotherareinclin’d,Wesoon,thetimetowhileaway,Agameatpriestsresolvedtoplay。
TheirapronsalloursisterslentForcopes,whichgaveusgreatcontent。
Andhandkerchiefs,embroider’do’er,Insteadofstoleswealsowore。
Goldpaper,whereonbeastsweretraced,Thebishop’sbrowasmitregraced。
ThroughhouseandgardenthusinstateWestruttedearly,struttedlate,Repeatingwithallproperunction,Incessantlyeachholyfunction。
Thebestwaswantingtothegame。
WeknewthatasonorousringWashereamostimportantthing。
ButFortunetoourrescuecame,Foronthegroundahalterlay。
Weweredelighted,andatonceMadeitabellropeforthenonce,Andkeptitmovingalltheday。
InturnseachsisterandeachbrotherActedassextontoanother。
Allhelp’dtoswellthejoyousthrong。
Thewholeproceededswimmingly,Andsincenoactualbellhadwe,Weallinchorussang,Dingdong!
*****
Ourguilelesschild’s-sportlongwashush’dInmemory’stomb,likesomeoldlay。
Andyetacrossmyminditrush’dWithpristineforcetheotherday。
TheNew-PoeticCatholicsInev’rypointitsaptnessfix!
1815。*——
SONGS。
SONGSarelikepaintedwindow-panes!
Indarknesswrapp’dthechurchremains,Iffromthemarket-placeweviewit。
Thusseestheignoramusthroughit。
Nowonderthathedeemsittame,——
Andallhislife’twillbethesame。
Butletusnowinsiderepair,AndgreettheholyChapelthere!
Atoncethewholeseemsclearandbright,Eachornamentisbathedinlight,Andfraughtwithmeaningtothesight。
God’schildren!thusyourfortuneprize,Beedified,andfeastyoureyes!
1827。*——
POETRY。
GODtohisuntaughtchildrensentLaw,order,knowledge,art,fromhigh,Andev’ryheav’nlyfavourlent,Theworld’shardlottoqualify。
Theyknewnothowtheyshouldbehave,ForallfromHeav’nstark-nakedcame。
ButPoetrytheirgarmentsgave,Andthennotonehadcauseforshame。
1816——
APARABLE。
IPICKEDarusticnosegaylately,Andboreithomewards,musinggreatly。
When,heatedbymyhand,IfoundTheheadsalldroopingtow’rdtheground。
Iplac’dtheminawell-cool’dglass,AndwhatawondercametopassTheheadssoonraisedthemselvesoncemore。
Thestalkswerebloomingasbefore,AndallwereinasgoodacaseAswhentheylefttheirnativeplace。
****
SofeltI,whenIwond’ringheardMysongtoforeigntonguestransferr’d。
1828——
SHOULDE’ERTHELOVELESSDAY。
SHOULDe’erthelovelessdayremainObscuredbystormsofhailandrain,Thycharmsthoushowestnever。
Itapatwindow,tapatdoor:
Come,lov’done,come!appearoncemore!
Thouartasfairasever!
1827。*——
APLANTHEMUSESENTERTAINED。
APLANtheMusesentertain’dMethodicallytoimpartToPsychethepoeticart。
Prosaic-purehersoulremain’d。
NowondroussoundsescapedherlyreE’eninthefairestSummernight。
ButAmorcamewithglanceoffire,——
Thelessonsoonwaslearn’daright。
1827。*——
THEDEATHOFTHEFLY。
WITHeagernesshedrinksthetreach’rouspotion,Norstopstorest,bythefirsttastemisled。
Sweetisthedraught,butsoonallpowerofmotionHefindshasfromhistendermembersfled。
Nolongerhashestrengthtoplumehiswing,Nolongerstrengthtoraisehishead,poorthing!
E’eninenjoyment’shourhislifeheloses,Hislittlefoottobearhisweightrefuses。
Soonhesips,anderehisdraughtiso’er,Deathveilshisthousandeyesforevermore。
1810——
BYTHERIVER。
WHENbythebroadstreamthoudostdwell,Oftshallowisitssluggishflood。
Then,whenthyfieldsthoutendestwell,Ito’erthemspreadsitsslimeandmud。
Theshipsdescenderedaylightwanes,Theprudentfisherupwardgoes。
Roundreefandrockicecastsitschains,Andboysatwillthepathwayclose。
Tothisattend,then,carefully,Andwhatthouwouldst,thatexecute!
Ne’erlinger,ne’ero’erhastybe,Fortimemovesonwithmeasuredfoot。
1821。*——
THEFOXANDCRANE。
ONCEtwopersonsuninvitedCametojoinmydinnertable。
Forthenoncetheylivedunited,Foxandcraneycleptinfable。
Civilgreetingspass’dbetweenusThenIpluck’dsomepigeonstenderForthefoxofjackal-genius,Addinggrapesinfull-grownsplendour。
Long-neck’dflasksIputasdishesForthecrane,withoutdelaying,Fill’dwithgoldandsilverfishes,Inthelimpidwaterplaying。
Hadyewitness’dReynardplantedAthisflatplate,alldemurely,Yewithenvymusthavegranted:
Ne’erwassuchagourmand,surely!
WhilethebirdwithcircumspectionOnonefoot,asusual,cradled,Fromtheflaskshisfish-refectionWithhisbillandlongneckladled。
Onethepigeonspraised,——theother,Astheywent,extoll’dthefishes,EachonescoffingathisbrotherForpreferringvulgardishes。
***
Ifthouwouldstpreservethycredit,WhenthouaskestfolkstoguzzleAtthyhoard,takecaretospreaditSuitedbothforbillandmuzzle。
1819——
THEFOXANDHUNTSMAN。
HARD’tisonafox’stracesToarrive,midstforest-glades。
Hopelessutterlythechaseis,Ifhisflightthehuntsmanaids。
Andso’tiswithmanyawonder,WhyABmakeAbinfact,
Overwhichwegapeandblunder,Andourheadandbrainsdistract。
1821。*——
THEFROGS。
APOOLwasoncecongeal’dwithfrost。
Thefrogs,initsdeepwaterslost,Nolongerdaredtocroakorspring。
Butpromised,beinghalfasleep,Ifsuffer’dtotheairtocreep,Asverynightingalestosing。
Athawdissolvedtheicesostrong,——
Theyproudlysteer’dthemselvesalong,Whenlanded,squattedontheshore,Andcroak’dasloudlyasbefore。
1821。*——
THEWEDDING。
AFEASTwasinavillagespread,——
Itwasawedding-day,theysaid。
TheparlouroftheinnIfound,Andsawthecoupleswhirlinground,Eachlassattendedbyherlad,Andallseem’dloving,blithe,andglad。
Butonmyaskingforthebride,Afellowwithastare,replied:
’Tisnottheplacethatpointtoraise!
We’reonlydancinginherhonour。
Wenowhavedancedthreenightsanddays,Andnotbestowedonethoughtuponher。
****
Whoe’erinlifeemployshiseyesSuchcasesoftwillrecognise。
1821。*——
BURIAL。
TothegraveonedayfromahousetheyboreAmaiden。
Tothewindowthecitizenswenttoexplore。
Insplendourtheylived,andwithwealthasofyoreTheirbanquetswereladen。
Thenthoughtthey:Themaidtothetombisnowborne。
Wetoofromourdwellingserelongmustbetorn,Andhethatisleftourdeparturetomourn,Toourricheswillbethesuccessor,Forsomeonemustbetheirpossessor。
1827。*——
THREATENINGSIGNS。
IFVenusintheeveningskyIsseeninradiantmajesty,Ifrod-likecomets,redasblood,Are’mongsttheconstellationsview’d,OutspringstheIgnoramus,yelling:
Thestar’sexactlyo’ermydwelling!
Whatwoefulprospect,ah,forme!
Thencallshisneighbourmournfully:
Beholdthatawfulsignofevil,Portendingwoetome,poordevil!
Mymother’sasthmane’erwillleaveher,Mychildissickwithwindandfever。
Idreadtheillnessofmywife,Aweekhaspass’d,devoidofstrife,——
Andotherthingshavereach’dmyear。
TheJudgmentDayhascome,Ifear!
Hisneighbouranswered:Friend,you’reright!
Matterslookveryhadto-night。
Let’sgoastreetortwo,though,hence,Andgazeuponthestarsfromthence——
Nochangeappearsineithercase。
Leteachremaintheninhisplace,Andwiselydothebesthecan,Patientasanyotherman。
1821。*——
THEBUYERS。
Toanapple-woman’sstallOncesomechildrennimblyran。
Longingmuchtopurchaseall,TheywithjoyoushastebeganSnatchingupthepilesthereraised,WhilewitheagereyestheygazedOntherosyfruitsonice。
Butwhentheyfoundouttheprice,Downtheythrewthewholethey’dgot,Justasiftheywereredhot。
*****
ThemanwhogratiswillhisgoodssupplyWillneverfindalackoffolkstobuy!
1820——
THEMOUNTAINVILLAGE。
THEmountainvillagewasdestroy’d。
Butseehowsoonisfill’dthevoid!
Shinglesandboards,asbymagicarise,Thebabeinhiscradleandswaddling-clotheslies。
HowblesttotrusttoGod’sprotection!
Beholdawoodennewerection,Sothat,ifsparksandwindbutchoose,God’sselfatsuchagamemustlose!
1821。*——
SYMBOLS。
PALMSundayattheVaticanTheycelebratewithpalms。
Withreverencebowseachholyman,Andchauntstheancientpsalms。
ThoseverypsalmsarealsosungWitholiveboughsinhand,Whileholly,mountainwildsamong,Inplaceofpalmsmuststand:
Infine,oneseekssometwigthat’sgreen,Andtakesawillowrod,Sothatthepiousmanmaye’enInsmallthingspraisehisGod。
Andifyehaveobserveditwell,Togainwhat’sfitye’reable,Ifyeinfaithcanbutexcel。
Sucharethemythsoffable。
1827。*——
THREEPALINODIAS。
I。
Incenseishutatributeforthegods,——
Tomortals’tisbutpoison。
THEsmokethatfromthinealtarblows,Canitthegodsoffend?
ForIobservethouhold’stthynose——
Praywhatdoesthisportend?
MankinddeemincensetoexcelEachotherearthlything,Sohethatcannotbearitssmell,Noincensee’ershouldbring。
WithunmovedfacebytheeatleastTodollsishomagegiven。
Ifnotobstructedbythepriest,Thescentmountsuptoheaven。
1827。*
II
CONFLICTOFWITANDBEAUTY。
SIRWit,whoissomuchesteem’d,Andwhoisworthyofallhonour,SawBeautyhissuperiordeem’dByfolkswholovedtogazeuponher。
Atthishewasmostsorelyvex’d。
ThencameSirBreathlongknownasfitTorepresentthecauseofwit,Beginning,rudely,Iadmit,Totreattheladywithatext。
Tothisshehearken’dnotatall,Buthasten’dtohisprincipal:
Nonearesowise,theysay,asyou,——
Isnottheworldenoughfortwo?
Ifyouareobstinate,good-bye!
Ifwise,tolovemeyouwilltry,Forbeassuredtheworldcanne’erGivebirthtoamorehandsomepair。
1827。*
=====
FAIRdaughterswerebyBeautyrear’d,Withadbutdullsonsforhislot。
Soforaseasonitappear’dBeautywasconstant,Witwasnot。
ButWit’sanativeofthesoil,Sohereturn’d,work’d,stroveamain,Andfound——sweetguerdonforhistoil!——
Beautytoquickenhimagain。
1827。*
III。
RAINANDRAINBOW。
DURINGaheavystormitchancedThatfromhisroomacockneyglancedAtthefiercetempestasitbroke,Whiletohisneighbourthushespoke:
Thethunderhasouraweinspired,Ourbarnsbylightninghavebeenfired,——
Oursinstopunish,Isuppose。
Butinreturn,tosootheourwoes,Seehowtherainintorrentsfell,Makingtheharvestpromisewell!
Butis’tarainbowthatIspyExtendingo’erthedark-greysky?
WithitI’msurewemaydispense,Thecolour’dcheat!Thevainpretence!
DameIrisstraightwaythusreplied:
Dostdaremybeautytoderide?
InrealmsofspaceGodstation’dmeAtypeofbetterworldstobeToeyesthatfromlife’ssorrowsroveIncheerfulhopetoHeav’nabove,And,throughthemiststhathoverhereGodandhispreceptsblestrevere。
Dothou,then,grovelliketheswine,Andtothegroundthysnoutconfine,Butsuffertheenlighten’deyeTofeastuponmymajesty。
1827。*
VALEDICTION。
IONCEwasfondoffools,Andbidthemcomeeachday。
TheneachonebroughthistoolsThecarpentertoplay。
Therooftostripfirstchoosing,Anothertosupply,Thewoodastrestlesusing,Tomoveitby-and-by,Whilehereandtheretheyran,Andknock’dagainsteachother。
TofretIsoonbegan,Myangercouldnotsmother,Socried,Getout,yefools!
AtthistheywereoffendedTheneachonetookhistools,Andsoourfriendshipended。
Sincethat,I’vewiserbeen,Andsitbesidemydoor。
Whenoneofthemisseen,Icry,Appearnomore!
Hence,stupidknave!Ibellow:
Atthishe’sangrytoo:
Youimpudentoldfellow!
Andpray,sir,whoareyou?
Alongthestreetsweriot,Andrevelatthefair。
Butyetwe’reprettyquiet,Andfolksrevileusne’er。
Don’tcallusnames,then,please!——
AtlengthImeetwithease,Fornowtheyleavemydoor——
’Tisbetterthanbefore!
1827。*——
THECOUNTRYSCHOOLMASTER。
I。
AMASTERofacountryschoolJump’duponedayfromoffhisstool,InspiredwithfirmresolvetotryTogainthebestsociety。
Sotothenearestbathshewalk’d,Andintothesaloonhestalk’d。
Hefeltquite。startledatthedoor,Ne’erhavingseenthelikebefore。
TothefirststrangermadehenowAverylowandgracefulbow,ButquiteforgottobearinmindThatpeoplealsostoodbehind。
Hisleft-handneighbor’spaunchhestruckAgrievousblow,bygreatillluck。
Pardonforthishefirstentreated,Andtheninhastehisbowrepeated。
Hisrighthandneighbornexthehit,Andbegg’dhim,too,topardonit。
Butonhisgrantinghispetition,Anotherwasinlikecondition。
Thesecomplimentshepaidtoall,Behind,before,acrossthehall。
Atlengthonewhocouldstandnomore,Show’dhimimpatientlythedoor。
****
Maymany,pond’ringontheircrimes,Amoraldrawfromthisbetimes!
II。
AsheproceededonhiswayHethought,Iwastooweakto-day。
TobowI’llne’eragainbeseen。
Forgoatswillswallowwhatisgreen。
Acrossthefieldshenowmustspeed,Notoverstumpsandstones,indeed,Butovermeadsandcornfieldssweet,Tramplingdownallwithclumsyfeet。
Afarmermethimby-and-by,Anddidn’taskhim:how?orwhy?
Butwithhisfistsalutedhim。
Ifeelnewlifeineverylimb!
Ourtravellercriedinecstasy。
Whoartthouwhothusgladden’stme?
MayHeavensuchblessingseversend!
Ne’ermayIwantajovialfriend!
1808。*——
THELEGENDOFTHEHORSESHOE。
WHATtimeourLordstillwalk’dtheearth,Unknown,despised,ofhumblebirth,AndonHimmanyayouthattendedHiswordstheyseldomcomprehended,Iteverseem’dtoHimmostmeetToholdHiscourtinopenstreet,Asunderheaven’sbroadcanopyOnespeakswithgreaterliberty。
TheteachingsofHisblessedwordFromoutHisholymouthwereheard。
Eachmarkettoafaneturn’dHeWithparableandsimile。
Oneday,astow’rdatownHeroved,InpeaceofmindwiththoseHeloved,Uponthepathasomethinggleam’d。
Abrokenhorseshoe’twas,itseem’d。
SotoSt。PeterthusHespake:
Thatpieceofironprytheetake!
St。Peter’sthoughtshadgoneastray,——
HehadbeenmusingonhiswayRespectingtheworld’sgovernment,Adreamthatalwaysgivescontent,Forinthehead’tischeck’dbynought。
Thiseverwashisdearestthought,ForhimthisprizewasfartoomeanHaditacrownandsceptrebeen!
But,surely,’twasn’tworththetroubleForhalfahorseshoetobenddouble!
Andsoheturn’dawayhishead,Asifheheardnotwhatwassaid,TheLord,forbearingtow’rdallmen,Himselfpick’dupthehorseshoethenHene’eragainlikethisstoop’ddown。
Andwhenatlengththeyreach’dthetown,BeforeasmithyHeremain’d,Andthereapennyfor’tobtain’d。
Astheythemarket-placewentby,SomebeauteouscherriescaughtHiseye:
AccordinglyHeboughtasmanyAscouldbepurchasedforapenny,Andthen,asoftHiswonthadbeen,PlacedthemwithinHissleeveunseen。
Theywentoutbyanothergate,O’erplainsandfieldsproceedingstraight,Nohouseortreewasnearthespot,Thesunwasbright,thedaywashot。
Inshort,theweatherbeingsuch,Adraughtofwaterwasworthmuch。
TheLordwalk’donbeforethemall,Andlet,unseen,acherryfall。
St。Peterrush’dtoseizeithold,Asthoughanapple’twereofgold。
Hispalatemuchapprov’dtheberry。
TheLorderelonganothercherryOncemoreletfallupontheplain。
St。Peterforthwithstoop’dagain。
TheLordkeptmakinghimthusbendTopickupcherrieswithoutend。
Foralongtimethethingwenton。
TheLordthensaid,incheerfultone:
Had’stthoubutmovedwhenthouwertbid,Thouofthistroublehad’stbeenrid。
Themanwhosmallthingsscorns,willnext,Bythingsstillsmallerbeperplex’d。
1797——
ASYMBOL。
ThisfinepoemisgivenbyGoetheamongstasmallcollectionofwhathecallsLogeLodge,meaningtherebyMasonicpieces。
THEmason’stradeObservethemwell,Resembleslife,AndwatchthemrevealingWithallitsstrife,——HowsolemnfeelingIslikethestirmadeAndwondermentswellBymanonearth’sface。Theheartsofthebrave。
ThoughwealandwoeThevoiceoftheblest,Thefuturemayhide,AndofspiritsonhighUnterrifiedSeemsloudlytocry:
WeonwardgoTodowhatisbest,Inne’erchangingrace。Unceasingendeavour!
AveilofdreadInsilenceeterneHangsheavierstill。Herechapletsaretwin’d,DeepslumbersfillThateachnoblemindThestarsover-head,Itsguerdonmayearn——
Andthefoot-troddengrave。Thenhopeyeforever!
1827。*——
ART——
Artist,fashion!talknotlong!
Beabreaththineonlysong!