KarlMarxWrittenin1837
FirstpublishedintheAthenaum。
ZeitschriftfurdasgebildeteDeutschland,January23,1841
I。
THEFIDDLER
TheFiddlersawsthestrings,Hislightbrownhairhetossesandflings。
Hecarriesasabreathisside,Hewearsapleatedhabitwide。
"Fiddler,whythatfranticsound?
Whydoyougazesowildlyround?
Whyleapsyourblood,likethesurgingsea?
Whatdrivesyourbowsodesperately?"
"WhydoIfiddle?Orthewildwavesroar?
Thattheymightpoundtherockyshore,Thateyebeblinded,thatbosomswell,ThatSoul’scrycarrydowntoHell。"
"Fiddler,withscornyourendyourheart。
AradiantGodlentyouyourart,Todazzlewithwavesofmelody,Tosoartothestar—danceinthesky。"
"Howso!Iplunge,plungewihoutfailMyblood—blacksabreintoyoursoul。
ThatartGodneitherwantsnorwists,ItleapstothebrainfromHell’sblackmists。
"Tillheart’sbewitched,tillsensesreel:
WithSatanIhavestruckmydeal。
Hechalksthesigns,beatstimeforme,Iplaythedeathmarchfastandfree。
"Imustplaydark,Imustplaylight,Tillbowstringsbreakmyheartoutright。"
TheFiddlersawsthestrings,Hislightbrownhairhetossesandflings。
Hecarriesasabreathisside,Hewearsapleatedhabitwide。
II
NOCTURNALLOVE
Frantic,heholdshernear,Darklylooksinhereye。
"Painsoburnsyou,Dear,Andatmybreathyousigh。
"Oh,youhavedrunkmysoul。
Mineisyourglow,intruth。
Myjewel,shineyourfill。
Glow,bloodofyouth。"
"Sweetest,sopaleyourface,Sowondrousstrangeyourwords。
See,richinmusic’sgraceTheloftyglidingworlds。"
"Gliding,dearest,gliding,Glowing,stars,glowing。
Letusgoheavenwardsriding,Oursoulstogetherflowing。"
Hisvoiceismuffled,low。
Desparate,helooksabout。
GlancesofcracklingflameHisholloweyesshootout。
"Youhavedrunkpoison,Love。
Withmeyoumustaway。
Theskyisdarkabove,NomoreIseetheday。"
Shuddering,hepullsherclosetohim。
Deathinthebreastdothhover。
Painstabsher,piercingdeepwithin,Andeyesareclosedforever。