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。