Wolfgang von Goethe The Poems of Goethe

1. Auflage 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5312-7763-5
Verlag: Charles River Editors
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, 412 Seiten

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a great German writer of many different genres including plays, poetry, science, and literary critiques.  With classics such as Faust, Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, and The Sorrows of Young Werther, von Goethe remains one of the most widely read authors today.  This edition of The Poems of Goethe includes a table of contents.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann

Leseproben

FAMILIAR SONGS.
——— What we sing in company Soon from heart to heart will fly. ——- THE Gesellige Lieder, which I have angicisled as above, as several of them cannot be called convivial songs, are separated by Goethe from his other songs, and I have adhered to the same arrangement. The Ergo bibamus is a well-known drinking song in Germany, where it enjoys vast popularity. ON THE NEW YEAR. [Composed for a merry party that used to meet, in 1802, at Goethe’s house.] FATE now allows us, ‘Twixt the departing And the upstarting, Happy to be; And at the call of Memory cherish’d, Future and perish’d Moments we see. Seasons of anguish,— Ah, they must ever Truth from woe sever, Love and joy part; Days still more worthy Soon will unite us, Fairer songs light us, Strength’ning the heart. We, thus united, Think of, with gladness, Rapture and sadness, Sorrow now flies. Oh, how mysterious Fortune’s direction! Old the connection, New-born the prize! Thank, for this, Fortune, Wavering blindly! Thank all that kindly Fate may bestow! Revel in change’s Impulses clearer, Love far sincerer, More heartfelt glow! Over the old one, Wrinkles collected, Sad and dejected, Others may view; But, on us gently Shineth a true one, And to the new one We, too, are new. As a fond couple ‘Midst the dance veering, First disappearing, Then reappear, So let affection Guide thro’ life’s mazy Pathways so hazy Into the year! 1802. ——- ANNIVERSARY SONG. [This little song describes the different members of the party just spoken of.] WHY pacest thou, my neighbour fair, The garden all alone? If house and land thou seek’st to guard, I’d thee as mistress own. My brother sought the cellar-maid, And suffered her no rest; She gave him a refreshing draught, A kiss, too, she impress’d. My cousin is a prudent wight, The cook’s by him ador’d; He turns the spit round ceaselessly, To gain love’s sweet reward. We six together then began A banquet to consume, When lo! a fourth pair singing came, And danced into the room. Welcome were they,—and welcome too Was a fifth jovial pair. Brimful of news, and stored with tales And jests both new and rare. For riddles, spirit, raillery, And wit, a place remain’d; A sixth pair then our circle join’d, And so that prize was gain’d. And yet to make us truly blest, One miss’d we, and full sore; A true and tender couple came,— We needed them no more. The social banquet now goes on, Unchequer’d by alloy; The sacred double-numbers then Let us at once enjoy! 1802. ——- THE SPRING ORACLE. OH prophetic bird so bright, Blossom-songster, cuckoo bight! In the fairest time of year, Dearest bird, oh! deign to hear What a youthful pair would pray, Do thou call, if hope they may: Thy cuck-oo, thy cuck-oo. Ever more cuck-oo, cuck-oo! Hearest thou? A loving pair Fain would to the altar fare; Yes! a pair in happy youth, Full of virtue, full of truth. Is the hour not fix’d by fate? Say, how long must they still wait? Hark! cuck-oo! hark! cuck-oo! Silent yet! for shame, cuck-oo! ‘Tis not our fault, certainly! Only two years patient be! But if we ourselves please here, Will pa-pa-papas appear? Know that thou’lt more kindness do us, More thou’lt prophesy unto us. One! cuck-oo! Two! cuck-oo! Ever, ever, cuck-oo, cuck-oo, coo! If we’ve calculated clearly, We have half a dozen nearly. If good promises we’ll give, Wilt thou say how long we’II live? Truly, we’ll confess to thee, We’d prolong it willingly. Coo cuck-oo, coo cuck-oo, Coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo! Life is one continued feast— (If we keep no score, at least). If now we together dwell, Will true love remain as well? For if that should e’er decay, Happiness would pass away. Coo cuck-oo, coo cuck-oo, Coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo! 1803.* (Gracefully in infinitum.) ——- THE HAPPY COUPLE. AFTER these vernal rains That we so warmly sought, Dear wife, see how our plains With blessings sweet are fraught! We cast our distant gaze Far in the misty blue; Here gentle love still strays, Here dwells still rapture true. Thou seest whither go Yon pair of pigeons white, Where swelling violets blow Round sunny foliage bright. ‘Twas there we gather’d first A nosegay as we roved; There into flame first burst The passion that we proved. Yet when, with plighted troth, The priest beheld us fare Home from the altar both, With many a youthful pair,— Then other moons had birth, And many a beauteous sun, Then we had gain’d the earth Whereon life’s race to run. A hundred thousand fold The mighty bond was seal’d; In woods, on mountains cold, In bushes, in the field, Within the wall, in caves, And on the craggy height, And love, e’en o’er the waves, Bore in his tube the light. Contented we remain’d, We deem’d ourselves a pair; ‘Twas otherwise ordain’d, For, lo! a third was there; A fourth, fifth, sixth appear’d, And sat around our board; And now the plants we’ve rear’d High o’er our heads have soar’d! How fair and pleasant looks, On yonder beauteous spot, Embraced by poplar-brooks, The newly-finish’d cot! Who is it there that sits In that glad home above? Is’t not our darling Fritz With his own darling love? Beside yon precipice, Whence pent-up waters steal, And leaving the abyss, Fall foaming through the wheel, Though people often tell Of millers’ wives so fair, Yet none can e’er excel Our dearest daughter there! Yet where the thick-set green Stands round yon church and sad, Where the old fir-tree’s seen Alone tow’rd heaven to nod,— ‘Tis there the ashes lie Of our untimely dead; From earth our gaze on high By their blest memory’s led. See how yon hill is bright With billowy-waving arms! The force returns, whose might Has vanquished war’s alarms. Who proudly hastens here With wreath-encircled brow? ‘Tis like our child so dear Thus Charles comes homeward now. That dearest honour’d guest Is welcom’d by the bride; She makes the true one blest, At the glad festal tide. And ev’ry one makes haste To join the dance with glee; While thou with wreaths hast graced The youngest children three. To sound of flute and horn The time appears renew’d, When we, in love’s young morn, In the glad dance upstood; And perfect bliss I know Ere the year’s course is run, For to the font we go With grandson and with son! 1803.* ——- SONG OF FELLOWSHIP. [Written and sung in honour of the birthday of the Pastor Ewald at the time of Goethe’s happy connection with Lily.] IN ev’ry hour of joy That love and wine prolong, The moments we’ll employ To carol forth this song! We’re...