The Poems of Goethe Part 48

I cannot find the loved one.

The truest maiden 'neath the sky

Roams near the stream below, And breathes forth many a gentle sigh,

Till I from hence can go.

And when she plucks a flow'ret blue, And says "Forget-me-not!"--I, too,

Though far away, can feel it.

Ay, distance only swells love's might,

When fondly love a pair; Though prison'd in the dungeon's night,

In life I linger there And when my heart is breaking nigh, "Forget-me-not!" is all I cry,

And straightway life returneth.

1798.

----- SIR CURT'S WEDDING-JOURNEY.

WITH a bridegroom's joyous bearing,

Mounts Sir Curt his n.o.ble beast, To his mistress' home repairing,

There to hold his wedding feast; When a threatening foe advances

From a desert, rocky spot; For the fray they couch their lances,

Not delaying, speaking not.

Long the doubtful fight continues,

Victory then for Curt declares; Conqueror, though with wearied sinews,

Forward on his road he fares.

When he sees, though strange it may be,

Something 'midst the foliage move; 'Tis a mother, with her baby,

Stealing softly through the grove!

And upon the spot she beckons--

"Wherefore, love, this speed so wild?

Of the wealth thy storehouse reckons,

Hast thou nought to give thy child!"

Flames of rapture now dart through him,

And he longs for nothing more, While the mother seemeth to him

Lovely as the maid of yore.

But he hears his servants blowing,

And bethinks him of his bride; And ere long, while onward going,

Chances past a fair to ride; In the booths he forthwith buys him

For his mistress many a pledge; But, alas! some Jews surprise him,

And long-standing debts allege.

And the courts of justice duly

Send the knight to prison straight.

Oh accursed story, truly!

For a hero, what a fate!

Can my patience such things weather?

Great is my perplexity.

Women, debts, and foes together,--

Ah, no knight escapes scot free!

1803.*

----- WEDDING SONG.

THE tale of the Count our glad song shall record

Who had in this castle his dwelling, Where now ye are feasting the new-married lord,

His grandson of whom we are telling.

The Count as Crusader had blazon'd his fame, Through many a triumph exalted his name, And when on his steed to his dwelling he came,

His castle still rear'd its proud head, But servants and wealth had all fled.

'Tis true that thou, Count, hast return'd to thy home,

But matters are faring there ill.

The winds through the chambers at liberty roam,

And blow through the windows at will What's best to be done in a cold autumn night?

Full many I've pa.s.s'd in more piteous plight; The morn ever settles the matter aright.

Then quick, while the moon s.h.i.+nes so clear,