The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 505

Alas! though truth may light bestow, Not always warmth the beams impart, Blest he who gains the boon to know, Nor buys the knowledge with the heart.

For warmth and light a blessing both to be, Feel as the enthusiast--as the world-wise see.

BREADTH AND DEPTH.

Full many a s.h.i.+ning wit one sees, With tongue on all things well conversing; The what can charm, the what can please, In every nice detail rehearsing.

Their raptures so transport the college, It seems one honeymoon of knowledge.

Yet out they go in silence where They whilom held their learned prate; Ah! he who would achieve the fair, Or sow the embryo of the great, Must h.o.a.rd--to wait the ripening hour-- In the least point the loftiest power.

With wanton boughs and pranksome hues, Aloft in air aspires the stem; The glittering leaves inhale the dews, But fruits are not concealed in them.

From the small kernel's undiscerned repose The oak that lords it o'er the forest grows.

THE TWO GUIDES OF LIFE.

THE SUBLIME AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

Two genii are there, from thy birth through weary life to guide thee; Ah, happy when, united both, they stand to aid beside thee?

With gleesome play to cheer the path, the one comes blithe with beauty, And lighter, leaning on her arm, the destiny and duty.

With jest and sweet discourse she goes unto the rock sublime, Where halts above the eternal sea [57] the shuddering child of time.

The other here, resolved and mute and solemn, claspeth thee, And bears thee in her giant arms across the fearful sea.

Never admit the one alone!--Give not the gentle guide Thy honor--nor unto the stern thy happiness confide!

THE IMMUTABLE.

Time flies on restless pinions--constant never.

Be constant--and thou chainest time forever.

VOTIVE TABLETS.

That which I learned from the Deity,-- that which through lifetime hath helped me, Meekly and gratefully now, here I suspend in his shrine.

DIFFERENT DESTINIES.

Millions busily toil, that the human race may continue; But by only a few is propagated our kind.

Thousands of seeds by the autumn are scattered, yet fruit is engendered Only by few, for the most back to the element go.

But if one only can blossom, that one is able to scatter Even a bright living world, filled with creations eterne.

THE ANIMATING PRINCIPLE.

Nowhere in the organic or sensitive world ever kindles Novelty, save in the flower, n.o.blest creation of life.

TWO DESCRIPTIONS OF ACTION.

Do what is good, and humanity's G.o.dlike plant thou wilt nourish; Plan what is fair, and thou'lt strew seeds of the G.o.dlike around.

DIFFERENCE OF STATION.

Even the moral world its n.o.bility boasts--vulgar natures Reckon by that which they do; n.o.ble, by that which they are.

WORTH AND THE WORTHY.

If thou anything hast, let me have it,--I'll pay what is proper; If thou anything art, let us our spirits exchange.

THE MORAL FORCE.

If thou feelest not the beautiful, still thou with reason canst will it; And as a spirit canst do, that which as man thou canst not.

PARTIc.i.p.aTION.

E'en by the hand of the wicked can truth be working with vigor; But the vessel is filled by what is beauteous alone.

TO ----

Tell me all that thou knowest, and I will thankfully hear it!

But wouldst thou give me thyself,--let me, my friend, be excused!

TO ----

Wouldst thou teach me the truth? Don't take the trouble! I wish not, Through thee, the thing to observe,--but to see thee through the thing.

TO ----

Thee would I choose as my teacher and friend. Thy living example Teaches me,--thy teaching word wakens my heart unto life.

THE PRESENT GENERATION.