The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 507

"How can I know the best state?"

In the way that thou know'st the best woman; Namely, my friend, that the world ever is silent of both.

TO ASTRONOMERS.

Prate not to me so much of suns and of nebulous bodies; Think ye Nature but great, in that she gives thee to count?

Though your object may be the sublimest that s.p.a.ce holds within it, Yet, my good friends, the sublime dwells not in the regions of s.p.a.ce.

MY FAITH.

Which religion do I acknowledge? None that thou namest.

"None that I name? And why so?"--Why, for religion's own sake?

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

G.o.d alone sees the heart and therefore, since he alone sees it, Be it our care that we, too, something that's worthy may see.

FRIEND AND FOE.

Dearly I love a friend; yet a foe I may turn to my profit; Friends show me that which I can; foes teach me that which I should.

LIGHT AND COLOR.

Thou that art ever the same, with the changeless One take up thy dwelling!

Color, thou changeable one, kindly descends upon man!

GENIUS.

Understanding, indeed, can repeat what already existed,-- That which Nature has built, after her she, too, can build.

Over Nature can reason build, but in vacancy only: But thou, genius, alone, nature in nature canst form.

BEAUTEOUS INDIVIDUALITY.

Thou in truth shouldst be one, yet not with the whole shouldst thou be so.

'Tis through the reason thou'rt one,--art so with it through the heart.

Voice of the whole is thy reason, but thou thine own heart must be ever; If in thy heart reason dwells evermore, happy art thou.

VARIETY.

Many are good and wise; yet all for one only reckon, For 'tis conception, alas, rules them, and not a fond heart.

Sad is the sway of conception,--from thousandfold varying figures, Needy and empty but one it is e'er able to bring.

But where creative beauty is ruling, there life and enjoyment Dwell; to the ne'er-changing One, thousands of new forms she gives.

THE IMITATOR.

Good from the good,--to the reason this is not hard of conception; But the genius has power good from the bad to evoke.

'Tis the conceived alone, that thou, imitator, canst practise; Food the conceived never is, save to the mind that conceives.

GENIALITY.

How does the genius make itself known? In the way that in nature Shows the Creator himself,--e'en in the infinite whole.

Clear is the ether, and yet of depth that ne'er can be fathomed; Seen by the eye, it remains evermore closed to the sense.

THE INQUIRERS.

Men now seek to explore each thing from within and without too!

How canst thou make thy escape, Truth, from their eager pursuit?

That they may catch thee, with nets and poles extended they seek thee But with a spirit-like tread, glidest thou out of the throng.

CORRECTNESS.

Free from blemish to be, is the lowest of steps, and highest; Weakness and greatness alone ever arrive at this point.

THE THREE AGES OF NATURE.

Life she received from fable; the schools deprived her of being, Life creative again she has from reason received.

THE LAW OF NATURE.

It has ever been so, my friend, and will ever remain so: Weakness has rules for itself,--vigor is crowned with success.

CHOICE.

If thou canst not give pleasure to all by thy deeds and thy knowledge, Give it then, unto the few; many to please is but vain.

SCIENCE OF MUSIC.

Let the creative art breathe life, and the bard furnish spirit; But the soul is expressed by Polyhymnia alone.

TO THE POET.

Let thy speech be to thee what the body is to the loving; Beings it only can part,--beings it only can join.