The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 517

Thou art but a simpleton.

Now thou mayest--more shame to thee-- Run away, because of me; Cupid, that young rogue, may glory Learning wisdom from thy story; Haste, thou sluggard, hence to flee As from gla.s.s is cut our wit, So, like lightning, 'twill be split; If thou won't be chased away, Let each folly also stay Seest my meaning? Think of me!

Idle one, away with thee!

SPINOSA.

A mighty oak here ruined lies, Its top was wont to kiss the skies, Why is it now o'erthrown?-- The peasants needed, so they said, Its wood wherewith to build a shed, And so they've cut it down.

TO THE FATES.

Not in the crowd of masqueraders gay, Where c.o.xcombs' wit with wondrous splendor flares, And, easier than the Indian's net the prey, The virtue of young beauties snares;--

Not at the toilet-table of the fair, Where vanity, as if before an idol, bows, And often breathes a warmer prayer Than when to heaven it pays its vows;

And not behind the curtain's cunning veil, Where the world's eye is hid by cheating night, And glowing flames the hearts a.s.sail, That seemed but chilly in the light,--

Where wisdom we surprise with shame-dyed lip, While Phoebus' rays she boldly drinks, Where men, like thievish children, nectar sip, And from the spheres e'en Plato sinks--

To ye--to ye, O lonely sister-band, Daughters of destiny, ascend, When o'er the lyre all-gently sweeps my hand, These strains, where bliss and sadness blend.

You only has no sonnet ever wooed, To win your gold no usurer e'er sighed No c.o.xcomb e'er with plaints your steps pursued, For you, Arcadian shepherd ne'er has died.

Your gentle fingers ye forever ply, Life's nervous thread with care to twist, Till sound the clanging shears, and fruitlessly The tender web would then resist.

Since thou my thread of life hast kindly spun, Thy hand, O Clotho, I now kiss!

Since thou hast spared that life whilst scarce begun, Receive this nosegay, Lachesis!

Full often thorns upon the thread, But oftener roses, thou hast strung; For thorns and roses there outspread, Clotho, to thee this lay be sung!

Oft did tempestuous pa.s.sions rise, And threat to break the thread by force; Oft projects of gigantic size Have checked its free, unfettered course.

Oft, in sweet hours of heavenly bliss, Too fine appeared the thread to me; Still oftener, when near sorrow's dark abyss, Too firm its fabric seemed to be.

Clotho, for this and other lies, Thy pardon I with tears implore; Henceforth I'll take whatever prize Sage Clotho gives, and asks no more.

But never let the shears cut off a rose-- Only the thorns,--yet as thou will'st!

Let, if thou will'st, the death-shears, sharply close, If thou this single prayer fulfill'st!

Oh, G.o.ddess! when, enchained to Laura's breath, My spirit from its sh.e.l.l breaks free, Betraying when, upon the gates of death, My youthful life hangs giddily,

Let to infinity the thread extend, 'Twill wander through the realms of bliss,-- Then, G.o.ddess, let thy cruel shears descend!

Then let them fall, O Lachesis!

THE PARALLEL.

Her likeness Madame Ramler bids me find; I try to think in vain, to whom or how Beneath the moon there's nothing of the kind.-- I'll show she's like the moon, I vow!

The moon--she rouges, steals the sun's bright light, By eating stolen bread her living gets,-- Is also wont to paint her cheeks at night, While, with untiring ardor, she coquets.

The moon--for this may Herod give her thanks!-- Reserves her best till night may have returned; Our lady swallows up by day the francs That she at night-time may have earned.

The moon first swells, and then is once more lean, As surely as the month comes round; With Madame Ramler 'tis the same, I ween-- But she to need more time is found!

The moon to love her silver-horns is said, But makes a sorry show; She likes them on her husband's head,-- She's right to have it so

KLOPSTOCK AND WIELAND.

(WHEN THEIR MINIATURES WERE HANGING SIDE BY SIDE.)

In truth, when I have crossed dark Lethe's river, The man upon the right I'll love forever, For 'twas he first that wrote for me.

For all the world the left man wrote, full clearly, And so we all should love him dearly; Come, left man! I must needs kiss thee!

THE MUSES' REVENGE.

AN ANECDOTE OF HELICON.

Once the nine all weeping came To the G.o.d of song "Oh, papa!" they there exclaim-- "Hear our tale of wrong!

"Young ink-lickers swarm about Our dear Helicon; There they fight, manoeuvre, shout, Even to thy throne.

"On their steeds they galop hard To the spring to drink, Each one calls himself a bard-- Minstrels--only think!

"There they--how the thing to name!

Would our persons treat-- This, without a blush of shame, We can ne'er repeat;

"One, in front of all, then cries, 'I the army lead!'

Both his fists he wildly plies, Like a bear indeed!

"Others wakes he in a trice With his whistlings rude; But none follow, though he twice Has those sounds renewed.

"He'll return, he threats, ere long, And he'll come no doubt!

Father, friend to lyric song, Please to show him out!"

Father Phoebus laughing hears The complaint they've brought; "Don't be frightened, pray, my dears, We'll soon cut them short!