The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iii Part 5

(FREE TRANSLATION)

The calm correctness, where no fault we see, Attests Art's loftiest or its least degree; Alike the smoothness of the surface shows The Pool's dull stagner--the great Sea's repose.

THE MASTER

The herd of scribes, by what they tell us, Show all in which their wits excel us; But the True Master we behold, In what his art leaves--just untold.

EXPECTATION AND FULFILLMENT

O'er Ocean, with a thousand masts, sails forth the stripling bold-- One boat, hard rescued from the deep, draws into port the old!

THE PROSELYTE MAKER

"A little earth from out the Earth-and I The Earth will move:" so spake the Sage divine.

Out of myself one little moment--try Myself to take:--succeed, and I am thine!

THE CONNECTING MEDIUM

What to cement the lofty and the mean Does Nature?--What?--Place vanity between?

THE MORAL POET

[This is an Epigram on Lavater's work, called "Pontius Pilatus, oder der Mensch in Allen Gestalten," etc.--TRANSLATOR.]

"How poor a thing is man!" Alas, 'tis true I'd half forgot it--when I chanced on you!

THE SUBLIME THEME

[Also on Lavater, and alluding to the "Jesus Messias, oder die Evangelien und Apostelgeschichte in Gesangen."--TRANSLATOR.]

How G.o.d compa.s.sionates Mankind, thy muse, my friend, rehea.r.s.es-- Compa.s.sion for the sins of Man!--What comfort for thy verses!

SCIENCE

To some she is the G.o.ddess great, to some the milch-cow of the field; Their care is but to calculate--what b.u.t.ter she will yield.

KANT AND HIS COMMENTATORS

How many starvelings one rich man can nouris.h.!.+

When monarchs build, the rubbish-carriers flourish.

THE MAIDEN FROM AFAR (1796)

Within a vale, each infant year, When earliest larks first carol free, To humble shepherds doth appear A wondrous maiden, fair to see.

Not born within that lowly place-- From whence she wander'd, none could tell; Her parting footsteps left no trace, When once the maiden bade farewell.

And blessed was her presence there-- Each heart, expanding, grew more gay; Yet something loftier still than fair Kept man's familiar looks away.

From fairy gardens, known to none, She brought mysterious fruits and flowers-- The things of some serener sun-- Some Nature more benign than ours.

With each, her gifts the maiden shared-- To some the fruits, the flowers to some; Alike the young, the aged fared; Each bore a blessing back to home.

Though every guest was welcome there, Yet some the maiden held more dear, And cull'd her rarest sweets whene'er She saw two hearts that loved draw near.

THE GLOVE (1797)

A TALE

Before his lion-court, To see the gruesome sport, Sate the king; Beside him group'd his princely peers; And dames aloft, in circling tiers, Wreath'd round their blooming ring.

King Francis, where he sate, Raised a finger--yawn'd the gate, And, slow from his repose, A LION goes!

Dumbly he gazed around The foe-encircled ground; And, with a lazy gape, He stretch'd his lordly shape, And shook his careless mane, And--laid him down again!

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE KNIGHT SCORNS CUNIGONDE Eugen Klimsch]

A finger raised the king-- And nimbly have the guard A second gate unbarr'd; Forth, with a rus.h.i.+ng spring, A TIGER sprung!

Wildly the wild one yell'd When the lion he beheld; And, bristling at the look, With his tail his sides he strook, And roll'd his rabid tongue; In many a wary ring He swept round the forest king, With a fell and rattling sound;-- And laid him on the ground, Grommelling!

The king raised his finger; then Leap'd two LEOPARDS from the den With a bound; And boldly bounded they Where the crouching tiger lay Terrible!

And he gripped the beasts in his deadly hold; In the grim embrace they grappled and roll'd; Rose the lion with a roar!

And stood the strife before; And the wild-cats on the spot, From the blood-thirst, wroth and hot, Halted still!

Now from the balcony above, A snowy hand let fall a glove:-- Midway between the beasts of prey, Lion and tiger; there it lay, The winsome lady's glove!