The Poems of Schiller - First period Part 7

Farewell, then, ye who take delight In boasting of your worth!

To many a man, to many a knight, Beloved in peace, and brave in fight, The Swabian land gives birth!

TO THE SPRING.

Welcome, gentle Stripling, Nature's darling thou!

With thy basket full of blossoms, A happy welcome now!

Aha!--and thou returnest, Heartily we greet thee-- The loving and the fair one, Merrily we meet thee!

Think'st thou of my maiden In thy heart of glee?

I love her yet, the maiden-- And the maiden yet loves me!

For the maiden, many a blossom I begged--and not in vain!

I came again a-begging, And thou--thou givest again: Welcome, gentle Stripling, Nature's darling thou-- With thy basket full of blossoms, A happy welcome now!

SEMELE:

IN TWO SCENES.

Dramatis Personae.

JUNO.

SEMELE, Princess of Thebes.

JUPITER.

MERCURY.

SCENE--The Palace of Cadmus at Thebes.

SCENE I.

JUNO. (Descending from her chariot, enveloped in a cloud.) Away, ye peac.o.c.ks, with my winged car!

Upon Cithaeron's cloud-capped summit wait!

[The chariot and cloud vanish.

Hail, hail, thou house of my undying anger!

A fearful hail to thee, thou hostile roof, Ye hated walls!--This, this, then, is the place Where Jupiter pollutes his marriage-bed Even before the face of modest day!

'Tis here, then, that a woman, a frail mortal, A dust-created being, dares to lure The mighty Thunderer from out mine arms, And hold him prisoner against her lips!

Juno! Juno! thought of madness!

Thou all lonely and in sadness, Standest now on heaven's bright throne!

Though the votive smoke ascendeth, Though each knee in homage bendeth, What are they when love has flown?

To humble, alas, each too-haughty emotion That swelled my proud breast, from the foam of the ocean Fair Venus arose, to enchant G.o.ds and men!

And the Fates my still deeper abas.e.m.e.nt decreeing, Her offspring Hermione brought into being, And the bliss once mine own can ne'er glad me again!

Amongst the G.o.ds do I not reign the queen?

Am I not sister of the Thunderer?

Am I not wife of Zeus, the lord of all?

Groans not the mighty axis of the heavens At my command? Gleams not Olympus' crown Upon my head? Ha! now I feel myself!

In my immortal veins is Kronos' blood, Right royally now swells my G.o.dlike heart.

Revenge! revenge!

Shall she unpunished ridicule my might?

Unpunished, discord roll amongst the G.o.ds, Inviting Eris to invade the courts, The joyous courts of heaven? Vain, thoughtless one!

Perish, and learn upon the Stygian stream The difference 'twixt divine and earthly dust!

The giant-armor, may it weigh thee down-- Thy pa.s.sion for a G.o.d to atoms crush thee!

Armed with revenge, as with a coat of mail, I have descended from Olympus' heights, Devising sweet, ensnaring, flattering words; But in those words, death and destruction lurk.

Hark! 'tis her footstep! she approaches now-- Approaches ruin and a certain death!

Veil thyself, G.o.ddess, in a mortal form! [Exit.

SEMELE. (Calling behind the scenes.) The sun is fast declining! Maidens, haste, Scatter ambrosial fragrance through the hall, Strew roses and narcissus flowers around, Forgetting not the gold-embroidered pillow.

He comes not yet--the sun is fast declining--

JUNO. (hastily entering in the form of an old woman.) Praised be the deities, my dearest daughter!

SEMELE.

Ha! Do I dream? Am I awake? G.o.ds! Beroe!

JUNO.

Is't possible that Semele can e'er Forget her nurse?

SEMELE. 'Tis Beroe! By Zeus!

Oh, let thy daughter clasp thee to her heart!

Thou livest still? What can have brought thee here From Epidaurus? Tell me all thy tale!

Thou art my mother as of old?

JUNO. Thy mother!

Time was thou call'dst me so.

SEMELE. Thou art so still, And wilt remain so, till I drink full deep Of Lethe's maddening draught.

JUNO. Soon Beroe Will drink oblivion from the waves of Lethe; But Cadmus' daughter ne'er will taste that draught.

SEMELE.

How, my good nurse? Thy language ne'er was wont To be mysterious or of hidden meaning; The spirit of gray hairs 'tis speaks in thee; Thou sayest I ne'er shall taste of Lethe's draught?

JUNO.

I said so, yes! But wherefore ridicule Gray hairs? 'Tis true that they, unlike fair tresses, Have ne'er been able to ensnare a G.o.d!

SEMELE.

Pardon poor thoughtless me! What cause have I To ridicule gray hairs? Can I suppose That mine forever fair will grace my neck?

But what was that I heard thee muttering Between thy teeth? A G.o.d?

JUNO. Said I a G.o.d?

The deities in truth dwell everywhere!