Translations Of German Poetry In American Magazines 1741-1810 Part 11

_Port Folio_, I-400, Dec. 12, 1801, Phila.

[C. F. Gellert, _Der Tanzbar_.]

BENEVOLENCE. A FABLE.

Imitated from the German of Galleret.

_Balance and Columbian Repos._, I-132, Apr. 27, 1802, Hudson (N. Y.).

[Gellert, _Die Gutthat_. Also in _Amer. Universal Mag._, I-28, Jan. 2, 1797, Phila.]

AMINTA.

An Idyl,--By Gessner.

[Prose translation.]

_Weekly Visitor or Ladies' Misc._, I-20, Oct. 23, 1802, N. Y.

[S. Gessner, _Daphne_. Mary Collyer, _Gessner's Idyls_, 1802, Liverpool. II-121, _Aminta_.]

INVITATION TO JOY.

From the German.

Say, who could mope in joyless plight, While youth and spring bedeck the scene, And scorn the profer'd gay delight, With thankless heart and frowning mien?

See Joy with becks and smiles appear, While roses strew the devious way; The feast of life she bids us share, Where'er our pilgrim footsteps stray.

And still the grove is cool and green, And clear the bubbling fountain flows, Still s.h.i.+nes the night's resplendent queen, As erst in Paradise she rose: The grapes their purple nectar pour, To 'suage the heart that griefs oppress; And still the lonely ev'ning bow'r Invites and screens the stolen kiss.

Still Philomela's melting strain, Responsive to the dying gale, Beguiles the bosom's throbbing pain, And sweetly charms the list'ning vale; Creation's scene expanded lies:-- Blest scene! how wond'rous bright and fair!

Till Death's cold hand shall close my eyes, Let me the lavish'd bounties share!

_Weekly Visitor or Ladies' Misc._, I-64, Nov. 27, 1802, N. Y.

ORIGINAL PAPERS.

For the Port Folio.

THE AMERICAN LOUNGER.

By SAMUEL SAUNTER, Esq.

No. XLIII.

Et vos, O lauri, carpam, et te proxima myrtus, Sic positae, quoniam suaves miscetis odores.

--_Virgil._

To SAMUEL SAUNTER, _Esq._

Sir,

As I perceive your plan, like that of Coleman and Thornton, in the "Connoisseur," and like that of your relation, _Solomon_ Saunter, in "Literary Leisure," admits Poetry as well as Prose, which one may feed upon alternately, as we eat bread and cheese, I send you a translation, from the German of Lessing, and some fugitive originals.

I am, yours HARLEY.

I ask'd my fair, one happy day, What should I call her in my lay, By what sweet name, from Rome or Greece, Iphigenia, Clelia, Chloris, Laura, Lesbia, Delia, Doris, Dorimene or Lucrece?

Ah, replied my gentle fair, Beloved, what are names but air?

Take thou whatever suits the line, Clelia, Iphigenia, Chloris, Laura, Lesbia, Delia, Doris-- But don't forget to call me--_thine_.

_Port Folio_, III-25, Jan. 1803, Phila.

[Lessing, _Die Namen_.]

THE NAVIGATION Translated from the French of Gessner.

It flies! the vessel flies, that bears away To distant sh.o.r.es my Daphne, fair as May.

Guard her, ye loves! be lull'd each ruder gale; Let Zephyrs only fill the swelling sail; Ye waves flow gently by the vessel's side, While pensive she surveys you idly glide; Ah! softly glide, prolong her reverie, For then, ye G.o.ds! 'tis then she thinks of me.

When near the nodding groves that shade the sh.o.r.e, To her, ye birds, your sweetest warbling pour; No sounds be heard, but such as gently sooth, And be, O sea, thy azure surface smooth.

Ne'er since thy daughters sought their liquid caves, A lovelier charge, was trusted to thy waves.

Her clear, her bright unsullied beauty shews The lilly's white, and freshness of the rose.

Not Venus had more charms, more beauteous bloom, When, rising from the sea's resplendent foam, She smiling mounted first her silver car, And shone effulgent as the morning star.

The enchanted Tritons left their noisy sport, And nymphs cerulian in their crystal court; Regardless of their frowns, or jealous smiles, While beauty's queen each eager eye beguiles.

They gaze, and held in most delightful trance, Pursue her moving o'er the smooth expanse.

H***T.

_Boston Weekly Mag._, 1-72, Feb. 19, 1803, Boston.

[S. Gessner, _La Navigation_. French translation of _Die Schiffahrt_.]

Mr. HOGAN;

The subjoined Pieces under the signature of Oscar, are the production of a gentleman residing in a distant part of the state. They were written solely with a view to amuse his leisure hours. If you think them worthy of publication, you are at liberty to insert them in the Repository.

--A SUBSCRIBER.

MORNING SONG OF PRAISE.

From the German of Patzke.

"Lobt den Herrn! Die morgensonne."

O praise the Lord! the morning sun, From sleep awakes the cheerful swain; And all creation's joys again, To us, in streams renewed, run.

O praise the Lord! ye sweetest flow'rs, To him your earliest fragrance yield; Ye birds exert your tuneful pow'rs; Praise him in meadow and in field.