Translations Of German Poetry In American Magazines 1741-1810 Part 12

O praise the Lord!--Ev'n from his den The desert's savage roars his praise; And, oh! my soul! how much more then, Should'st thou thy voice in Paeans raise?

--Oscar.

_Phila. Repos._, III-152, May 7, 1803, Phila.

ODE TO SPRING From the German.

"Freude wirbelt in den Luften."

Joy comes laughing with the breeze; Gladness spreads itself around; Songsters warble in the trees; Nature gaily decks the ground.

Heav'n unfolds its richest vesture, Sparkling stars--etherial blue; Fairies dance with antic gesture; Or sip, delighted, morning dew.

Gentle, smiling, Zephyrs, wander, Thro' the groves of verdant green; Toying with the lilac yonder-- Here, with the rose of blooming mien.

Humming bees, on wafer pinions, Careful, thro' the blossoms roam: Searching all their flow'r dominions, The nectar tribute gather home.

In th'embroider'd violet vale, Love, attended by the Graces, Tells his soft bewitching tale, While blus.h.i.+ng fair ones hide their faces.

How beautiful is the creation, In this time of mirth and joy?

All is life--all animation: Nought our pleasures to annoy.

--Oscar.

_Phila. Repos._, III-152, May 7, 1803, Phila.

[For introductory note, cf. the preceding.]

UNIVERSAL SONG OF PRAISE.

A Sapphic Ode.

From the German of Burde.

"Alles was odem hat, lobe den Herrn!"

All ye that live and breathe, O praise the Lord!

With holy streams of joy, and exultation, Our souls are penetrated.

O taste and see, how great, how good He is!

His love and mercy, his truth and grace alone, Leads us to joys eternal.

O ye enwraptur'd souls that serve the Lord Cherubim! Seraphim! Angels and Spirits!

Love is your felicity.

Thirst on, our souls--thirst for the living streams; Bless'd and holy! and for ever love Him!

Who us, in love, created.

Yes, we'll love and adore Him! yes, the dust Loves its Redeemer; and all our anxious tears Himself shall wipe away.

--Oscar.

_Phila. Repos._, III-152, May 7, 1803, Phila.

[For introductory note, cf. _Morning Song of Praise_, preceding.]

THE SHOE PINCHES.

A Song of Shoe-maker, William.

From Kotzebue.

Though idlers riot, eat and drink, And on soft downy pillows sink, They are not free from woe: For every man must have his share Of trouble, and must know best where _The shoe does pinch his toe_.

When rainy, wise men boots will wear, But shoes put on when all is fair, And take times as they go; No man that ever wore a shoe Will say if he be fair and true, _It never pinch'd his toe_.

_Balance and Columbian Repos._, II-288, Sept. 6, 1803, Hudson, (N.

Y.).

BENEVOLENCE.--A FABLE.

Imitated from the German of Gellert.

_Port Folio_, III-352, Oct. 29, 1803, Phila.

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

THE NOSEGAY.

[Prose translation.]

_Phila. Repos._, IV-4, Jan. 7, 1804, Phila.

[S. Gessner, _Der Blumenstrauss_. W. Hooper, _New Idylles_, p. 37.]

For the Philadelphia Repository.

HOFFNUNG.

Wie des morgens h.e.l.le licht Die dunkeln 'nachts durchbricht, Und die ganze welt erfrout Mit des tages herlichkeit

So wann grosse traurigkeit-- Laest den menschen keine freud, Wann verzweiflung angst und schmertze Fuelt das arme, banges hertze.

Geht die sonne _Hoffnungs_ auf, Und im traur'gem brust sein lauf Beginnt; dann flichtet traurigkeit, Und die brust ist voller freud.

Von verzweiflung, angst und schmertze Ist befreyt das bange hertze, O! es bringt die _Hoffnungs_ sonne, Seeligkeit, und grosse wonne.

--ADELIO.

* * *A poetical translation is requested.