The Poems of Goethe - LightNovelsOnl.com
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Birds of gay plumage
Sport in the grove, Heavenly numbers
Singing above.
Under the verdure's
Vigorous bloom, Bees, softly b.u.mming,
Juices consume.
Gentle disturbance
Quivers in air, Sleep-causing fragrance,
Motion so fair.
Soon with more power
Rises the breeze, Then in a moment
Dies in the trees.
But to the bosom
Comes it again.
Aid me, ye Muses,
Bliss to sustain!
Say what has happen'd
Since yester e'en?
Oh, ye fair sisters,
Her I have seen!
1802.
----- AUTUMN FEELINGS.
FLOURISH greener, as ye clamber, Oh ye leaves, to seek my chamber,
Up the trellis'd vine on high!
May ye swell, twin-berries tender, Juicier far,--and with more splendour
Ripen, and more speedily!
O'er ye broods the sun at even As he sinks to rest, and heaven
Softly breathes into your ear All its fertilising fullness, While the moon's refres.h.i.+ng coolness,
Magic-laden, hovers near; And, alas! ye're watered ever
By a stream of tears that rill From mine eyes--tears ceasing never,
Tears of love that nought can still!
1775.*
----- RESTLESS LOVE.
THROUGH rain, through snow, Through tempest go!
'Mongst streaming caves, O'er misty waves, On, on! still on!
Peace, rest have flown!
Sooner through sadness
I'd wish to be slain, Than all the gladness
Of life to sustain All the fond yearning
That heart feels for heart, Only seems burning
To make them both smart.
How shall I fly?
Forestwards hie?
Vain were all strife!
Bright crown of life.
Turbulent bliss,-- Love, thou art this!
1789.
----- THE SHEPHERD'S LAMENT.
ON yonder lofty mountain
A thousand times I stand, And on my staff reclining,
Look down on the smiling land.
My grazing flocks then I follow,
My dog protecting them well; I find myself in the valley,
But how, I scarcely can tell.
The whole of the meadow is cover'd
With flowers of beauty rare; I pluck them, but pluck them unknowing
To whom the offering to bear.
