The Poems of Goethe Part 2

Sooner thus will good unfold; Children young and children old Gladly hear thy numbers flow.

1820.*

* In the cases in which the date is marked thus (*), it signifies the original date of publication--the year of composition not being known. In other cases, the date given is that of the actual composition. All the poems are arranged in the order of the recognised German editions.

----- TO THE KIND READER.

No one talks more than a Poet; Fain he'd have the people know it.

Praise or blame he ever loves; None in prose confess an error, Yet we do so, void of terror,

In the Muses' silent groves.

What I err'd in, what corrected, What I suffer'd, what effected,

To this wreath as flow'rs belong; For the aged, and the youthful, And the vicious, and the truthful,

All are fair when viewed in song.

1800.*

----- THE NEW AMADIS.

IN my boyhood's days so drear

I was kept confined; There I sat for many a year,

All alone I pined, As within the womb.

Yet thou drov'st away my gloom,

Golden phantasy!

I became a hero true,

Like the Prince Pipi, And the world roam'd through,

Many a crystal palace built,

Crush'd them with like art, And the Dragon's life-blood spilt

With my glitt'ring dart.

Yes! I was a man!

Next I formed the knightly plan

Princess Fish to free; She was much too complaisant,

Kindly welcomed me,-- And I was gallant.

Heav'nly bread her kisses proved,

Glowing as the wine; Almost unto death I loved.

Sun-s appeared to s.h.i.+ne In her dazzling charms.

Who hath torn her from mine arms?

Could no magic band Make her in her flight delay?

Say, where now her land?

Where, alas, the way?

1775.*

----- WHEN THE FOX DIES, HIS SKIN COUNTS.*

(* The name of a game, known in English as "Jack's alight.")

WE young people in the shade

Sat one sultry day; Cupid came, and "Dies the Fox"

With us sought to play.

Each one of my friends then sat

By his mistress dear; Cupid, blowing out the torch,

Said: "The taper's here!"

Then we quickly sent around

The expiring brand; Each one put it hastily

ln his neighbour's hand.

Dorilis then gave it me,

With a scoffing jest; Sudden into flame it broke,

By my fingers press'd.

And it singed my eyes and face,

Set my breast on fire; Then above my head the blaze

Mounted ever higher.

Vain I sought to put it out;