The Poems of Goethe Part 4

Runs e'en my foot along!

I feel so well, I feel so ill,

I feel so weak, so strong!

Would that such moments ne'er would end!

The day ne'er long I find; Could I the night too with her spend,

E'en that I should not mind.

If she were in mine arms but held,

To quench love's thirst I'd try; And could my torments not be quell'd,

Upon her breast would die.

1776.*

------ THE COY ONE.

ONE Spring-morning bright and fair,

Roam'd a shepherdess and sang; Young and beauteous, free from care,

Through the fields her clear notes rang: So, Ia, Ia! le ralla, &c.

Of his lambs some two or three

Thyrsis offer'd for a kiss; First she eyed him roguishly,

Then for answer sang but this: So, Ia, Ia! le ralla, &c.

Ribbons did the next one offer,

And the third, his heart so true But, as with the lambs, the scoffer

Laugh'd at heart and ribbons too,-- Still 'twas Ia! le ralla, &c.

1791.

----- THE CONVERT.

As at sunset I was straying

Silently the wood along, Damon on his flute was playing,

And the rocks gave back the song, So la, Ia! &c.

Softly tow'rds him then he drew me;

Sweet each kiss he gave me then!

And I said, "Play once more to me!"

And he kindly play'd again, So la, la! &c.

All my peace for aye has fleeted,

All my happiness has flown; Yet my ears are ever greeted

With that olden, blissful tone, So la, la! &c.

1791.

----- PRESERVATION.

My maiden she proved false to me;

To hate all joys I soon began,

Then to a flowing stream I ran,-- The stream ran past me hastily.

There stood I fix'd, in mute despair;

My head swam round as in a dream;

I well-nigh fell into the stream, And earth seem'd with me whirling there.

Sudden I heard a voice that cried--

I had just turn'd my face from thence--

It was a voice to charm each sense: "Beware, for deep is yonder tide!"

A thrill my blood pervaded now,

I look'd and saw a beauteous maid

I asked her name--twas Kate, she said-- "Oh lovely Kate! how kind art thou!

"From death I have been sav'd by thee,

'Tis through thee only that I live;

Little 'twere life alone to give, My joy in life then deign to be!"

And then I told my sorrows o'er,

Her eyes to earth she sweetly threw;

I kiss'd her, and she kiss'd me too, And--then I talked of death no more.

1775.*