The Poems of Goethe - LightNovelsOnl.com
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In the place my art foretold
Black and stormy was the night.
Coming o'er the distant plain,
With the glimmer of a star,
Soon I saw a light afar,
As the hour of midnight knell'd.
Preparation was in vain.
Sudden all was lighted up
With the l.u.s.tre of a cup
That a beauteous boy upheld.
Sweetly seem'd his eves to laugh
Neath his flow'ry chaplet's load;
With the drink that brightly glow'd,
He the circle enter'd in.
And he kindly bade me quaff:
Then methought "This child can ne'er,
With his gift so bright and fair,
To the arch-fiend be akin."
"Pure life's courage drink!" cried he: "This advice to prize then learn,--
Never to this place return
Trusting in thy spells absurd; Dig no longer fruitlessly.
Guests by night, and toil by day!
Weeks laborious, feast-days gay!
Be thy future magic-word!
1797.
----- THE RAT-CATCHER.
I AM the bard known far and wide, The travell'd rat-catcher beside; A man most needful to this town, So glorious through its old renown.
However many rats I see, How many weasels there may be, I cleanse the place from ev'ry one, All needs must helter-skelter run.
Sometimes the bard so full of cheer As a child-catcher will appear, Who e'en the wildest captive brings, Whene'er his golden tales he sings.
However proud each boy in heart, However much the maidens start, I bid the chords sweet music make, And all must follow in my wake.
Sometimes the skilful bard ye view In the form of maiden-catcher too; For he no city enters e'er, Without effecting wonders there.
However coy may be each maid, However the women seem afraid, Yet all will love-sick be ere long To sound of magic lute and song.
[Da Capo.] 1803.*
THE SPINNER.
As I calmly sat and span,
Toiling with all zeal, Lo! a young and handsome man
Pa.s.s'd my spinning-wheel.
And he praised,--what harm was there?--
Sweet the things he said-- Praised my flax-resembling hair,
And the even thread.
He with this was not content,
But must needs do more; And in twain the thread was rent,
Though 'twas safe before.
And the flax's stonelike weight
Needed to be told; But no longer was its state
Valued as of old.
When I took it to the weaver,
Something felt I start, And more quickly, as with fever,
Throbb'd my trembling heart.
Then I bear the thread at length
Through the heat, to bleach; But, alas, I scarce have strength
To the pool to reach.