The Poems of Schiller - Third period Part 25

THE IMMUTABLE.

Time flies on restless pinions--constant never.

Be constant--and thou chainest time forever.

VOTIVE TABLETS.

That which I learned from the Deity,-- that which through lifetime hath helped me, Meekly and gratefully now, here I suspend in his shrine.

DIFFERENT DESTINIES.

Millions busily toil, that the human race may continue; But by only a few is propagated our kind.

Thousands of seeds by the autumn are scattered, yet fruit is engendered Only by few, for the most back to the element go.

But if one only can blossom, that one is able to scatter Even a bright living world, filled with creations eterne.

THE ANIMATING PRINCIPLE.

Nowhere in the organic or sensitive world ever kindles Novelty, save in the flower, n.o.blest creation of life.

TWO DESCRIPTIONS OF ACTION.

Do what is good, and humanity's G.o.dlike plant thou wilt nourish; Plan what is fair, and thou'lt strew seeds of the G.o.dlike around.

DIFFERENCE OF STATION.

Even the moral world its n.o.bility boasts--vulgar natures Reckon by that which they do; n.o.ble, by that which they are.

WORTH AND THE WORTHY.

If thou anything hast, let me have it,--I'll pay what is proper; If thou anything art, let us our spirits exchange.

THE MORAL FORCE.

If thou feelest not the beautiful, still thou with reason canst will it; And as a spirit canst do, that which as man thou canst not.

PARTIc.i.p.aTION.

E'en by the hand of the wicked can truth be working with vigor; But the vessel is filled by what is beauteous alone.

TO ----

Tell me all that thou knowest, and I will thankfully hear it!

But wouldst thou give me thyself,--let me, my friend, be excused!

TO ----

Wouldst thou teach me the truth? Don't take the trouble! I wish not, Through thee, the thing to observe,--but to see thee through the thing.

TO ----

Thee would I choose as my teacher and friend. Thy living example Teaches me,--thy teaching word wakens my heart unto life.

THE PRESENT GENERATION.

Was it always as now? This race I truly can't fathom.

Nothing is young but old age; youth, alas! only is old.

TO THE MUSE.

What I had been without thee, I know not--yet, to my sorrow See I what, without thee, hundreds and thousands now are.

THE LEARNED WORKMAN.

Ne'er does he taste the fruit of the tree that he raised with such trouble; Nothing but taste e'er enjoys that which by learning is reared.

THE DUTY OF ALL.

Ever strive for the whole; and if no whole thou canst make thee, Join, then, thyself to some whole, as a subservient limb!

A PROBLEM.

Let none resemble another; let each resemble the highest!

How can that happen? let each be all complete in itself.

THE PECULIAR IDEAL.

What thou thinkest, belongs to all; what thou feelest, is thine only.

Wouldst thou make him thine own, feel thou the G.o.d whom thou thinkest!