The Poems of Schiller - Third period Part 26

TO MYSTICS.

That is the only true secret, which in the presence of all men Lies, and surrounds thee for ay, but which is witnessed by none.

THE KEY.

Wouldst thou know thyself, observe the actions of others.

Wouldst thou other men know, look thou within thine own heart.

THE OBSERVER.

Stern as my conscience, thou seest the points wherein I'm deficient; Therefore I've always loved thee, as my own conscience I've loved.

WISDOM AND PRUDENCE.

Wouldst thou, my friend, mount up to the highest summit of wisdom, Be not deterred by the fear, prudence thy course may deride That shortsighted one sees but the bank that from thee is flying, Not the one which ere long thou wilt attain with bold flight.

THE AGREEMENT.

Both of us seek for truth--in the world without thou dost seek it, I in the bosom within; both of us therefore succeed.

If the eye be healthy, it sees from without the Creator; And if the heart, then within doubtless it mirrors the world.

POLITICAL PRECEPT.

All that thou doest is right; but, friend, don't carry this precept On too far,--be content, all that is right to effect.

It is enough to true zeal, if what is existing be perfect; False zeal always would find finished perfection at once.

MAJESTAS POPULI.

Majesty of the nature of man! In crowds shall I seek thee?

'Tis with only a few that thou hast made thine abode.

Only a few ever count; the rest are but blanks of no value, And the prizes are hid 'neath the vain stir that they make.

THE DIFFICULT UNION.

Why are taste and genius so seldom met with united?

Taste of strength is afraid,--genius despises the rein.

TO A WORLD-REFORMER.

"I Have sacrificed all," thou sayest, "that man I might succor; Vain the attempt; my reward was persecution and hate."

Shall I tell thee, my friend, how I to humor him manage?

Trust the proverb! I ne'er have been deceived by it yet.

Thou canst not sufficiently prize humanity's value; Let it be coined in deed as it exists in thy breast.

E'en to the man whom thou chancest to meet in life's narrow pathway, If he should ask it of thee, hold forth a succoring hand.

But for rain and for dew, for the general welfare of mortals, Leave thou Heaven to care, friend, as before, so e'en now.

MY ANTIPATHY.

I have a heartfelt aversion for crime,--a twofold aversion, Since 'tis the reason why man prates about virtue so much.

"What! thou hatest, then, virtue?"--I would that by all it were practised, So that, G.o.d willing, no man ever need speak of it more.

ASTRONOMICAL WRITINGS.

Oh, how infinite, how unspeakably great, are the heavens!

Yet by frivolity's hand downwards the heavens are pulled!

THE BEST STATE.

"How can I know the best state?"

In the way that thou know'st the best woman; Namely, my friend, that the world ever is silent of both.

TO ASTRONOMERS.

Prate not to me so much of suns and of nebulous bodies; Think ye Nature but great, in that she gives thee to count?

Though your object may be the sublimest that s.p.a.ce holds within it, Yet, my good friends, the sublime dwells not in the regions of s.p.a.ce.

MY FAITH.

Which religion do I acknowledge? None that thou namest.

"None that I name? And why so?"--Why, for religion's own sake?

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

G.o.d alone sees the heart and therefore, since he alone sees it, Be it our care that we, too, something that's worthy may see.

FRIEND AND FOE.

Dearly I love a friend; yet a foe I may turn to my profit; Friends show me that which I can; foes teach me that which I should.

LIGHT AND COLOR.

Thou that art ever the same, with the changeless One take up thy dwelling!

Color, thou changeable one, kindly descends upon man!