The Poems of Schiller - Third period Part 33

Once wisdom dwelt in tomes of ponderous size, While friends.h.i.+p from a pocketbook would talk; But now that knowledge in small compa.s.s lies, And floats in almanacs, as light as cork, Courageous man, thou dost not hesitate To open for thy friends this house so great!

Hast thou no fear, I seriously would ask, That thou may'st thus their patience overtask?

VERSES WRITTEN IN THE ALb.u.m OF A FRIEND.

(HERR VON MECHELN OF BASLE.)

Nature in charms is exhaustless, in beauty ever reviving; And, like Nature, fair art is inexhaustible too.

Hail, thou honored old man! for both in thy heart thou preservest Living sensations, and thus ne'er-ending youth is thy lot!

THE SUNDAY CHILDREN.

Years has the master been laboring, but always without satisfaction; To an ingenious race 'twould be in vision conferred.

What they yesterday learned, to-day they fain would be teaching: Small compa.s.sion, alas, is by those gentlemen shown!

THE HIGHEST.

Seerest thou the highest, the greatest!

In that the plant can instruct thee; What it unwittingly is, be thou of thine own free will!

THE PUPPET-SHOW OF LIFE.

Thou'rt welcome in my box to peep!

Life's puppet-show, the world in little, Thou'lt see depicted to a t.i.ttle,-- But pray at some small distance keep!

'Tis by the torch of love alone, By Cupid's taper, it is shown.

See, not a moment void the stage is!

The child in arms at first they bring,-- The boy then skips,--the youth now storms and rages,-- The man contends, and ventures everything!

Each one attempts success to find, Yet narrow is the race-course ever; The chariot rolls, the axles quiver, The hero presses on, the coward stays behind, The proud man falls with mirth-inspiring fall, The wise man overtakes them all!

Thou see'st fair woman it the barrier stand, With beauteous hands, with smiling eyes, To glad the victor with his prize.

TO LAWGIVERS.

Ever take it for granted, that man collectively wishes That which is right; but take care never to think so of one!

FALSE IMPULSE TO STUDY.

Oh, how many new foes against truth! My very soul bleedeth When I behold the owl-race now bursting forth to the light.

THE HEREDITARY PRINCE OF WEIMAR, ON HIS PROCEEDING TO PARIS.

(SUNG IN A CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.)

With one last b.u.mper let us hail The wanderer beloved, Who takes his leave of this still vale Wherein in youth he roved.

From loving arms, from native home, He tears himself away, To yonder city proud to roam, That makes whole lands its prey.

Dissension flies, all tempests end, And chained is strife abhorred; We in the crater may descend From whence the lava poured.

A gracious fate conduct thee through Life's wild and mazy track!

A bosom nature gave thee true,-- A bosom true bring back!

Thou'lt visit lands that war's wild train Had crushed with careless heed; Now smiling peace salutes the plain, And strews the golden seed.

The h.o.a.ry Father Rhine thou'lt greet, Who thy forefather [58] blest Will think of, whilst his waters fleet In ocean's bed to rest.

Do homage to the hero's manes, And offer to the Rhine, The German frontier who maintains, His own-created wine,--

So that thy country's soul thy guide May be, when thou hast crossed On the frail bark to yonder side, Where German faith is lost!

THE IDEAL OF WOMAN.

TO AMANDA.

Woman in everything yields to man; but in that which is highest, Even the manliest man yields to the woman most weak.

But that highest,--what is it? The gentle radiance of triumph As in thy brow upon me, beauteous Amanda, it beams.

When o'er the bright s.h.i.+ning disk the clouds of affliction are fleeting, Fairer the image appears, seen through the vapor of gold.

Man may think himself free! thou art so,--for thou never knowest What is the meaning of choice,--know'st not necessity's name.

That which thou givest, thou always givest wholly; but one art thou ever, Even thy tenderest sound is thine harmonious self.

Youth everlasting dwells here, with fulness that never is exhausted, And with the flower at once pluckest thou the ripe golden fruit.