The Poems of Schiller - Third period Part 9

Wherefore hast thou power thus given, What must needs occur to know?

Wrought must be the will of Heaven-- Onward come the hour of woe!"

"When impending fate strikes terror, Why remove the covering?

Life we have alone in error, Knowledge with it death must bring.

Take away this prescience tearful, Take this sight of woe from me; Of thy truths, alas! how fearful 'Tis the mouthpiece frail to be!"

"Veil my mind once more in slumbers Let me heedlessly rejoice; Never have I sung glad numbers Since I've been thy chosen voice.

Knowledge of the future giving, Thou hast stolen the present day, Stolen the moment's joyous living,-- Take thy false gift, then, away!"

"Ne'er with bridal train around me, Have I wreathed my radiant brow, Since to serve thy fane I bound me-- Bound me with a solemn vow.

Evermore in grief I languish-- All my youth in tears was spent; And with thoughts of bitter anguish My too-feeling heart is rent."

"Joyously my friends are playing, All around are blest and glad, In the paths of pleasure straying,-- My poor heart alone is sad.

Spring in vain unfolds each treasure, Filling all the earth with bliss; Who in life can e'er take pleasure, When is seen its dark abyss?"

"With her heart in vision burning, Truly blest is Polyxene, As a bride to clasp him yearning.

Him, the n.o.blest, best h.e.l.lene!

And her breast with rapture swelling, All its bliss can scarcely know; E'en the G.o.ds in heavenly dwelling Envying not, when dreaming so."

"He to whom my heart is plighted Stood before my ravished eye, And his look, by pa.s.sion lighted, Toward me turned imploringly.

With the loved one, oh, how gladly Homeward would I take my flight But a Stygian shadow sadly Steps between us every night."

"Cruel Proserpine is sending All her spectres pale to me; Ever on my steps attending Those dread shadowy forms I see.

Though I seek, in mirth and laughter Refuge from that ghastly train, Still I see them hastening after,-- Ne'er shall I know joy again."

"And I see the death-steel glancing, And the eye of murder glare; On, with hasty strides advancing, Terror haunts me everywhere.

Vain I seek alleviation;-- Knowing, seeing, suffering all, I must wait the consummation, In a foreign land must fall."

While her solemn words are ringing, Hark! a dull and wailing tone From the temple's gate upspringing,-- Dead lies Thetis' mighty son!

Eris shakes her snake-locks hated, Swiftly flies each deity, And o'er Ilion's walls ill-fated Thunder-clouds loom heavily!

THE HOSTAGE.

A BALLAD.

The tyrant Dionys to seek, Stern Moerus with his poniard crept; The watchful guard upon him swept; The grim king marked his changeless cheek: "What wouldst thou with thy poniard? Speak!"

"The city from the tyrant free!"

"The death-cross shall thy guerdon be."

"I am prepared for death, nor pray,"

Replied that haughty man, "I to live; Enough, if thou one grace wilt give For three brief suns the death delay To wed my sister--leagues away; I boast one friend whose life for mine, If I should fail the cross, is thine."

The tyrant mused,--and smiled,--and said With gloomy craft, "So let it be; Three days I will vouchsafe to thee.

But mark--if, when the time be sped, Thou fail'st--thy surety dies instead.

His life shall buy thine own release; Thy guilt atoned, my wrath shall cease."

He sought his friend--"The king's decree Ordains my life the cross upon Shall pay the deed I would have done; Yet grants three days' delay to me, My sister's marriage-rites to see; If thou, the hostage, wilt remain Till I--set free--return again!"

His friend embraced--No word he said, But silent to the tyrant strode-- The other went upon his road.

Ere the third sun in heaven was red, The rite was o'er, the sister wed; And back, with anxious heart unquailing, He hastes to hold the pledge unfailing.

Down the great rains unending bore, Down from the hills the torrents rushed, In one broad stream the brooklets gushed.

The wanderer halts beside the sh.o.r.e, The bridge was swept the tides before-- The shattered arches o'er and under Went the tumultuous waves in thunder.

Dismayed he takes his idle stand-- Dismayed, he strays and shouts around; His voice awakes no answering sound.

No boat will leave the sheltering strand, To bear him to the wished-for land; No boatman will Death's pilot be; The wild stream gathers to a sea!

Sunk by the banks, awhile he weeps, Then raised his arms to Jove, and cried, "Stay thou, oh stay the maddening tide; Midway behold the swift sun sweeps, And, ere he sinks adown the deeps, If I should fail, his beams will see My friend's last anguish--slain for me!"

More fierce it runs, more broad it flows, And wave on wave succeeds and dies And hour on hour remorseless flies; Despair at last to daring grows-- Amidst the flood his form he throws; With vigorous arms the roaring waves Cleaves--and a G.o.d that pities, saves.

He wins the bank--he scours the strand, He thanks the G.o.d in breathless prayer; When from the forest's gloomy lair, With ragged club in ruthless hand, And breathing murder--rushed the band That find, in woods, their savage den, And savage prey in wandering men.

"What," cried he, pale with generous fear; "What think to gain ye by the strife?

All I bear with me is my life-- I take it to the king!"--and here He s.n.a.t.c.hed the club from him most near: And thrice he smote, and thrice his blows Dealt death--before him fly the foes!

The sun is glowing as a brand; And faint before the parching heat, The strength forsakes the feeble feet: "Thou hast saved me from the robbers' hand, Through wild floods given the blessed land; And shall the weak limbs fail me now?

And he!--Divine one, nerve me, thou!"

Hark! like some gracious murmur by, Babbles low music, silver-clear-- The wanderer holds his breath to hear; And from the rock, before his eye, Laughs forth the spring delightedly; Now the sweet waves he bends him o'er, And the sweet waves his strength restore.

Through the green boughs the sun gleams dying, O'er fields that drink the rosy beam, The trees' huge shadows giant seem.

Two strangers on the road are hieing; And as they fleet beside him flying, These muttered words his ear dismay: "Now--now the cross has claimed its prey!"

Despair his winged path pursues, The anxious terrors hound him on-- There, reddening in the evening sun, From far, the domes of Syracuse!-- When towards him comes Philostratus (His leal and trusty herdsman he), And to the master bends his knee.

"Back--thou canst aid thy friend no more, The n.i.g.g.ard time already flown-- His life is forfeit--save thine own!

Hour after hour in hope he bore, Nor might his soul its faith give o'er; Nor could the tyrant's scorn deriding, Steal from that faith one thought confiding!"

"Too late! what horror hast thou spoken!

Vain life, since it cannot requite him!

But death with me can yet unite him; No boast the tyrant's scorn shall make-- How friend to friend can faith forsake.

But from the double death shall know, That truth and love yet live below!"

The sun sinks down--the gate's in view, The cross looms dismal on the ground-- The eager crowd gape murmuring round.

His friend is bound the cross unto. . . .

Crowd--guards--all bursts he breathless through: "Me! Doomsman, me!" he shouts, "alone!

His life is rescued--lo, mine own!"

Amazement seized the circling ring!

Linked in each other's arms the pair-- Weeping for joy--yet anguish there!

Moist every eye that gazed;--they bring The wondrous tidings to the king-- His breast man's heart at last hath known, And the friends stand before his throne.

Long silent, he, and wondering long, Gazed on the pair--"In peace depart, Victors, ye have subdued my heart!

Truth is no dream!--its power is strong.