Translations Of German Poetry In American Magazines 1741-1810 Part 6

[G. E. Lessing, _Die Schwalbe_.]

THE CHASE.

By Gottfried Augustus Burger.

_Weekly Mag._, II-413, July 28, 1798, Phila.

[G. A. Burger, _Der wilde Jager_.

Sir Walter Scott, _The Wild Huntsman_. Published with _William and Helen_ in 1796 and ent.i.tled _The Chase_.

M. G. Lewis, _Tales of Wonder_. Ent.i.tled _The Wild Huntsmen_. By Walter Scott.

Cf. note to _Leonora_, in the _Weekly Mag._, I-221, Mar. 17, 1798.]

THE ERL-KING.

(The Original is by Goethe, Author of Werter.)

Who is it that rides through the forest so fast, While night frowns around him, while chill roars the blast?

The father, who holds his young son in his arm, And close in his mantle has wrapped him up warm.

--"Why trembles my darling? Why shrinks he with fear?"

"Oh father! my father! the Erl-king is near!

The Erl-king, with his crown and his beard long and white!"

--"Oh! thine eyes are deceived by the vapours of night."

--"If you will, dear baby, with me go away, I will give you fine clothes; we will play a fine play; Fine flowers are growing, white, scarlet and blue, On the banks of yon river, and all are for you."

--"Oh father! my father! and dost thou not hear What words the Erl-king whispers low in mine ear?"-- --"Now hush thee, my darling, thy terrors appease: Thou hear'st 'midst the branches when murmurs the breeze."

--"If you will, dear baby, with me go away, My daughter shall tend you so fair and so gay; My daughter, in purple and gold who is drest, Shall nurse you, and kiss you, and sing you to rest."

--"Oh father! my father! and dost thou not see?

The Erl-king and his daughter are waiting for me?"

--"Now shame thee, my dearest! 'tis fear makes thee blind: Thou seest the dark willows which wave in the wind."--

--"I love you! I dote on that face so divine!

I must and will have you, and force makes you mine!"

--"My father! my father! Oh hold me now fast!

He pulls me! he hurts, and will have me at last!"--

The father, he trembled; he doubled his speed: O'er hills and through forests he spurred his black steed: But when he arrived at his own castle-door, Life throbbed in the sweet baby's bosom no more.

_Weekly Mag._, III-93, Aug. 18, 1798, Phila.

[Goethe, _Erlkonig_.

M. G. Lewis, _Tales of Wonder_, 1801, London.

The above text, however, is taken from Lewis' _Ambrosio, or the Monk_ (1795), which has several variants. The first Amer. reprint of _The Monk_ was taken from the fourth British edition, 1798, Phila. Cf.

Preface.]

THE ERL-KING'S DAUGHTER.

(The Original is Danish; but I read it in a German Translation.)

_Weekly Mag._, III-94, Aug. 18, 1798, Phila.

[J. G. Herder, _Erlkonigs Tochter_ in the Fourth Book (_Nordische Lieder_) of _Stimmen der Volker in Liedern_. Trans. from the Danish.

M. G. Lewis, _Tales of Wonder_ and _The Monk_.

Cf. note to _The Erl-King_.

The original is in the _Kiampe Viiser_.]

AMYNTAS, A PASTORAL TALE. [b]

(From the German of the celebrated Gessner.)

[Prose translation.]

_Weekly Mag._, III, 347, 358, Mar. 23, 30, 1799, Phila.

[S. Gessner, _Mycon_. In the French version, ent.i.tled _Amyntas_.

W. Hooper, _New Idylles_, p. 18.]

FRIENDs.h.i.+P Translated from the German.

Set to music by Russ.

Sure not to life's short span confin'd, Shall sacred friends.h.i.+p glow; Beyond the grave the ardent mind, Its best delights shall know.

Blest scenes! where ills no more annoy, Where heav'n the flame approves; Where beats the heart to nought but joy, And ever lives and loves.

There friends.h.i.+p's matchless love shall s.h.i.+ne, (To hearts like ours so dear!) There angels own its pow'r divine; Its native home is there!

For here below, tho' friends.h.i.+p's charm Its soft delights display; Yet souls like ours, so touch'd, so warm, Still pant for brighter day!

_Phila. Repos._, I, Appendix (Nov. 15, 1800-Nov. 7, 1801), Phila.

[The above appeared in the Musical Appendix.]

ORIGINAL POETRY.

LYCAS; OR THE INVENTIONS OF GARDENS.

Attempted from the Idyls of Gessner.