The Poems of Goethe, Translated in the Original Metres

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

ORIGINAL PREFACE.

I feel no small reluctance in venturing to give to the public a work of the character of that indicated by the title-page to the present volume; for, difficult as it must always be to render satisfactorily into one's own tongue the writings of the bards of other lands, the responsibility assumed by the translator is immeasurably increased when he attempts to transfer the thoughts of those great men, who have lived for all the world and for all ages, from the language in which they were originally clothed, to one to which they may as yet have been strangers. Preeminently is this the case with Goethe, the most masterly of all the master minds of modern times, whose name is already inscribed on the tablets of immortality, and whose fame already extends over the earth, although as yet only in its infancy. Scarcely have two decades passed away since he ceased to dwell among men, yet he now stands before us, not as a mere individual, like those whom the world is wont to call great, but as a type, as an emblem—the recognised emblem and representative of the human mind in its present stage of culture and advancement.

Among the infinitely varied effusions of Goethe's pen, perhaps there are none which are of as general interest as his Poems, which breathe the very spirit of Nature, and embody the real music of the feelings. In Germany, they are universally known, and are considered as the most delightful of his works. Yet in this country, this kindred country, sprung from the same stem, and so strongly resembling her sister in so many points, they are nearly unknown. Almost the only poetical work of the greatest Poet that the world has seen for ages, that is really and generally read in England, is Faust, the translations of which are almost endless; while no single person has as yet appeared to attempt to give, in an English dress, in any collective or systematic manner, those smaller productions of the genius of Goethe which it is the object of the present volume to lay before the reader, whose indulgence is requested for its many imperfections. In addition to the beauty of the language in which the Poet has given utterance to his thoughts, there is a depth of meaning in those thoughts which is not easily discoverable at first sight, and the translator incurs great risk of overlooking it, and of giving a prosaic effect to that which in the original contains the very essence of poetry. It is probably this difficulty that has deterred others from undertaking the task I have set myself, and in which I do not pretend to do more than attempt to give an idea of the minstrelsy of one so unrivalled, by as truthful an interpretation of it as lies in my power.

The principles which have guided me on the present occasion are the same as those followed in the translation of Schiller's complete Poems that was published by me in 1851, namely, as literal a rendering of the original as is consistent with good English, and also a very strict adherence to the metre of the original. Although translators usually allow themselves great license in both these points, it appears to me that by so doing they of necessity destroy the very soul of the work they profess to translate. In fact, it is not a translation, but a paraphrase that they give. It may perhaps be thought that the present translations go almost to the other extreme, and that a rendering of metre, line for line, and word for word, makes it impossible to preserve the poetry of the original both in substance and in sound. But experience has convinced me that it is not so, and that great fidelity is even the most essential element of success, whether in translating poetry or prose. It was therefore very satisfactory to me to find that the principle laid down by me to myself in translating Schiller met with the very general, if not universal, approval of the reader. At the same time, I have endeavoured to profit in the case of this, the younger born of the two attempts made by me to transplant the muse of Germany to the shores of Britain, by the criticisms, whether friendly or hostile, that have been evoked or provoked by the appearance of its elder brother.

As already mentioned, the latter contained the whole of the Poems of Schiller. It is impossible, in anything like the same compass, to give all the writings of Goethe comprised under the general title of Gedichte, or poems. They contain between 30,000 and 40,000 verses, exclusive of his plays. and similar works. Very many of these would be absolutely without interest to the English reader,—such as those having only a local application, those addressed to individuals, and so on. Others again, from their extreme length, could only be published in separate volumes. But the impossibility of giving all need form no obstacle to giving as much as possible; and it so happens that the real interest of Goethe's Poems centres in those classes of them which are not too diffuse to run any risk when translated of offending the reader by their too great number. Those by far the more generally admired are the Songs and Ballads, which are about 150 in number, and the whole of which are contained in this volume (with the exception of one or two of the former, which have been, on consideration, left out by me owing to their trifling and uninteresting nature). The same may be said of the Odes, Sonnets, Miscellaneous Poems, &c.

In addition to those portions of Goethe's poetical works which are given in this complete form, specimens of the different other classes of them, such as the Epigrams, Elegies, &c., are added, as well as a collection of the various Songs found in his Plays, making a total number of about 400 Poems, embraced in the present volume.

A sketch of the life of Goethe is prefixed, in order that the reader may have before him both the Poet himself and the Poet's offspring, and that he may see that the two are but one—that Goethe lives in his works, that his works lived in him.

The dates of the different Poems are appended throughout, that of the first publication being given, when that of the composition is unknown. The order of arrangement adopted is that of the authorized German editions. As Goethe would never arrange them himself in the chronological order of their composition, it has become impossible to do so, now that he is dead. The plan adopted in the present volume would therefore seem to be the best, as it facilitates reference to the original. The circumstances attending or giving rise to the production of any of the Poems will be found specified in those cases in which they have been ascertained by me.

Having said thus much by way of explanation, I now leave the book to speak for itself, and to testify to its own character. Whether viewed with a charitable eye by the kindly reader, who will make due allowance for the difficulties attending its execution, or received by the critic, who will judge of it only by its own merits, with the unfriendly welcome which it very probably deserves, I trust that I shall at least be pardoned for making an attempt, a failure in which does not necessarily imply disgrace, and which, by leading the way, may perhaps become the means of inducing some abler and more worthy (but not more earnest) labourer to enter upon the same field, the riches of which will remain unaltered and undiminished in value, even although they may be for the moment tarnished by the hands of the less skilful workman who first endeavours to transplant them to a foreign soil.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

I have taken advantage of the publication of a Second Edition of my translation of the Poems of Goethe (originally published in 1853), to add to the Collection a version of the much admired classical Poem of Hermann and Dorothea, which was previously omitted by me in consequence of its length. Its universal popularity, however, and the fact that it exhibits the versatility of Goethe's talents to a greater extent than, perhaps, any other of his poetical works, seem to call for its admission into the present volume.

On the other hand I have not thought it necessary to include the sketch of Goethe's Life that accompanied the First Edition. At the time of its publication, comparatively little was known in this country of the incidents of his career, and my sketch was avowedly written as a temporary stop-gap, as it were, pending the production of some work really deserving the tittle of a life of Goethe. Not to mention other contributions to the literature of the subject, Mr. Lewis's important volumes give the English reader all the information he is likely to require respecting Goethe's career, and my short memoir appeared to be no longer required.

I need scarcely add that I have availed myself of this opportunity to make whatever improvements have suggested themselves to me in my original version of these Poems.

E. A. B.
London, 1874.

CONTENTS.

Original Dedication
Original Preface
Preface to the Second Edition
List of the principal Works of Goethe
Author's Dedication

SONGS
Sound, sweet Song, from some far Land
To the kind Reader
The New Amadis
When the Fox dies, his Skin counts
The Heathrose
Blindman's Buff
Christel
The Coy One
The Convert
Preservation
The Muses' Son
Found
Like and Like
Reciprocal Invitation to the Dance
Self-Deceit
Declaration of War
Lover in all Shapes
The Goldsmith's Apprentice
Answers in a Game of Questions
Different Emotions on the same Spot
Who'll buy Gods of love?
The Misanthrope
Different Threats
Maiden Wishes
Motives
True Enjoyment
The Farewell
The Beautiful Night.
Happiness and Vision
Living Remembrance
The Bliss of Absence
To Luna
The Wedding Night
Mischievous Joy
Apparent Death
November Song
To the Chosen One
First Loss
After Sensations
Proximity of the Beloved One
Presence
To the Distant One
By the River
Farewell
The Exchange
Welcome and Farewell
New Love, New Life
To Belinda
May Song
With a painted Ribbon
With a golden Necklace
On the Lake
From the Mountain
Flower-Salute
In Summer
May Song
Premature Spring
Autumn Feelings
Restless Love
The Shepherd's Lament
Comfort in Tears
Night Song
Longing
To Mignon
The Mountain Castle
The Spirit's Salute
To a Golden Heart that he wore round his neck
The Bliss of Sorrow
The Wanderer's Night-song
The Same
The Hunter's Even-Song
To the Moon
To Lina
Ever and Everywhere
Petition
To his Coy One
Night Thoughts
To Lida
Proximity
Reciprocal
Rollicking Hans
The Freebooter
Joy and Sorrow
March
April
May
June
Next Year's Spring
At Midnight Hour
To the rising full Moon
The Bridegroom
Such, such is he who pleaseth me
Sicilian Song
Swiss Song
Finnish Song
Gipsy Song
The Destruction of Magdeburg

FAMILIAR SONGS.
On the New Year
Anniversary Song
The Spring Oracle
The Happy Couple
Song of Fellowship
Constancy in Change
Table Song
Wont and Done
General Confession
Coptic Song
Another
Vanitas! vanitatum vanitas!
Fortune of War
Open Table
The Reckoning
Ergo Bibamus!
Epiphanias

BALLADS.
Mignon
The Minstrel
Ballad of the banished and returning Count
The Violet
The Faithless Boy
The Erl-King
Johanna Sebus
The Fisherman
The King of Thule
The Beauteous Flower..
Sir Curt's Wedding Journey
Wedding Song
The Treasure-digger
The Rat-catcher
The Spinner
Before a Court of Justice
The Page and the Miller's Daughter
The Youth and the Millstream
The Maid of the Mill's Treachery
The Maid of the Mill's Repentance
The Traveller and the Farm-Maiden
Effects at a distance
The Walking Bell
Faithful Eckart
The Dance of Death
The Pupil in Magic
The Bride of Corinth
The God and the Bayadere

The Pariah

I. The Pariah's Prayer.
II. Legend
III. The Pariah's Thanks
Death—lament of the noble Wife of Asan Aga

CANTATAS.
Idyll
Rinaldo
The First Walpurgis-Night

ODES.
Three Odes to my Friend
Mahomet's Song
Spirit Song over the Waters
My Goddess
Winter Journey over the Hartz Mountains
To Father Kronos. Written in a Post-chaise
The Wanderer's Storm Song
The Sea-Voyage
The Eagle and Dove
Prometheus
Ganymede
The Boundaries of Humanity
The Godlike

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
The German Parnassus.
Lily's Menagerie
To Charlotte
Love's Distresses
The Musagetes
Morning Lament
The Visit
The Magic Net
The Goblet
To the Grasshopper. After Anacreon
From the Sorrows of Young Werther
Trilogy of Passion :─

I. To Werther

II. Elegy
III. Atonement
The Remembrance of the Good
When I was still a youthful Wight
For Ever
From an Album of 1604
Lines on seeing Schiller's Skull
Royal Prayer
Human Feelings
On the Divan
Hans Sachs' Poetical Mission

SONNETS.
The Friendly Meeting
In a Word
The Maiden Speaks
Growth
Food in Travel
Departure
The Loving One Writes.
The Loving One once more
She Cannot End
Nemesis
The Christmas Box
The Warning
The Epochs
The Doubters and the Lovers
Charade

EPIGRAMS.
To Originals
The Soldier's Consolation
Genial Impulse
Neither this nor that
The way to behave
The best
As broad as it's long
The Rule of Life
The same, expanded
Calm at Sea
The Prosperous Voyage
Courage
My only Property
Admonition
Old Age
Epitaph
Rules for Monarchs
Paulo post futuri
The Fool's Epilogue

PARABLES.
Joy
Explanation of an antique Gem
Cat-Pie
Legend
Authors
The Critic
The Dilettante and the Critic
The Wrangler
The Yelpers
The Stork's Vocation
Celebrity
Playing at Priests
Songs
Poetry
A Parable
Should e'er the loveless day remain
A Plan the Muses entertained
The Death of the Fly
By the River
The Fox and Crane
The Fox and Huntsman
The Frogs
The Wedding
Burial
Threatening Signs
The Buyers
The Mountain Village
Symbols
Three Palinodias :—

I. The Smoke that from thine Altar blows.

II. Conflict of Wit and Beauty
III. Rain and Rainbow.
Valediction
The Country Schoolmaster
The Legend of the Horseshoe
A Symbol

ART.
The Drops of Nectar
The Wanderer
I Love as a Landscape Painter

GOD, SOUL, AND WORLD.
Rhymed Distichs
Prooemion
The Metamorphosis of Plants

PROVERBS TAME XENIA

RELIGION AND CHURCH.
Thoughts on Jesus Christ's descent into Hell

ANTIQUES.
Leopold, Duke of Brunswick
To the Husbandman
Anacreon's Grave
The Brethren
Measure of Time
Warning
Solitude
The Chosen Cliff
The Consecrated Spot
The Instructors
The Unequal Marriage.
Excuse
Sakontala
The Muse's Mirror
Phoebus and Hermes
The New Amor
The Garlands
The Swiss Alps
Distichs

VENETIAN EPIGRAMS.

ELEGIES.
Roman Elegies
Alexis and Dora
Hermann and Dorothea

WEST-EASTERN DIVAN.

I. Minstrel's Book :—

Talismans
The Four Favours
Discord
Song and Structure

II. Book of Hafis :—
The Unlimited
To Hafis

III. Book of Love :—

The Types
One Pair More
Love's Torments

IV. Book of Contemplation :—

Five Things
For Woman
Firdusi
Suleika

V. Book of Gloom :—
It is a Fault

VI. Book of Proverbs

VII. Book of Timur :—

The Winter and Timur
To Suleika

VIII. Book of Suleika :—

Suleika's Love
Hatem
Suleika
Love for Love
Hatem
The Loving One speaks
The Loving One again
These tufted Branches fair
Suleika
The Sublime Type
Suleika
The Reunion
Suleika
In thousand forms

IX. The Convivial Book :—

Can the Koran from Eternity be?
Ye've often for our Drunkenness

X. Book of Parables :—

From Heaven there fell upon the foaming wave
Bulbul's Song
In the Koran with strange delight.
All kinds of Men.
It is good

XI. Book of the Parsees :—

The Bequest of the ancient Persian faith

XII. Book of Paradise:
The Privileged Men
The favoured Beasts
The Seven Sleepers

SONGS FROM VARIOUS PLAYS, ETC.
From Faust :—

Dedication

Prologue in Heaven

Chorus of Angels

Chorus of Spirits

Margaret at her Spinning Wheel

Garden Scene

Margaret's Song
From Faust─Part II.:—

Ariel's Song and Chorus of Spirits

Scene the last From Iphigenia in Tauris :—

Song of the Fates
From Gotz von Berlichingen :—

Liebetraut's Song
From Egmont :—

Clara and Brackenburg's Song

Clara's Song
From Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship :—

Who never eat with tears his bread

Who gives himself to Solitude

My Grief no Mortals know

Sing no more in mournful tones

Epilogue to Schiller's Song of the Bell

L'ENVOI

LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL WORKS OF GOETHE, WITH THE DATES OF THEIR COMPOSITION.

I. DRAMATIC WORKS.

TITLE AND DESCRIPTION. DATE,
The Lover's Whim, Pastoral Drama……………… 1767─8
The Accomplices, Comedy……………………… 1769
Satyros, or the Deified Satyr, Drama………….. 1774
Plundersweilern Fair, Puppet-show…………….. 1774
Prometheus, Dramatic fragment………………… 1773
Faust. Part I. Tragedy………………………. 1773─1806

Part II. Tragedy completed in………….. 1831 Elpenor, a Fragment, Tragedy…………………. 1781─3 Iphigenia auf Tauris, Classical drama…………. 1786─7 Torquato Tasso, Classical drama………………. 1787─9 The Natural Daughter, Tragedy………………… 1799─1803 Gotz von Berlichingen, Prose drama……………. 1773 Egmont, Tragedy…………………………….. 1775─87 Clavigo, Tragedy……………………………. 1774 Stella, Tragedy…………………………….. 1774 The Brother and Sister, Prose drama…………… 1776 The Wager, Comedy…………………………… 1812 The Gross-Cophta, Comedy…………………….. 1789 The Burgher-General, Comedy………………….. 1793 The Rebels, Political drama………………….. 1793 The Triumph of Sensibility, Dramatic whim……… 1777 The Birds, after Aristophanes, Comedy…………. 1780 Erwin and Elmire, Melodrama………………….. 1775─88 Claudine von Villa Bella, Melodrama…………… 1775─88 Jery and Bately, Melodrama…………………… 1779 Lila, Melodrama…………………………….. 1777─8 The Fisher-Girl, Melodrama…………………… 1782 Sport. Cunning, and Revenge, Opera Buffa………. 1785 What we're bringing, Prelude…………………. 1802 Pandora, Drama……………………………… 1807─8

In addition to the above, there are nearly 20 minor dramatic pieces.

II. PROSE WORKS.

TITLE DATE,

ROMANCES AND NOVELS:—

Sorrows of Werther……………………….. 1774

The Elective Affinities…………………… 1809

Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship…………… 1777─96

Wilhelm Meister's Wanderings………………. 1807─29

Conversations of German Emigrants………….. 1793─5
Notes on Winckelmann………………………… 1805
Life of Philip Hackert………………………. 1810-11
Life of Benvenuto Cellini (Translation)……….. 1796─1803
Autobiography………………………………. 1811─31
Letters from Switzerland…………………….. 1775─1808
Tour in Italy………………………………. 1786-1817
French Campaign…………………………….. 1792─1822
Annals…………………………………….. 1819-25
Art and Antiquity…………………………… 1815─28
Theory of Colours…………………………… 1790-1810

In addition to the above, Goethe produced an almost endless number of translations, criticisms, essays, &c.

III. POETICAL WORKS.

Other than those embraced in the plan of the present volume.

TITLE DATE,
Masonic Songs (7)…………………………… 1815─30
Poems on Pictures (21)………………………. 1819, &c.
Invectives (44)…………………………….. 1802─24
Political poems (54)………………………… 1814, &c.
Masques (14)……………………………….. 1776-1818
Poems in the name of the citizens of Carlsbad (7). 1810─12
Poems on Individuals, &c. (209)………………. 1778─1831
Chinese-German Poems (14)……………………. 1827
Prophecies of Bakis (33)…………………….. 1798
The Four Seasons (99)……………………….. 1796
Epistles (3)……………………………….. 1794
Achilleis—Canto I………………………….. 1798─9
Reineke Fuchs………………………………. 1793

Theatrical Prologues and Epilogues (12, including

the Epilogue to the Song of the Bell, given in

this volume)…………………………….. 1782─1821