Achilles' wrath awhile must stay The dreadful doom thy crimes require; But when appears the appointed day, Old Troy shall feed the Grecian fire! 1843. LESSING. THE GLOW-WORM. All unconscious of the light, In a grove a glow-worm bright Slyly crept his neighbour toad From her rotten moss; And upon him, as he glowed, Venom shot across. "Ah! what crime," the glow-worm cried, "Dost thou thus requite?" "Ha!" the monster grim replied, "Why dost shine so bright?" LESSING. LIFE. Six days she blessed my side, The seventh, she grew pale and died, With life enough to vegetate. Oh! doomed a wretch, to whom by heaven A heart, with power to feel, is given! Let warmth and blood desert this breast, From which the soul hath fled before; Here, where I weep above her rest, Let welcome death my peace restore. What though my years should roll in gloom, 'Till Nestor's age should frost my brow, Not older then I'd find the tomb, My heart and head are hoary now. 1847. Six days she blessed my side, Six days I lived, then died! GOETHE. THE FISHER. To S. M. G. This lovely eve, in the lovely May, When the air is sweet and the roses gay, And beautiful things are all in one's way, I've made a little translation Of Goethe's Dutch of "The Fisherman's Glee," Almost as bright and sweet as she And this is my Dedication. May 18, 1846. The water sighed, the water swelled, A fisher sat thereby ; W. S. G. Chilled to the heart, his hook he held, And gazed with patient eye. And as he sat, and as he gazed, The trembling waves withdrew; And from the deep a maiden raised She sang to him—she spake to him; 66 Why lure my brood away, With human craft and human skill, To the deathly glow of day? Ah! could'st thou guess what pleasures sweet The little fishes know, Thou too would'st downward turn thy feet, And find true bliss below. "Loves not the moon and glorious sun In the crystal deeps to lave? Hath not his face new glory won, Fresh breathing of the wave? And tempt thee not the heavens that sleep And tempt thee not thine eyes, to leap Into the eternal dew?" The water swelled, the water sighed, A strong wish through his heart replied, She spake to him, she sang to him, His earthly fate was o'er; Half drew she him, half yielded he, GOETHE. THE MAGICIAN'S APPRENTICE. So the old wizard's gone, for certain, I have learned right well to do; Scamper! Scamper! Fast and faster, For your master, Till there goeth Such a tide as naught can hamper, And the bath-tub overfloweth. Now, old Broom! step forth so stately, Robe thyself in tatters gayThou hast served me long, and greatly Must I tax thy speed to-day. |