The Poems of Schiller — Third period

Project Gutenberg's Poems of The Third Period, by Friedrich Schiller

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Title: Poems of The Third Period

Author: Friedrich Schiller

Release Date: October 26, 2006 [EBook #6796]

Last Updated: November 6, 2012

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POEMS OF THE THIRD PERIOD ***

Produced by Tapio Riikonen and David Widger

SCHILLER'S POEMS

By Friedrich Schiller

CONTENTS

     The Meeting

     The Secret

     The Assignation

     Longing

     Evening (After a Picture)

     The Pilgrim

     The Ideals

     The Youth by the Brook

     To Emma

     The Favor of the Moment

     The Lay of the Mountain

     The Alpine Hunter

     Dithyramb

     The Four Ages of the World

     The Maiden's Lament

     To My Friends

     Punch Song

     Nadowessian Death Lament

     The Feast of Victory

     Punch Song

     The Complaint of Ceres

     The Eleusinian Festival

     The Ring of Polycrates

     The Cranes of Ibycus (A Ballad)

     The Playing Infant

     Hero and Leander (A Ballad)

     Cassandra

     The Hostage (A Ballad)

     Greekism

     The Diver (A Ballad)

     The Fight with the Dragon

     Female Judgment

     Fridolin; or, the Walk to the Iron Foundry

     The Genius with the Inverted Torch

     The Count of Hapsburg (A Ballad)

     The Forum of Women

     The Glove (A Tale)

     The Circle of Nature

     The Veiled Statue at Sais

     The Division of the Earth

     The Fairest Apparition

     The Ideal and the Actual Life

     Germany and her Princes

     Dangerous Consequences

     The Maiden from Afar

     The Honorable

     Parables and Riddles

     The Virtue of Woman

     The Walk

     The Lay of the Bell

     The Power of Song

     To Proselytizers

     Honor to Woman

     Hope

     The German Art

     Odysseus

     Carthage

     The Sower

     The Knights of St. John

     The Merchant

     German Faith

     The Sexes

     Love and Desire

     The Bards of Olden Time

     Jove to Hercules

     The Antiques of Paris

     Thekla (A Spirit Voice)

     The Antique to the Northern Wanderer

     The Iliad

     Pompeii and Herculaneum

     Naenia

     The Maid of Orleans

     Archimedes

     The Dance

     The Fortune-Favored

     Bookseller's Announcement

     Genius

     Honors

     The Philosophical Egotist

     The Best State Constitution

     The Words of Belief

     The Words of Error

     The Power of Woman

     The Two Paths of Virtue

     The Proverbs of Confucius

     Human Knowledge

     Columbus

     Light and Warmth

     Breadth and Depth

     The Two Guides of Life

     The Immutable

     VOTIVE TABLETS

        Different Destinies

        The Animating Principle

        Two Descriptions of Action

        Difference of Station

        Worth and the Worthy

        The Moral Force

        Participation

        To——

        The Present Generation

        To the Muse

        The Learned Workman

        The Duty of All

        A Problem

        The Peculiar Ideal

        To Mystics

        The Key

        The Observer

        Wisdom and Prudence

        The Agreement

        Political Precept

        Majestas Populi

        The Difficult Union

        To a World-Reformer

        My Antipathy

        Astronomical Writings

        The Best State

        To Astronomers

        My Faith

        Inside and Outside

        Friend and Foe

        Light and Color

        Genius

        Beauteous Individuality

        Variety

        The imitator

        Geniality

        The Inquirers

        Correctness

        The Three Ages of Nature

        The Law of Nature

        Choice

        Science of Music

        To the Poet

        Language

        The Master

        The Girdle

        The Dilettante

        The Babbler of Art

        The Philosophies

        The Favor of the Muses

        Homer's Head as a Seal

     Goodness and Greatness

     The Impulses

     Naturalists and Transcendental Philosophers

     German Genius

     Theophania

     TRIFLES

        The Epic Hexameter

        The Distich

        The Eight-line Stanza

        The Obelisk

        The Triumphal Arch

        The Beautiful Bridge

        The Gate

        St. Peter's

     The Philosophers

     The Homerides

     G. G.

     The Moral Poet

     The Danaides

     The Sublime Subject

     The Artifice

     Immortality

     Jeremiads

     Shakespeare's Ghost

     The Rivers

     Zenith and Nadir

     Kant and his Commentators

     The Philosophers

     The Metaphysician

     Pegasus in harness

     Knowledge

     The Poetry of Life

     To Goethe

     The Present

     Departure from Life

     Verses written in the Album of a Learned Friend

     Verses written in the Album of a Friend

     The Sunday Children

     The Highest

     The Puppet-show of Life

     To Lawgivers

     False Impulse to Study

     To the Prince of Weimar

     The Ideal of Woman (To Amanda)

     The Fountain of Second Youth

     William Tell

     To a Young Friend Devoting Himself to Philosophy

     Expectation and Fulfilment

     The Common Fate

     Human Action

     Nuptial Ode

     The Commencement of the New Century

     Grecian Genius

     The Father

     The Connecting Medium

     The Moment

     German Comedy

     Farewell to the Reader

     Dedications to Death

     Preface

POEMS OF THE THIRD PERIOD.

          THE MEETING.

   I see her still—by her fair train surrounded,

    The fairest of them all, she took her place;

   Afar I stood, by her bright charms confounded,

    For, oh! they dazzled with their heavenly grace.

   With awe my soul was filled—with bliss unbounded,

    While gazing on her softly radiant face;

   But soon, as if up-borne on wings of fire,

   My fingers 'gan to sweep the sounding lyre.

   The thoughts that rushed across me in that hour,

    The words I sang, I'd fain once more invoke;

   Within, I felt a new-awakened power,

    That each emotion of my bosom spoke.

   My soul, long time enchained in sloth's dull bower,

    Through all its fetters now triumphant broke,

   And brought to light unknown, harmonious numbers,

   Which in its deepest depths, had lived in slumbers.

   And when the chords had ceased their gentle sighing,

    And when my soul rejoined its mortal frame,

   I looked upon her face and saw love vieing,

    In every feature, with her maiden shame.

   And soon my ravished heart seemed heavenward flying,

    When her soft whisper o'er my senses came.

   The blissful seraphs' choral strains alone

   Can glad mine ear again with that sweet tone,

   Of that fond heart, which, pining silently,

    Ne'er ventures to express its feelings lowly,

   The real and modest worth is known to me—

    'Gainst cruel fate I'll guard its cause so holy.

   Most blest of all, the meek one's lot shall be—

    Love's flowers by love's own hand are gathered solely—

   The fairest prize to that fond heart is due,

   That feels it, and that beats responsive, too!

          THE SECRET.

   She sought to breathe one word, but vainly;

    Too many listeners were nigh;

   And yet my timid glance read plainly

    The language of her speaking eye.

   Thy silent glades my footstep presses,

    Thou fair and leaf-embosomed grove!

   Conceal within thy green recesses

    From mortal eye our sacred love!

   Afar with strange discordant noises,

    The busy day is echoing;

   And 'mid the hollow hum of voices,

    I hear the heavy hammer ring.

   'Tis thus that man, with toil ne'er ending

    Extorts from heaven his daily bread;

   Yet oft unseen the Gods are sending

    The gifts of fortune on his head!

   Oh, let mankind discover never

    How true love fills with bliss our hearts

   They would but crush our joy forever,

    For joy to them no glow imparts.

   Thou ne'er wilt from the world obtain it—

    'Tis never captured save as prey;

   Thou needs must strain each nerve to gain it,

    E'er envy dark asserts her sway.

   The hours of night and stillness loving,

    It comes upon us silently—

   Away with hasty footstep moving

    Soon as it sees a treacherous eye.

   Thou gentle stream, soft circlets weaving,

    A watery barrier cast around,

   And, with thy waves in anger heaving,

    Guard from each foe this holy ground!

        THE ASSIGNATION. 14

   Hear I the creaking gate unclose?

    The gleaming latch uplifted?

   No—'twas the wind that, whirring, rose,

    Amidst the poplars drifted!

   Adorn thyself, thou green leaf-bowering roof,

    Destined the bright one's presence to receive,

   For her, a shadowy palace-hall aloof

    With holy night, thy boughs familiar weave.

   And ye sweet flatteries of the delicate air,

    Awake and sport her rosy cheek around,

   When their light weight the tender feet shall bear,

    When beauty comes to passion's trysting-ground.

   Hush! what amidst the copses crept—

    So swiftly by me now?

   No-'twas the startled bird that swept

    The light leaves of the bough!

   Day, quench thy torch! come, ghostlike, from on high,

    With thy loved silence, come, thou haunting Eve,

   Broaden below thy web of purple dye,

    Which lulled boughs mysterious round us weave.

   For love's delight, enduring listeners none,

    The froward witness of the light will flee;

   Hesper alone, the rosy silent one,

    Down-glancing may our sweet familiar be!

   What murmur in the distance spoke,

    And like a whisper died?

   No—'twas the swan that gently broke

    In rings the silver tide!

   Soft to my ear there comes a music-flow;

    In gleesome murmur glides the waterfall;

   To zephyr's kiss the flowers are bending low;

    Through life goes joy, exchanging joy with all.

   Tempt to the touch the grapes—the blushing fruit, 15    Voluptuous swelling from the leaves that bide;

   And, drinking fever from my cheek, the mute

    Air sleeps all liquid in the odor-tide!

   Hark! through the alley hear I now

    A footfall? Comes the maiden?

   No,—'twas the fruit slid from the bough,

    With its own richness laden!

   Day's lustrous eyes grow heavy in sweet death,

    And pale and paler wane his jocund hues,

   The flowers too gentle for his glowing breath,

    Ope their frank beauty to the twilight dews.

   The bright face of the moon is still and lone,

    Melts in vast masses the world silently;

   Slides from each charm the slowly-loosening zone;

    And round all beauty, veilless, roves the eye.

   What yonder seems to glimmer?

    Her white robe's glancing hues?

   No,—'twas the column's shimmer

    Athwart the darksome yews!

   O, longing heart, no more delight-upbuoyed

    Let the sweet airy image thee befool!

   The arms that would embrace her clasp the void

    This feverish breast no phantom-bliss can cool,

   O, waft her here, the true, the living one!

    Let but my hand her hand, the tender, feel—

   The very shadow of her robe alone!—

    So into life the idle dream shall steal!

   As glide from heaven, when least we ween,

   The rosy hours of bliss,

   All gently came the maid, unseen:—

   He waked beneath her kiss!

        LONGING.

   Could I from this valley drear,

    Where the mist hangs heavily,

   Soar to some more blissful sphere,

    Ah! how happy should I be!

   Distant hills enchant my sight,

    Ever young and ever fair;

   To those hills I'd take my flight

    Had I wings to scale the air.

   Harmonies mine ear assail,

    Tunes that breathe a heavenly calm;

   And the gently-sighing gale

    Greets me with its fragrant balm.

   Peeping through the shady bowers,

    Golden fruits their charms display.

   And those sweetly-blooming flowers

    Ne'er become cold winter's prey.

   In you endless sunshine bright,

    Oh! what bliss 'twould be to dwell!

   How the breeze on yonder height

    Must the heart with rapture swell!

   Yet the stream that hems my path

    Checks me with its angry frown,

   While its waves, in rising wrath,

    Weigh my weary spirit down.

   See—a bark is drawing near,

    But, alas, the pilot fails!

   Enter boldly—wherefore fear?

    Inspiration fills its sails,

   Faith and courage make thine own,—

    Gods ne'er lend a helping-hand;

   'Tis by magic power alone

    Thou canst reach the magic land!

          EVENING.

        (AFTER A PICTURE.)

   Oh! thou bright-beaming god, the plains are thirsting,

   Thirsting for freshening dew, and man is pining;

        Wearily move on thy horses—

        Let, then, thy chariot descend!

   Seest thou her who, from ocean's crystal billows,

   Lovingly nods and smiles?—Thy heart must know her!

        Joyously speed on thy horses,—

        Tethys, the goddess, 'tis nods!

   Swiftly from out his flaming chariot leaping,

   Into her arms he springs,—the reins takes Cupid,—

        Quietly stand the horses,

        Drinking the cooling flood.

   Now from the heavens with gentle step descending,

   Balmy night appears, by sweet love followed;

        Mortals, rest ye, and love ye,—

        Phoebus, the loving one, rests!

        THE PILGRIM.

   Youth's gay springtime scarcely knowing

    Went I forth the world to roam—

   And the dance of youth, the glowing,

    Left I in my father's home,

   Of my birthright, glad-believing,

    Of my world-gear took I none,

   Careless as an infant, cleaving

    To my pilgrim staff alone.

   For I placed my mighty hope in

    Dim and holy words of faith,

   "Wander forth—the way is open,

    Ever on the upward path—

   Till thou gain the golden portal,

    Till its gates unclose to thee.

   There the earthly and the mortal,

    Deathless and divine shall be!"

   Night on morning stole, on stealeth,

    Never, never stand I still,

   And the future yet concealeth,

    What I seek, and what I will!

   Mount on mount arose before me,

    Torrents hemmed me every side,

   But I built a bridge that bore me

    O'er the roaring tempest-tide.

   Towards the east I reached a river,

    On its shores I did not rest;

   Faith from danger can deliver,

    And I trusted to its breast.

   Drifted in the whirling motion,

    Seas themselves around me roll—

   Wide and wider spreads the ocean,

    Far and farther flies the goal.

   While I live is never given

    Bridge or wave the goal to near—

   Earth will never meet the heaven,

    Never can the there be here!

         THE IDEALS.

   And wilt thou, faithless one, then, leave me,

    With all thy magic phantasy,—

   With all the thoughts that joy or grieve me,

    Wilt thou with all forever fly?

   Can naught delay thine onward motion,

    Thou golden time of life's young dream?

   In vain! eternity's wide ocean

    Ceaselessly drowns thy rolling stream.

   The glorious suns my youth enchanting

    Have set in never-ending night;

   Those blest ideals now are wanting

    That swelled my heart with mad delight.

   The offspring of my dream hath perished,

    My faith in being passed away;

   The godlike hopes that once I cherish

    Are now reality's sad prey.

   As once Pygmalion, fondly yearning,

    Embraced the statue formed by him,

   Till the cold marble's cheeks were burning,

    And life diffused through every limb,

   So I, with youthful passion fired,

    My longing arms round Nature threw,

   Till, clinging to my breast inspired,

    She 'gan to breathe, to kindle too.

   And all my fiery ardor proving,

    Though mute, her tale she soon could tell,

   Returned each kiss I gave her loving,

    The throbbings of my heart read well.

   Then living seemed each tree, each flower,

    Then sweetly sang the waterfall,

   And e'en the soulless