The Poems of Goethe Part 49

To bed on the straw, without fear,

And whilst in a soft pleasing slumber he lay,

A motion he feels 'neath his bed.

The rat, an he likes it, may rattle away!

Ay, had he but crumbs there outspread!

But lo! there appears a diminutive wight, A dwarf 'tis, yet graceful, and bearing a light, With orator-gestures that notice invite,

At the feet of the Count on the floor

Who sleeps not, though weary full sore.

"We've long been accustom'd to hold here our feast,

Since thou from thy castle first went; And as we believed thou wert far in the East,

To revel e'en now we were bent.

And if thou'lt allow it, and seek not to chide, We dwarfs will all banquet with pleasure and pride, To honour the wealthy, the beautiful bride

Says the Count with a smile, half-asleep;--

"Ye're welcome your quarters to keep!"

Three knights then advance, riding all in a group,

Who under the bed were conceal'd; And then is a singing and noise-making troop

Of strange little figures reveal'd; And waggon on waggon with all kinds of things-- The clatter they cause through the ear loudly rings-- The like ne'er was seen save in castles of kings;

At length, in a chariot of gold,

The bride and the guests too, behold!

Then all at full gallop make haste to advance,

Each chooses his place in the hall; With whirling and waltzing, and light joyous dance,

They begin with their sweethearts the ball.

The fife and the fiddle all merrily sound, Thy twine, and they glide, and with nimbleness bound, Thy whisper, and chatter, and, chatter around;

The Count on the scene casts his eye,

And seems in a fever to lie.

They hustle, and bustle, and rattle away

On table, on bench, and on stool; Then all who had joined in the festival gay

With their partners attempt to grow cool.

The hams and the sausages nimbly they bear, And meat, fish, and poultry in plenty are there, Surrounded with wine of the vintage most rare:

And when they have revell'd full long,

They vanish at last with a song.

And if we're to sing all that further occurr'd,

Pray cease ye to bl.u.s.ter and prate; For what he so gladly in small saw and heard

He enjoy'd and he practis'd in great.

For trumpets, and singing, and shouts without end On the bridal-train, chariots and hors.e.m.e.n attend, They come and appear, and they bow and they bend,

In merry and countless array.

Thus was it, thus is it to-day.

1802.

----- THE TREASURE-DIGGER

ALL my weary days I pa.s.s'd

Sick at heart and poor in purse.

Poverty's the greatest curse,

Riches are the highest good!

And to end my woes at last,

Treasure-seeking forth I sped.

"Thou shalt have my soul instead!"

Thus I wrote, and with my blood.

Ring round ring I forthwith drew,

Wondrous flames collected there,

Herbs and bones in order fair,

Till the charm had work'd aright.

Then, to learned precepts true,

Dug to find some treasure old,