The Poems of Goethe Part 57

That the spirit through s.p.a.ce never wended,--

That traces alone

By the present were shown,-- That afar nought was fashion'd--not even By the stars that illumine you heaven.

"Now see! while a goblet beside me they drain'd,

They spilt all the drink in the chalice; And straightway the boy had his waistcoat stain'd

At the furthermost end of the palace.--

Let them newly be clad!

And since I am glad That it served as a proof so decided, The cost will by me be provided."

1808.

----- THE WALKING BELL

A CHILD refused to go betimes

To church like other people; He roam'd abroad, when rang the chimes

On Sundays from the steeple.

His mother said: "Loud rings the bell,

Its voice ne'er think of scorning; Unless thou wilt behave thee well,

'Twill fetch thee without warning."

The child then thought: "High over head

The bell is safe suspended--"

So to the fields he straightway sped

As if 'twas school-time ended.

The bell now ceas'd as bell to ring,

Roused by the mother's twaddle; But soon ensued a dreadful thing!--

The bell begins to waddle.

It waddles fast, though strange it seem;

The child, with trembling wonder, Runs off, and flies, as in a dream;

The bell would draw him under.

He finds the proper time at last,

And straightway nimbly rushes To church, to chapel, hastening fast

Through pastures, plains, and bushes.

Each Sunday and each feast as well,

His late disaster heeds he; The moment that he bears the bell,

No other summons needs he.

1813.

----- FAITHFUL ECKART,

"OH, would we were further! Oh, would we were home, The phantoms of night tow'rd us hastily come,

The band of the Sorceress sisters.

They hitherward speed, and on finding us here, They'll drink, though with toil we have fetch'd it, the beer,

And leave us the pitchers all empty."

Thus speaking, the children with fear take to flight, When sudden an old man appears in their sight:

"Be quiet, child! children, be quiet!

From hunting they come, and their thirst they would still, So leave them to swallow as much as they will,

And the Evil Ones then will be gracious."

As said, so 'twas done! and the phantoms draw near, And shadowlike seem they, and grey they appear,

~Yet blithely they sip and they revel The beer has all vanish'd, the pitchers are void; With cries and with shouts the wild hunters, o'erjoy'd,

Speed onward o'er vale and o'er mountain.

The children in terror fly nimbly tow'rd home, And with them the kind one is careful to come:

"My darlings, oh, be not so mournful!-- "They'll blame us and beat us, until we are dead."-- "No, no! ye will find that all goes well," he said;

"Be silent as mice, then, and listen!

"And he by whose counsels thus wisely ye're taught, Is he who with children loves ever to sport.

The trusty and faithful old Eckart.

Ye have heard of the wonder for many a day, But ne'er had a proof of the marvellous lay,--

Your hands hold a proof most convincing."

They arrive at their home, and their pitchers they place By the side of their parents, with fear on their face,