The Poems of Goethe Part 6

If thou my sweetheart wert not, I would dance not.

If thou art still so, all life is one feast.

Loved one, without thee, what then would all feasts be?

Sweet one, without thee, what then were the dance?

THE INDIFFERENT.

Let them but love, then, and leave us the dancing!

Languishing love cannot bear the glad dance.

Let us whirl round in the waltz's gay measure,

And let them steal to the dim-lighted wood.

Let them but love, then, and leave us the dancing!

Languishing love cannot bear the glad dance.

THE TENDER.

Let them whirl round, then, and leave us to wander!

Wand'ring to love is a heavenly dance.

Cupid, the near one, o'erhears their deriding,

Vengeance takes suddenly, vengeance takes soon.

Let them whirl round, then, and leave us to wander!

Wand'ring to love is a heavenly dance.

1789.*

----- SELF-DECEIT.

My neighbour's curtain, well I see,

Is moving to and fin.

No doubt she's list'ning eagerly,

If I'm at home or no.

And if the jealous grudge I bore

And openly confess'd, Is nourish'd by me as before,

Within my inmost breast.

Alas! no fancies such as these

E'er cross'd the dear child's thoughts.

I see 'tis but the ev'ning breeze

That with the curtain sports.

1803.

----- DECLARATION OF WAR.

OH, would I resembled

The country girls fair, Who rosy-red ribbons

And yellow hats wear!

To believe I was pretty

I thought was allow'd; In the town I believed it

When by the youth vow'd.

Now that Spring hath return'd,

All my joys disappear; The girls of the country

Have lured him from here.

To change dress and figure,

Was needful I found, My bodice is longer,

My petticoat round.

My hat now is yellow.

My bodice like snow; The clover to sickle

With others I go.

Something pretty, e'er long

Midst the troop he explores; The eager boy signs me

To go within doors.

I bashfully go,--

Who I am, he can't trace; He pinches my cheeks,

And he looks in my face.

The town girl now threatens