The Poems of Schiller - Third period Part 31

Singular country! what excellent taste in its fountains and rivers In its people alone none have I ever yet found!

PEGNTTZ.

I for a long time have been a hypochondriacal subject; I but flow on because it has my habit been long.

THE ---- RIVERS.

We would gladly remain in the lands that own--as their masters; Soft their yoke ever is, and all their burdens are light.

SALZACH.

I, to salt the archbishopric, come from Juvavia's mountains; Then to Bavaria turn, where they have great need of salt!

THE ANONYMOUS RIVER.

Lenten food for the pious bishop's table to furnish, By my Creator I'm poured over the famishing land.

LES FLEUVES INDISCRETS.

Pray be silent, ye rivers! One sees ye have no more discretion Than, in a case we could name, Diderot's favorites had.

ZENITH AND NADIR.

Wheresoever thou wanderest in s.p.a.ce, thy Zenith and Nadir Unto the heavens knit thee, unto the axis of earth.

Howsoever thou attest, let heaven be moved by thy purpose, Let the aim of thy deeds traverse the axis of earth!

KANT AND HIS COMMENTATORS.

See how a single rich man gives a living to numbers of beggars!

'Tis when sovereigns build, carters are kept in employ.

THE PHILOSOPHERS.

The principle by which each thing Toward strength and shape first tended,-- The pulley whereon Zeus the ring Of earth, that loosely used to swing, With cautiousness suspended,-- he is a clever man, I vow, Who its real name can tell me now, Unless to help him I consent-- 'Tis: ten and twelve are different!

Fire burns,--'tis chilly when it snows, Man always is two-footed,-- The sun across the heavens goes,-- This, he who naught of logic knows Finds to his reason suited.

Yet he who metaphysics learns, Knows that naught freezes when it burns-- Knows that what's wet is never dry,-- And that what's bright attracts the eye.

Old Homer sings his n.o.ble lays, The hero goes through dangers; The brave man duty's call obeys, And did so, even in the days When sages yet were strangers-- But heart and genius now have taught What Locke and what Descartes never thought; By them immediately is shown That which is possible alone.

In life avails the right of force.

The bold the timid worries; Who rules not, is a slave of course, Without design each thing across Earth's stage forever hurries.

Yet what would happen if the plan Which guides the world now first began, Within the moral system lies Disclosed with clearness to our eyes.

"When man would seek his destiny, Man's help must then be given; Save for the whole, ne'er labors he,-- Of many drops is formed the sea,-- By water mills are driven; Therefore the wolf's wild species flies,-- Knit are the state's enduring ties."

Thus Puffendorf and Feder, each Is, ex cathedra, wont to teach.

Yet, if what such professors say, Each brain to enter durst not, Nature exerts her mother-sway, Provides that ne'er the chain gives way, And that the ripe fruits burst not.

Meanwhile, until earth's structure vast Philosophy can bind at last, 'Tis she that bids its pinion move, By means of hunger and of love!

THE METAPHYSICIAN.

"How far beneath me seems the earthly ball!

The pigmy race below I scarce can see; How does my art, the n.o.blest art of all, Bear me close up to heaven's bright canopy!"

So cries the slater from his tower's high top, And so the little would-be mighty man, Hans Metaphysicus, from out his critic-shop.

Explain, thou little would-be mighty man!

The tower from which thy looks the world survey, Whereof,--whereon is it erected, pray?

How didst thou mount it? Of what use to thee Its naked heights, save o'er the vale to see?

PEGASUS IN HARNESS.

Once to a horse-fair,--it may perhaps have been Where other things are bought and sold,--I mean At the Haymarket,--there the muses' horse A hungry poet brought--to sell, of course.

'The hippogriff neighed shrilly, loudly, And reared upon his hind-legs proudly; In utter wonderment each stood and cried: "The n.o.ble regal beast!" But, woe betide!

Two hideous wings his slender form deface, The finest team he else would not disgrace.

"The breed," said they, "is doubtless rare, But who would travel through the air?"

Not one of them would risk his gold.

At length a farmer grew more bold: "As for his wings, I of no use should find them, But then how easy 'tis to clip or bind them!

The horse for drawing may be useful found,-- So, friend, I don't mind giving twenty pound!"

The other glad to sell his merchandise, Cried, "Done!"--and Hans rode off upon his prize.

The n.o.ble creature was, ere long, put-to, But scarcely felt the unaccustomed load, Than, panting to soar upwards, off he flew, And, filled with honest anger, overthrew The cart where an abyss just met the road.

"Ho! ho!" thought Hans: "No cart to this mad beast I'll trust. Experience makes one wise at least.

To drive the coach to-morrow now my course is, And he as leader in the team shall go.

The lively fellow'll save me full two horses; As years pa.s.s on, he'll doubtless tamer grow."

All went on well at first. The nimble steed His partners roused,--like lightning was their speed.

What happened next? Toward heaven was turned his eye,-- Unused across the solid ground to fly, He quitted soon the safe and beaten course, And true to nature's strong resistless force, Ran over bog and moor, o'er hedge and pasture tilled; An equal madness soon the other horses filled-- No reins could hold them in, no help was near, Till,--only picture the poor travellers' fear!-- The coach, well shaken, and completely wrecked, Upon a hill's steep top at length was checked.