The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 513

The stage to him is pure and undefiled; Chased from the regions that to her belong Are Nature's tones, so careless and so wild, To him e'en language rises into song; A realm harmonious 'tis, of beauty mild, Where limb unites to limb in order strong.

The whole into a solemn temple blends, And 'tis the dance that grace to motion lends.

And yet the Frank must not be made our guide.

For in his art no living spirit reigns: The boasting gestures of a spurious pride That mind which only loves the true disdains.

To n.o.bler ends alone be it applied, Returning, like some soul's long-vanished manes.

To render the oft-sullied stage once more A throne befitting the great muse of yore.

THE PRESENT.

Ring and staff, oh to me on a Rhenish flask ye are welcome!

Him a true shepherd I call, who thus gives drink to his sheep.

Draught thrice blest! It is by the Muse I have won thee,--the Muse, too, Sends thee,--and even the church places upon thee her seal.

DEPARTURE FROM LIFE.

Two are the roads that before thee lie open from life to conduct thee; To the ideal one leads thee, the other to death.

See that while yet thou art free, on the first thou commencest thy journey, Ere by the merciless fates on to the other thou'rt led!

VERSES WRITTEN IN THE FOLIO ALb.u.m OF A LEARNED FRIEND.

Once wisdom dwelt in tomes of ponderous size, While friendship from a pocketbook would talk; But now that knowledge in small compa.s.s lies, And floats in almanacs, as light as cork, Courageous man, thou dost not hesitate To open for thy friends this house so great!

Hast thou no fear, I seriously would ask, That thou may'st thus their patience overtask?

VERSES WRITTEN IN THE ALb.u.m OF A FRIEND.

(HERR VON MECHELN OF BASLE.)

Nature in charms is exhaustless, in beauty ever reviving; And, like Nature, fair art is inexhaustible too.

Hail, thou honored old man! for both in thy heart thou preservest Living sensations, and thus ne'er-ending youth is thy lot!

THE SUNDAY CHILDREN.

Years has the master been laboring, but always without satisfaction; To an ingenious race 'twould be in vision conferred.

What they yesterday learned, to-day they fain would be teaching: Small compa.s.sion, alas, is by those gentlemen shown!

THE HIGHEST.

Seerest thou the highest, the greatest!

In that the plant can instruct thee; What it unwittingly is, be thou of thine own free will!

THE PUPPET-SHOW OF LIFE.

Thou'rt welcome in my box to peep!

Life's puppet-show, the world in little, Thou'lt see depicted to a t.i.ttle,-- But pray at some small distance keep!

'Tis by the torch of love alone, By Cupid's taper, it is shown.

See, not a moment void the stage is!

The child in arms at first they bring,-- The boy then skips,--the youth now storms and rages,-- The man contends, and ventures everything!

Each one attempts success to find, Yet narrow is the race-course ever; The chariot rolls, the axles quiver, The hero presses on, the coward stays behind, The proud man falls with mirth-inspiring fall, The wise man overtakes them all!

Thou see'st fair woman it the barrier stand, With beauteous hands, with smiling eyes, To glad the victor with his prize.

TO LAWGIVERS.

Ever take it for granted, that man collectively wishes That which is right; but take care never to think so of one!

FALSE IMPULSE TO STUDY.

Oh, how many new foes against truth! My very soul bleedeth When I behold the owl-race now bursting forth to the light.

THE HEREDITARY PRINCE OF WEIMAR, ON HIS PROCEEDING TO PARIS.

(SUNG IN A CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.)

With one last b.u.mper let us hail The wanderer beloved, Who takes his leave of this still vale Wherein in youth he roved.

From loving arms, from native home, He tears himself away, To yonder city proud to roam, That makes whole lands its prey.