MY ONLY PROPERTY
I FEEL that I’m possess’d of nought, Saving the free unfetterd thought Which from my bosom seeks to flow, And each propitious passing hour That suffers me in all its power A loving fate
THE YELPERS
OUR rides in all directions bend, For business or for pleasure, Yet yelpings on our steps attend, And barkings without measure. The dog that in our stable dwells, After our heels is striding, And
IN A WORD
THUS to be chain’d for ever, can I bear? A very torment that, in truth, would be. This very day my new resolve shall see. I’ll not go near the lately-worshipp’d Fair. Yet what
THE RECKONING
LEADER. LET no cares now hover o’er us Let the wine unsparing run! Wilt thou swell our merry chorus? Hast thou all thy duty done? SOLO. Two young folks the thing is curious Loved
RECIPROCAL INVITATION TO THE DANCE
THE INDIFFERENT. COME to the dance with me, come with me, fair one! Dances a feast-day like this may well crown. If thou my sweetheart art not, thou canst be so, But if thou
PRESENCE
ALL things give token of thee! As soon as the bright sun is shining, Thou too wilt follow, I trust. When in the garden thou walk’st, Thou then art the rose of all roses,
THE MISANTHROPE
AT first awhile sits he, With calm, unruffled brow; His features then I see, Distorted hideously, An owl’s they might be now. What is it, askest thou? Is’t love, or is’t ennui? ‘Tis both
THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE
“THE mountain village was destroy’d; But see how soon is fill’d the void! Shingles and boards, as by magic arise, The babe in his cradle and swaddling-clothes lies; How blest to trust to God’s
PRESERVATION
My maiden she proved false to me; To hate all joys I soon began, Then to a flowing stream I ran, The stream ran past me hastily. There stood I fix’d, in mute despair;
MIGNON
– Poet’s art is ever able To endow with truth mere fable. MIGNON. [This universally known poem is also to be found In Wilhelm Meister.] KNOW’ST thou the land where the fair citron blows,
THE COUNTRY SCHOOLMASTER
I. A MASTER of a country school Jump’d up one day from off his stool, Inspired with firm resolve to try To gain the best society; So to the nearest baths he walk’d, And
PROMETHEUS
COVER thy spacious heavens, Zeus, With clouds of mist, And, like the boy who lops The thistles’ heads, Disport with oaks and mountain-peaks, Yet thou must leave My earth still standing; My cottage too,
COPTIC SONG
LEAVE we the pedants to quarrel and strive, Rigid and cautious the teachers to be! All of the wisest men e’er seen alive Smile, nod, and join in the chorus with me: “Vain ’tis
THE FAITHLESS BOY
THERE was a wooer blithe and gay, A son of France was he, Who in his arms for many a day, As though his bride were she, A poor young maiden had caress’d, And
TABLE SONG
[Composed for the merry party already mentioned, On the occasion of the departure for France of the hereditary prince, Who was one of the number, and who is especially alluded to in the 3rd