Then all at full gallop make haste to advance,Each chooses his place in the hall;With whirling and waltzing, and light joyous dance,They begin with their sweethearts the ball.
The fife and the fiddle all merrily sound, Thy twine, and they glide, and with nimbleness bound, Thy whisper, and chatter, and, chatter around;The Count on the scene casts his eye,And seems in a fever to lie.
They hustle, and bustle, and rattle awayOn table, on bench, and on stool;Then all who had joined in the festival gayWith their partners attempt to grow cool.
The hams and the sausages nimbly they bear, And meat, fish, and poultry in plenty are there, Surrounded with wine of the vintage most rare:
And when they have revell'd full long,They vanish at last with a song.
And if we're to sing all that further occurr'd,Pray cease ye to bluster and prate;For what he so gladly in small saw and heardHe enjoy'd and he practis'd in great.
For trumpets, and singing, and shouts without end On the bridal-train, chariots and horsemen attend, They come and appear, and they bow and they bend,In merry and countless array.
Thus was it, thus is it to-day.
1802.
THE TREASURE-DIGGER
ALL my weary days I pass'dSick at heart and poor in purse.
Poverty's the greatest curse,Riches are the highest good!
And to end my woes at last,Treasure-seeking forth I sped.
"Thou shalt have my soul instead!"
Thus I wrote, and with my blood.
Ring round ring I forthwith drew,Wondrous flames collected there,Herbs and bones in order fair,Till the charm had work'd aright.
Then, to learned precepts true,Dug to find some treasure old,In the place my art foretoldBlack and stormy was the night.
Coming o'er the distant plain,With the glimmer of a star,Soon I saw a light afar,As the hour of midnight knell'd.
Preparation was in vain.
Sudden all was lighted upWith the lustre of a cupThat a beauteous boy upheld.
Sweetly seem'd his eves to laughNeath his flow'ry chaplet's load;With the drink that brightly glow'd,He the circle enter'd in.
And he kindly bade me quaff:
Then methought "This child can ne'er,With his gift so bright and fair,To the arch-fiend be akin.""Pure life's courage drink!" cried he:
"This advice to prize then learn,--Never to this place returnTrusting in thy spells absurd;Dig no longer fruitlessly.
Guests by night, and toil by day!
Weeks laborious, feast-days gay!
Be thy future magic-word!
1797.
THE RAT-CATCHER.
I AM the bard known far and wide, The travell'd rat-catcher beside;A man most needful to this town, So glorious through its old renown.
However many rats I see, How many weasels there may be, I cleanse the place from ev'ry one, All needs must helter-skelter run.
Sometimes the bard so full of cheer As a child-catcher will appear, Who e'en the wildest captive brings, Whene'er his golden tales he sings.
However proud each boy in heart, However much the maidens start, I bid the chords sweet music make, And all must follow in my wake.
Sometimes the skilful bard ye view In the form of maiden-catcher too;For he no city enters e'er, Without effecting wonders there.
However coy may be each maid, However the women seem afraid, Yet all will love-sick be ere long To sound of magic lute and song.
[Da Capo.] 1803.
THE SPINNER.
As I calmly sat and span,Toiling with all zeal, Lo! a young and handsome manPass'd my spinning-wheel.
And he praised,--what harm was there?--Sweet the things he said--Praised my flax-resembling hair,And the even thread.
He with this was not content,But must needs do more;And in twain the thread was rent,Though 'twas safe before.
And the flax's stonelike weightNeeded to be told;But no longer was its stateValued as of old.
When I took it to the weaver,Something felt I start, And more quickly, as with fever,Throbb'd my trembling heart.
Then I bear the thread at lengthThrough the heat, to bleach;But, alas, I scarce have strengthTo the pool to reach.
What I in my little roomSpan so fine and slight,--As was likely.I presume--Came at last to light.
1800.
BEFORE A COURT OF JUSTICE.
THE father's name ye ne'er shall be toldOf my darling unborn life;"Shame, shame," ye cry, "on the strumpet bold!"Yet I'm an honest wife.
To whom I'm wedded, ye ne'er shall be told,Yet he's both loving and fair;He wears on his neck a chain of gold,And a hat of straw doth he wear.
If scorn 'tis vain to seek to repel,On me let the scorn be thrown.
I know him well, and he knows me well,And to God, too, all is known.
Sir Parson and Sir Bailiff, again,I pray you, leave me in peace!
My child it is, my child 'twill remain,So let your questionings cease!
1815.
THE PAGE AND THE MILLER'S DAUGHTER.
PAGE.
WHERE goest thou? Where?
Miller's daughter so fair!
Thy name, pray?--MILLER'S DAUGHTER.
'Tis Lizzy.
PAGE.
Where goest thou? Where?
With the rake in thy hand?
MILLER'S DAUGHTER.
Father's meadows and landTo visit, I'm busy.
PAGE.
Dost go there alone?
MILLER'S DAUGHTER.
By this rake, sir, 'tis shownThat we're making the hay;And the pears ripen fast In the garden at last,So I'll pick them to-day.
PAGE.
Is't a silent thicket I yonder view?
MILLER'S DAUGHTER.
Oh, yes! there are two;
There's one on each side.
PAGE.
I'll follow thee soon;
When the sun burns at noon We'll go there, o'urselves from his rays to hide, And then in some glade all-verdant and deep--MILLER'S DAUGHTER.
Why, people would say--PAGE.
Within mine arms thou gently wilt sleep.
MILLER'S DAUGHTER.
Your pardon, I pray!
Whoever is kiss'd by the miller-maid, Upon the spot must needs be betray'd.
'Twould give me distressTo cover with white Your pretty dark dress.
Equal with equal! then all is right!
That's the motto in which I delight.
I am in love with the miller-boy;
He wears nothing that I could destroy.
1797.
THE YOUTH AND THE MILLSTREAM.
[This sweet Ballad, and the one entitled The Maid of the Mill's Repentance, were written on the occasion of a visit paid by Goethe to Switzerland.The Maid of the Mill's Treachery, to which the latter forms the sequel, was not written till the following year.]
YOUTH.
