Manifold is human strife,Human passion, human pain;Many a blessing yet is rife,Many pleasures still remain.
Yet the greatest bliss in life,And the richest prize we find,Is a good, contented mind.
THE MERRY COUNSEL.
He by whom man's foolish willIs each day review'd and blamed, Who, when others fools are still,Is himself a fool proclaim'd,--Ne'er at mill was beast's back press'dWith a heavier load than he.
What I feel within my breastThat in truth's the thing for me!
1789.
DIFFERENT EMOTIONS ON THE SAME SPOT.
THE MAIDEN.
I'VE seen him before me!
What rapture steals o'er me!
Oh heavenly sight!
He's coming to meet me;
Perplex'd, I retreat me,With shame take to flight.
My mind seems to wander!
Ye rocks and trees yonder,Conceal ye my rapture.
Conceal my delight!
THE YOUTH.
'Tis here I must find her, 'Twas here she enshrined her,Here vanish'd from sight.
She came, as to meet me, Then fearing to greet me,With shame took to flight.
Is't hope? Do I wander?
Ye rocks and trees yonder,Disclose ye the loved one,Disclose my delight!
THE LANGUISHING.
O'er my sad, fate I sorrow, To each dewy morrow,Veil'd here from man's sight By the many mistaken, Unknown and forsaken,Here I wing my flight!
Compassionate spirit!
Let none ever hear it,--Conceal my affliction,Conceal thy delight!
THE HUNTER.
To-day I'm rewarded;
Rich booty's affordedBy Fortune so bright.
My servant the pheasants, And hares fit for presentsTakes homeward at night;Here see I enraptured In nets the birds captured!--Long life to the hunter!
Long live his delight!
1789.
WHO'LL BUY GODS OF LOVE?
OF all the beauteous wares Exposed for sale at fairs, None will give more delight Than those that to your sight From distant lands we bring.
Oh, hark to what we sing!
These beauteous birds behold, They're brought here to be sold.
And first the big one see, So full of roguish glee!
With light and merry bound He leaps upon the ground;Then springs up on the bougd, We will not praise him now.
The merry bird behold,--He's brought here to be sold.
And now the small one see!
A modest look has he, And yet he's such apother As his big roguish brother.
'Tis chiefly when all's still He loves to show his will.
The bird so small and bold,--He's brought here to be sold.
Observe this little love, This darling turtle dove!
All maidens are so neat, So civil, so discreet Let them their charms set loose, And turn your love to use;The gentle bird behold,--She's brought here to be sold.
Their praises we won't tell;
They'll stand inspection well.
They're fond of what is new,--And yet, to show they're true, Nor seal nor letter's wanted;To all have wings been granted.
The pretty birds behold,--Such beauties ne'er were sold!
1795.
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 at once, I vow.
1767-9.
DIFFERENT THREATS.
I ONCE into a forest farMy maiden went to seek, And fell upon her neck, when: "Ah!"She threaten'd, "I will shriek!"
Then cried I haughtily: "I'll crushThe man that dares come near thee!""Hush!" whisper'd she: "My loved one, hush!
Or else they'll overhear thee!"
1767-9.
MAIDEN WISHES.
WHAT pleasure to me A bridegroom would be!
When married we are, They call us mamma.
No need then to sew, To school we ne'er go;Command uncontroll'd, Have maids, whom to scold;Choose clothes at our ease, Of what tradesmen we please;Walk freely about, And go to each rout, And unrestrained are By papa or mamma.
1767-9.
MOTIVES.
IF to a girl who loves us truly Her mother gives instruction duly In virtue, duty, and what not,--And if she hearkens ne'er a jot, But with fresh-strengthen'd longing fliesTo meet our kiss that seems to burn,--Caprice has just as much concerned As love in her bold enterprise.
But if her mother can succeed In gaining for her maxims heed, And softening the girl's heart too, So that she coyly shuns our view,--The heart of youth she knows but ill;
For when a maiden is thus stern,Virtue in truth has less concern In this, than an inconstant will.
1767-9.
TRUE ENJOYMENT.
VAINLY wouldst thou, to gain a heart,Heap up a maiden's lap with gold;The joys of love thou must impart,Wouldst thou e'er see those joys unfold.
The voices of the throng gold buys,No single heart 'twill win for thee;Wouldst thou a maiden make thy prize,Thyself alone the bribe must be.
If by no sacred tie thou'rt bound,Oh youth, thou must thyself restrain!
Well may true liberty be found,Tho' man may seem to wear a chain.
Let one alone inflame thee e'er,And if her heart with love o'erflows, Let tenderness unite you there,If duty's self no fetter knows.
First feel, oh youth! A girl then findWorthy thy choice,--let her choose thee, In body fair, and fair in mind,And then thou wilt be blessed, like me.
I who have made this art mine own,A girl have chosen such as this The blessing of the priest aloneIs wanting to complete our bliss.
Nought but my rapture is her guide,Only for me she cares to please,--Ne'er wanton save when by my side,And modest when the world she sees;That time our glow may never chill,She yields no right through frailty;Her favour is a favour still,And I must ever grateful be.
Yet I'm content, and full of joy,If she'll but grant her smile so sweet, Or if at table she'll employ,To pillow hers, her lover's feet, Give me the apple that she bit,The glass from which she drank, bestow, And when my kiss so orders it,Her bosom, veil'd till then, will show.
And when she wills of love to speak,In fond and silent hours of bliss, Words from her mouth are all I seek,Nought else I crave,--not e'en a kiss.
With what a soul her mind is fraught,Wreath'd round with charms unceasingly!
She's perfect,--and she fails in noughtSave in her deigning to love me.
My rev'rence throws me at her feet,My longing throws me on her breast;This, youth, is rapture true and sweet,Be wise, thus seeking to be blest.
