(Once named Margaret, pressing near them.)Oh radiance-spreading One,Who equall'd art by none, In mercy view mine ecstasy!
For he whom erst I loved,No more by sorrow proved, Returns at length to me!
BEATIFIED CHILDREN.
(Approaching as they hover round.)
He now in strength of limbFar doth outweigh us, And, as we tended him,So will repay us.
Early removed were weFar from life's story;Train'd now himself, will heTrain us in glory.
THE PENITENT, once named Margaret.
Link'd with the noble band of spirits,Scarce can the new one feel or see The radiant life he now inherits,So like that holy band is he.
See how he bursts each bond material,And parts the olden veil at length,--In vesture clad of grace ethereal,Comes in the glow of youthful strength.
Oh, let me guide his steps victorious,While dazzled by the new-born light.
MATER GLORIOSA.
Come! raise thyself to spheres more glorious, He'll follow when thou matzoth his sight.
DOCTOR MARINAS.
(Prostrated in adoration.)
O repentant sinful ones,On that bright face gaze ye, And, in grateful orisons,Your blest fortune praise ye!
Be each virtue of the mindTo thy service given!
Virgin, mother, be thou kind!
Goddess, queen of heaven!
CHORUS MYSTICS.
Each thing of mortal birthIs but a type What was of feeble worthHere becomes ripe.
What was a mysteryHere meets the eye;The ever-womanlyDraws us on high.
(Finis.)
FROM IPHIGENIA IN TAURIS.
ACT IV.SCENE 5.
SONG OF THE FATES.
YE children of mortals The deities dread!
The mastery hold they In hands all-eternal, And use them, unquestioned, What manner they like.
Let him fear them doubly, Whom they have uplifted!
On cliffs and on clouds, oh, Round tables all-golden, he seats are made ready.
When rises contention, The guests are humid downwards With shame and dishonor To deep depths of midnight, And vainly await they, Bound fast in the darkness, A just condemnation.
But they remain ever In firmness unshaken Round tables all-golden.
On stride they from mountain To mountain far distant:
From out the abysses'
Dark jaws, the breath rises Of torment-choked Titans Up tow'rds them, like incense In light clouds ascending.
The rulers immortal Avert from whole peoples Their blessing-fraught glances, And shun, in the children, To trace the once cherish'd, Still, eloquent features Their ancestors wore.
Thus chanted the Parae;
The old man, the banish'd, In gloomy vault lying, Their song overheareth, Sons, grandsons remembereth, And shaketh his head.
FROM GOTZ VON BERLICHINGEN.
ACT II.
LIEBETRAUT plays and sings.
HIS bow and dart bearing, And torch brightly flaring,Dan Cupid on flies;With victory laden, To vanquish each maidenHe roguishly tries.
Up! up!
On! on!
His arms rattle loudly, His wings rustle proudly, And flames fill his eyes.
Then finds he each bosomDefenseless and bare;They gladly receive himAnd welcome him there.
The point of his arrowsHe lights in the glow;They clasp him and kiss himAnd fondle him so.
He e o! Pap!
FROM EGMONT.
ACT I.
CLARA winds a skein, and sings with Brackenburg.
THE drum gives the signal!
Loud rings the shrill fife!
My love leads his troops onFull arm'd for the strife, While his hand grasps his lance As they proudly advance.
My bosom pants wildly!
My blood hotly flows!
Oh had I a doublet, A helmet, and hose!
Through the gate with bold footstepI after him hied,--Each province, each countryExplored by his side.
The coward foe trembled Then rattled our shot:
What bliss e'er resembledA soldier's glad lot!
ACT III.
CLARA sings.
GladnessAnd sadness And pensiveness blendingYearningAnd burning In torment ne'er ending;Sad unto death, Proudly soaring above;
Happy alone Is the soul that doth love!
FROM "WILHELM MEISTER'S APPRENTICESHIP."
BOOK II., CHAP.XIII.
WHO never eat with tears his bread,Who never through night's heavy hours Sat weeping on his lonely bed,--He knows you not, ye heavenly powers!
Through you the paths of life we gain,Ye let poor mortals go astray, And then abandon them to pain,--E'en here the penalty we pay,
WHO gives himself to solitude,Soon lonely will remain;Each lives, each loves in joyous mood,And leaves him to his pain.
Yes! leave me to my grief!
Were solitude's reliefE'er granted me,Alone I should not be.
A lover steals, on footstep light,To learn if his love's alone;Thus o'er me steals, by day and night,Anguish before unknown, Thus o'er me steals deep grief.
Ah, when I find reliefWithin the tomb so lonely,Will rest be met with only!
BOOK IV., CHAP.XI.
My grief no mortals know,Except the yearning!
Alone, a prey to woe,All pleasure spurning, Up tow'rds the sky I throwA gaze discerning.
He who my love can knowSeems ne'er returning;With strange and fiery glowMy heart is burning.
My grief no mortals know,Except the yearning!
BOOK V., CHAP.X.
SING no more in mournful tonesOf the loneliness of night;For 'tis made, ye beauteous ones,For all social pleasures bright.
As of old to man a wifeAs his better half was given, So the night is half our life,And the fairest under heaven.
How can ye enjoy the day,Which obstructs our rapture's tide?
Let it waste itself away;
Worthless 'tis for aught beside.
But when in the darkling hoursFrom the lamp soft rays are glowing, And from mouth to mouth sweet showers,Now of jest, now love, are flowing,--When the nimble, wanton boy,Who so wildly spends his days, Oft amid light sports with joyO'er some trifling gift delays,?
When the nightingale is singingStrains the lover holds so dear, Though like sighs and wailings ringingIn the mournful captive's ear,--With what heart-emotion blestDo ye hearken to the bell, Wont of safety and of restWith twelve solemn strokes to tell!
Therefore in each heavy hour,Let this precept fill your heart:
O'er each day will sorrow loud,Rapture ev'ry night impart.
EPILOGUE TO SCHILLER'S "SONG OF THE BELL.
