West-Eastern Divan. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Название: West-Eastern Divan
Автор: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Языкознание
isbn: 9783849658700
isbn:
Than crowns of Emperors old;
And, for his dwelling everywhere,
A tent to raise or fold.
A sword that surelier can defend
Than crag or turret-height,
A little song, which maids attend
For wisdom or delight.
If from her shawl my singing spell
Draw flowers that fall my way,
What is her own she knows right well,
And still is kind and gay.
With flowers and fruits the sense to please,
I deck the board for you,
And would you add moralities,
I give them gathered now.
VI. CONFESSION
WHAT is hard to cover? Fire!
Flame, the monster, will betray
By night its presence, smoke by day.
Hard to hide is love's desire;
However hushed and close it lies,
Love will leap forth from the eyes.
Hardest is a song to hide;
Under bushel 'twill not bide;
Did the poet sing it new,
It has pierced him through and through;
If pranked with pen, his eye approve it,
He would have the whole world love it,
Aloud he reads it joyously
To all – to plague or edify.
VII. ELEMENTS
SAY, from how many an element
True song should seek and suck its food,
Song, layfolks listen to content,
And masters hear in gladdest mood?
Love, past all things of common rate,
Be this our theme when we shall sing!
If love the verse should penetrate
The sweeter will its music ring.
Then must the meeting glasses clink,
While gleams the red wine circling round!
For those who love, for those who drink,
With smiles the fairest wreaths are wound.
And next the clash of arms I name,
The trumpet's blare must sound abroad.
So shall the hero, while in flame
Leaps victory, know himself a god.
Last hate is indispensable,
Ay, many a thing true poets hate;
Shall he who beauty loves, as well
Foul things and loathsome tolerate?
Primeval matter – if the singer
But mix and mingle these, the four,
Like Hafiz he, true joyance-bringer,
Shall quicken folk for evermore.
VIII. CREATION AND ANIMATION
JACK ADAM was a clod of clay
God shaped a human creature;
Yet from Earth's womb he brought away
Much dress in form and feature.
The Elohim breathed into his nose
The very finest spirit;
He took a sneezing fit, and rose
More like a man of merit.
And yet in brawn and brain and bone
He still was half a lump, sir,
Till Noah for the simpleton
Found his true cure – the bumper.
Betimes the lump perceived a glow,
Well wetted with the potion;
The barm began to stir the dough
Which put itself in motion.
Thus, Hafiz, may thy singing sweet
And thy devout example,
Lead us, while clinking glasses meet,
Into our Maker's temple.
IX. PHENOMENON
WHEN the dark rain-drift
Phoebus has wooed,
Springeth a rainbow swift,
Rising bright-hued.
There o'er the misty height
Spans the arch now,
What if the bow be white,
Yet 'tis heaven's bow.
Greybeard, with clouds in sight,
Blithe shouldst thou prove;
What if thy hair be white,
Yet shalt thou love!