Poems and Ballads of Goethe Author:Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: WAKNING. Do not touch him—do not wake him ! Fast asleep is Amor lying; Go—fulfil thy work appointed—do thy labour of the day. Thus the wise and careful ... more »mother uses every moment flying, Whilst her child is in the cradle—Slumbers pass too soon away. THE BBOTHEES. Slumber, Sleep—they were two brothers, servants to the Gods above; Kind Prometheus lur'd them downwards, ever fill'd with earthly love But what Gods could bear so lightly, press'd too hard on men beneath; Slumber did his brother's duty—Sleep was deepen'd into Death. LOVE'S HOUR-GLASS. Eros ! wherefore do I see thee, with the glass in either hand ? Fickle God! with double measure wouldst thou count the shifting sand ? " This one flows for parted lovers—slowly drops each tiny bead— That is for the days of dalliance, and it melts with golden speed." THE TEACHERS. What time Diogenes, unmoved and still, Lay in his tub, and bask'd him in the sun— What time Calanus clomb, with lightsome step And smiling cheek, up to his fiery tomb— What rare examples there for Philip's son To curb his overmastering lust of sway, But that the Lord of the majestic world Was all too great for lessons even like these! THE WEEATHS. Our German Klopstock, if he had his will, Would bar us from the skirts of Pindus old. No more the classic laurel should be priz'd, But the rough leaflets of our native oak Alone should glisten in the poet's hair; Yet did himself, with spirit unreclaim'd From first allegiance to those early Gods, Lead up to Golgotha's most awful height With more than epic pomp the new Crusade. But let him range the bright angelic host On either hill—no matter. By his grave All gentle hearts should bow them down and weep. For where a hero and a...« less