hermann and dorothea-第6部分

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　the　dark　season　of　childhood。　Many　the　things；　in　truth；　I　with　patience　endured　from　my　playmates；　When　the　good…will　that　I　bore　them　they　often　requited　with　malice。　Often　I　suffered　their　flings　and　their　blows　to　pass　unresented；　But　if　they　ventured　to　ridicule　father；　when　he　of　a　Sunday　Home　from　Church　would　come；　with　his　solemn　and　dignified　bearing；　If　they　made　fun　of　his　cap…string；　or　laughed　at　the　flowers　of　the　wrapper　He　with　such　stateliness　wore；　which　was　given　away　but　this　morning；　Threateningly　doubled　my　fist　in　an　instant；　with　furious　passion　Fell　I　upon　them；　and　struck　out　and　hit；　assailing　them　blindly；　Seeing　not　where。　They　howled　as　the　blood　gushed　out　from　their　noses：　Scarcely　they　made　their　escape　from　my　passionate　kicking　and　beating。　Then；　as　I　older　grew；　I　had　much　to　endure　from　my　father；　Violent　words　he　oft　vented　on　me；　instead　of　on　others；　When；　at　the　board's　last　session；　the　council　had　roused　his　displeasure；　And　I　was　made　to　atone　for　the　quarrels　and　wiles　of　his　colleagues。　Thou　has　pitied　me　often　thyself；　for　much　did　I　suffer；　Ever　remembering　with　cordial　respect　the　kindness　of　parents；　Solely　intent　on　increasing　for　us　their　goods　and　possessions；　Much　denying　themselves　in　order　to　save　for　their　children。　But；　alas！　saving　alone；　for　the　sake　of　a　tardy　enjoyment；　That　is　not　happiness：　pile　upon　pile；　and　acre　on　acre；　Make　us　not　happy；　no　matter　how　fair　our　estates　may　be　rounded。　For　the　father　grows　old；　and　with　him　will　grow　old　the　children；　Losing　the　joy　of　the　day；　and　bearing　the　care　of　tomorrow。　Look　thou　below；　and　see　how　before　us　in　glory　are　lying；　Fair　and　abundant；　the　corn…fields；　beneath　them；　the　vineyard　and　garden；　Yonder　the　stables　and　barns；　our　beautiful　line　of　possessions。　But　when　I　look　at　the　dwelling　behind；　where　up　in　the　gable　We　can　distinguish　the　window　that　marks　my　room　in　the　attic；　When　I　look　back；　and　remember　how　many　a　night　from　that　window　I　for　the　moon　have　watched；　for　the　sun；　how　many　a　morning！　When　the　healthful　sleep　of　a　few　short　hours　sufficed　me；　Ah；　so　lonely　they　seem　to　me　then；　the　chamber　and　courtyard；　Garden　and　glorious　field；　away　o'er　the　hill　that　is　stretching；　All　so　desert　before　me　lie：　'tis　the　wife　that　is　wanting。〃

Thereupon　spoke　the　good　mother；　and　thus　with　intelligence　answered：　〃Son；　not　greater　thy　wish　to　bring　thee　a　bride　to　thy　chamber；　That　thou　mayst　find　thy　nights　a　beautiful　part　of　existence；　And　that　the　work　of　the　day　may　gain　independence　and　freedom；　Than　is　thy　father's　wish　too；　and　thy　mother's。　We　always　have　counselled；　Yea；　we　have　even　insisted；that　thou　shouldst　select　thee　a　maiden。　But　I　was　ever　aware；　and　now　my　heart　gives　me　assurance；　That　till　the　hour　appointed　is　come；　and　the　maiden　appointed　Shall　with　the　hour　appear；　the　choice　will　be　left　for　the　future；　While　more　strong　than　all　else　will　be　fear　of　grasping　the　wrong　one。　If　I　may　say　it；　my　son；　I　believe　thou　already　hast　chosen；　For　thy　heart　has　been　touched；　and　been　made　more　than　wontedly　tender。　Speak　it　out　honestly；　then；　for　my　soul　has　told　me　beforehand：　That　same　maiden　it　is；　the　exile；　whom　thou　hast　elected。〃

〃Thou　has　said；　mother！〃　the　son　thereupon　with　eagerness　answered。　〃Yes；　it　is　she；　and　if　I　to…day　as　my　bride　do　not　bring　her　Home　to　our　dwelling；　she　from　me　will　go；　perhaps　vanish　for　ever；　Lost　in　the　war's　confusion　and　sad　movings　hither　and　thither。　Mother；　for　ever　in　vain　would　then　our　abundant　possessions　Prosper　before　me；　and　seasons　to　come　be　in　vain　to　me　fruitful。　Yea；　I　should　hold　in　aversion　the　wonted　house　and　the　garden：　Even　my　mother's　love；　alas！　would　not　comfort　my　sorrow。　Every　tie；　so　I　feel　in　my　heart；　by　love　is　unloosened　Soon　as　she　fastens　her　own；　and　not　the　maid　is　it　only　Leaves　behind　father　and　mother；　to　follow　the　man　she　has　chosen。　He　too；　the　youth；　no　longer　knows　aught　of　mother　and　father；　When　he　the　maiden；　his　only　beloved；　sees　vanishing　from　him。　Suffer　me；　then；　to　go　hence　wherever　despair　shall　impel　me：　Since　by　my　father　himself　the　decisive　words　have　been　spoken；　Since　his　house　can　no　longer　be　mine　if　he　shut　out　the　maiden；　Her　whom　alone　as　my　bride　I　desire　to　bring　to　our　dwelling。〃

Thereupon　quickly　made　answer　the　good　and　intelligent　mother：　〃How　like　to　rocks；　forsooth；　two　men　will　stand　facing　each　other！　Proud　and　not　to　be　moved；　will　neither　draw　near　to　his　fellow；　Neither　will　stir　his　tongue　to　utter　the　first　word　of　kindness。　Therefore　I　tell　thee；　my　son；　a　hope　yet　lives　in　my　bosom；　So　she　be　honest　and　good；　thy　father　will　let　thee　espouse　her；　Even　though　poor；　and　against　a　poor　girl　so　decisive　his　sentence。　Many　a　thing　he　is　wont　to　speak　out　in　his　violent　fashion　Which　he　yet　never　performs；　and　so　what　he　denies　will　consent　to。　Yet　he　requires　a　kindly　word；　and　is　right　to　require　it：　He　is　the　father！　Besides　we　know　that　his　wrath　after　dinner；　When　he　most　hastily　speaks；　and　questions　all　others'　opinions；　Signifies　naught；　the　full　force　of　his　violent　will　is　excited　Then　by　the　wine；　which　lets　him　not　heed　the　language　of　others；　None　but　himself　does　he　see　and　feel。　But　now　is　come　evening；　Talk　upon　various　subjects　has　passed　between　him　and　his　neighbors。　Gentle；　he　is；　I　am　sure　now　his　little　excitement　is　over；　And　he　can　feel　how　unjust　his　passion　has　made　him　to　others。　Come；　let　us　venture　at　once：　success　is　alone　to　the　valiant！　Further　we　need　the　friends；　still　sitting　together　there　with　him；；　And　in　especial　the　worthy　pastor　will　give　us　assistance。〃

Thus　she　hastily　spoke；　and　up　from　the　stone　then　arising；　Drew　from　his　seat　her　son；　who　willingly　followed。　In　silence　Both　descended　the　hill；　their　important　purpose　revolving。



POLYHYMNIA

THE　CITIZEN　OF　THE　WORLD

HERE　the　three　men；　however；　still　sat　conversing　together；　With　mine　host　of　the　Lion；　the　village　doctor；　and　pastor；　And　their　talk　was　still　on　the　same　unvarying　subject；　Turning　it　this　way　and　that；　and　viewing　from　every　direction。　But　with　his　sober　judgment　the　excellent　pastor　made　answer：　〃Here　will　I　not　contradict　you。　I　know　that　man　should　be　always　Striving　for　that　which　is　better；　indeed；　as　we　see；　he　is　reaching　Always　after　the　higher；　at　least　some　novelty　craving。　But　be　careful　ye　go　not　too　far；　for　with　this　disposition　Nature　has　given　us　pleasure　in　holding　to　what　is　familiar；　Taught　us　in　that　to　delight　to　which　we　have　long　been　accustomed。　Every　condition　is　good　that　is　founded　on　reason　and　nature。　Many　are　man's　desires；　yet　little　it　is　that　he　needeth；　Seeing　the　days　are　short　and　mortal　destiny　bounded。　Ne'er　would　I　censure　the　man　whom　a　restless　activity　urges；　Bold　and　industrious；　over　all　pathways　of　land　and　of　ocean；　Ever　untiring　to　roam；　who　takes　delight　in　the　riches；　Heaping　in　generous　abundance　about　himself　and　his　children。　Yet　not　unprized　by　me　is　the　quiet　citizen　also；　Making　the　noiseless　round　of　his　own　inherited　acres；　Tilling　the　ground　as　the　ever…returning　seasons　command　him。　Not　with　every　year　is　the　soil　transfigured　about　him；　Not　in　haste　does　the　tree　stretch　forth；　as　soon　as　'tis　planted；　Full…grown　arms　towards　heaven　and　decked　with　plenteous　blossoms。　No：　man　has　need　of　patience；　and　needful　to　him　are　also　Calmness　and　clearness　of　mind；　and　a　pure　and　right　understanding。　Few　are　the　seeds　he　intrusts　to　earth's　all…nourishing　bosom；　Few　are　the　creatures　he　knows　how　to　raise　and　bring　to　perfection。　Centred　are　all　his　thoughts　alone　on　that　which　is　useful。　Happy　to　whom　by　nature　a　mind　of　such　temper　is　given；　For　he　supports　us　all！　And　hail；　to　the　man　whose　abode　is　Where　in　a　town　the　country　pursuits　with　the　city　are　blended。　On　him　lies　not　the　pressure　that　painfully　hampers　the　farmer；　Nor　is　he　carried　away　by　the　greedy　ambition　of　cities；　Where　they　of　scanty　possessions　too　often　are　given　to　aping；　Wives　and　daughters　especially；　those　who　are　higher　and　richer。　Blessed　be　therefore　thy　son　in　his　life　of　quiet　employment；　Blessed　the　wife；　of　like　mind　with　himself；　whom　he　one　day　shall　choose　him。〃

Thus　he　spoke；　and　scarce　had　he　ended　when　entered　the　mother；　Holding　her　son　by　the　hand；　and　so　led　him　up　to　her　husband。　〃Father；〃　she　said；　〃how　oft　when　we　two　have　been　chatting　together；　Have　we　rejoiced　in　the　thought　of　Hermann's　future　espousal；　When　he　should　bring　his　bride　to　be　the　light　of　our　dwelling！　Over　and　over　again　the　matter　we　pondered：　this　maiden　Fixing　upon　for　him　first；　and　then　that；　with　the　gossip　of　parents。　But　that　day　is　now　come；　and　Heaven　at　last　has　the　maiden　Brought　to　him　hither；　and　shown　him；　and　now　his　heart　has　decided。　Said　we　not　always　then　he　should　have　his　own　choice　in　the　matter？　Was　it　not　just　now　thy　wish　that　he　might　with　lively　affection　Feel　himself　drawn　to　some　maiden？　The　hour　is　come　that　we　hoped　for。　Yes；　he　has　felt　and　has　chosen　and　come　to　a　manly　decision。　That　same　maiden　it　is　that　met　him　this　morning；　the　stranger：　Say　he　may　have　her；　or　else；　as　he　swears；　his　life　shall　be　single。〃

〃Give　her　me；　father；〃　so　added　the　son：　〃my　heart　has　elected　Clear　and　sure；　she　will　be　to　you　both　the　noblest　of　daughters。〃

But　the　father　was　silent。　Then　hastily　rose　the　good　pastor；　Took　up　the　word　and　said：　〃The　moment　alone　is　decisive；　Fixes　the　life　of　man；　and　his　future　destiny　settles。　After　long　taking　of　counsel；　yet　only　the　work　of　a　moment　Every　decision　must　be；　and　the　wise　alone　seizes　the　right　one。　Dangerous　always　it　is　comparing　the　one　with　the　other　When　we　are　making　our　choice；　and　so　confusing　our　feelings。　Hermann　is　pure。　From　childhood　up　I　have　known　him；　and　never　E'en　as　a　boy　was　he　wont　to　be　reaching　for　this　and　the　other：　What　he　desired　was　best　for　him　too；　and　he　held　to　it　firmly。　Be　not　surprised　and　alarmed　that　now　has　appeared　of　a　sudden；　What　thou　hast　wished　for　so　long。　It　is　true　that　the　present　appearance　Bears　not　the　form　of　the　wish；　exactly　as　thou　hadst　conceived　it：　For　our　wishes　oft　hide　from　ourselves　the　object　we　wish　for；　Gifts　come　down　from　above　in　the　shapes　appointed　by　Heaven。　Therefore　misjudge　not　the　maiden　who　n