I that faith inherit.
To our king the next toast give,Honour is his merit, 'Gainst each in-- and outward foeHe's our rock and tower.
Of his maintenance thinks he though,More that grows his power.
Next to her good health I drink,Who has stirr'd my passion;Of his mistress let each think,Think in knightly fashion.
If the beauteous maid but seeWhom 'tis I now call so, Let her smiling nod to me:
"Here's my love's health also!"
To those friends,--the two or three,--Be our next toast given, In whose presence revel we,In the silent even,--Who the gloomy mist so coldScatter gently, lightly;To those friends, then, new or old,Let the toast ring brightly.
Broader now the stream rolls on,With its waves more swelling, While in higher, nobler tone,Comrades, we are dwelling,--We who with collected might,Bravely cling together, Both in fortune's sunshine bright,And in stormy weather.
Just as we are gather'd thus,Others are collected;On them, therefore, as on us,Be Fate's smile directed!
From the springhead to the sea,Many a mill's revolving, And the world's prosperityIs the task I'm solving.
1802.
WONT AND DONE.
I HAVE loved; for the first time with passion I rave!
I then was the servant, but now am the slave;I then was the servant of all:
By this creature so charming I now am fast bound, To love and love's guerdon she turns all around,And her my sole mistress I call.
l've had faith; for the first time my faith is now strong!
And though matters go strangely, though matters go wrong,To the ranks of the faithful I'm true:
Though ofttimes 'twas dark and though ofttimes 'twas drear, In the pressure of need, and when danger was near,Yet the dawning of light I now view.
I have eaten; but ne'er have thus relish'd my food!
For when glad are the senses, and joyous the blood,At table all else is effaced As for youth, it but swallows, then whistles an air;As for me, to a jovial resort I'd repair,Where to eat, and enjoy what I taste.
I have drunk; but have never thus relish'd the bowl!
For wine makes us lords, and enlivens the soul,And loosens the trembling slave's tongue.
Let's not seek to spare then the heart-stirring drink, For though in the barrel the old wine may sink,In its place will fast mellow the young.
I have danced, and to dancing am pledged by a vow!
Though no caper or waltz may be raved about now,In a dance that's becoming, whirl round.
And he who a nosegay of flowers has dress'd, And cares not for one any more than the rest,With a garland of mirth is aye crown'd.
Then once more be merry, and banish all woes!
For he who but gathers the blossoming rose.
By its thorns will be tickled alone.
To-day still, as yesterday, glimmers the star;Take care from all heads that hang down to keep far,And make but the future thine own.
1813.
GENERAL CONFESSION.
In this noble ring to-dayLet my warning shame ye!
Listen to my solemn voice,--Seldom does it name ye.
Many a thing have ye intended,Many a thing have badly ended, And now I must blame ye.
At some moment in our livesWe must all repent us!
So confess, with pious trust,All your sins momentous!
Error's crooked pathways shunning.
Let us, on the straight road running, Honestly content us!
Yes! we've oft, when waking, dream'd,Let's confess it rightly;Left undrain'd the brimming cup,When it sparkled brightly;Many a shepherd's-hour's soft blisses,Many a dear mouth's flying kisses We've neglected lightly.
Mute and silent have we sat,Whilst the blockheads prated, And above e'en song divineHave their babblings rated;To account we've even call'd usFor the moments that enthrall'd us, With enjoyment freighted.
If thou'lt absolution grantTo thy true ones ever, We, to execute thy will,Ceaseless will endeavour, From half-measures strive to wean us,Wholly, fairly, well demean us, Resting, flagging never.
At all blockheads we'll at onceLet our laugh ring clearly, And the pearly-foaming wineNever sip at merely.
Ne'er with eye alone give kisses,But with boldness suck in blisses From those lips loved dearly.
1803.
COPTIC SONG.
LEAVE we the pedants to quarrel and strive,Rigid and cautious the teachers to be!
All of the wisest men e'er seen aliveSmile, nod, and join in the chorus with me:
"Vain 'tis to wait till the dolt grows less silly!
Play then the fool with the fool, willy-nilly,--Children of wisdom,--remember the word!"
Merlin the old, from his glittering grave, When I, a stripling, once spoke to him,--gaveJust the same answer as that I've preferr'd;"Vain 'tis to wait till the dolt grows less silly!
Play then the fool with the fool, willy-nilly,--Children of wisdom,--remember the word!"
And on the Indian breeze as it booms, And in the depths of Egyptian tombs,Only the same holy saying I've heard:
"Vain 'tis to wait till the dolt grows less silly!
Play then the fool with the fool, willy-nilly,--Children of wisdom,--remember the word!"
1789.
ANOTHER.
Go! obedient to my call,Turn to profit thy young days,Wiser make betimes thy breastIn Fate's balance as it sways,Seldom is the cock at rest;Thou must either mount, or fall,Thou must either rule and win,Or submissively give in, Triumph, or else yield to clamour:
Be the anvil or the hammer.
1789.
VANITAS! VANITATUM VANITAS!
MY trust in nothing now is placed,Hurrah!
So in the world true joy I taste,Hurrah!
Then he who would be a comrade of mine Must rattle his glass, and in chorus combine, Over these dregs of wine.
I placed my trust in gold and wealth,Hurrah!
But then I lost all joy and health,Lack-a-day!
Both here and there the money roll'd, And when I had it here, behold, From there had fled the gold!
I placed my trust in women next,Hurrah!
But there in truth was sorely vex'd,Lack-a-day!
The False another portion sought, The True with tediousness were fraught, The Best could not be bought.
My trust in travels then I placed,Hurrah!
And left my native land in haste.
Lack-a-day!
But not a single thing seem'd good, The beds were bad, and strange the food, And I not understood.
I placed my trust in rank and fame,Hurrah!
