Arms outstretched, alas! in vain, To embrace his longing ones; For the greedy sand devours us; Now, more proudly, On he swells; a countless race, they Onward with incessant roaring, Flaming turrets, marble mansions- Cedar houses bears this Atlas And so bears he all his brothers, Translation of J. S. DWIGHT. JOHANN WOLFGANG V. GOETHE, 1749-1832. THE RIVULET. FROM THE SPANISH. Stay, rivulet, nor haste to leave The lovely vale that lies around thee! When but a fount the morning found thee? Born when the skies began to glow," Now on thy stream the moonbeams look, Its rushing current from the swiftest. Ah! what wild haste-and all to be To that vast grave with quicker motion. Far better 'twere to linger still In this green vale these flowers to cherish, Than thus, a youthful Danube, perish. Translation of W. C. BRYANT. PEDRO DE CASTRO, 17th Century. THE STREAM OF THE ROCK. FROM THE GERMAN. Unperishing youth! Thou leapest from forth The cleft of the rock; No mortal eye saw The mighty one's cradle; No ear ever heard The lofty one's lisp in the murmuring spring How beautiful art thou, In silvery locks! How terrible art thou, When the cliffs are resounding in thunder around! Thee feareth the fir-tree; Thou crushest the fir-tree From its root to its crown. The cliffs flee before thee; The cliffs thou engraspest, And hurlest them, scornful, like pebbles adown. The sun weaves around thee The beams of its splendor; It painteth with hues of the heavenly iris, Why speedest thou downward, Is it not well by the nearer heaven? Not well by the o'erhanging forest of oaks? Toward the green sea! Youth! O now thou art strong, like a god! Free like a god! Beneath thee is smiling the peacefullest stillness, Youth, O what is this silken quiet; Now streamest thou wild As thy heart may prompt! But below oft ruleth the fickle tempest, Oft the stillness of death, in the subject sea! O hasten not so Toward the green sea! Youth, O now thou art strong, like a god, Free, like a god! Translation of W. W. STORY. FR. LEOP. STOLBERG, 1750-1819. |