Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
At Midnight Hour
At midnight hour I went, not willingly,
A little, little boy, yon churchyard past,
To Father Vicar’s house; the stars on high
On all around their beauteous radiance cast,
At midnight hour.
And when, in journeying o’er the path of life,
My love I follow’d, as she onward moved,
With stars and northern lights o’er head in strife,
Going and coming, perfect bliss I proved
At midnight hour.
Until at length the full moon, lustre-fraught,
Burst thro’ the gloom wherein she was enshrined;
And then the willing, active, rapid thought
New Love, New Life
Heart! my heart! what means this feeling?
What oppresseth thee so sore?
What strange life is o’er me stealing!
I acknowledge thee no more.
Fled is all that gave thee gladness,
Fled the cause of all thy sadness,
Fled thy peace, thine industry–
Ah, why suffer it to be?
Say, do beauty’s graces youthful,
Does this form so fair and bright,
Does this gaze, so kind, so truthful,
Chain thee with unceasing might?
Would I tear me from her boldly,
Courage take, and fly her coldly,
Back to her. I’m forthwith led
By the path I seek to tread.
On the Lake
I drink fresh nourishment, new blood
From out this world more free;
The Nature is so kind and good
That to her breast clasps me!
The billows toss our bark on high,
And with our oars keep time,
While cloudy mountains tow’rd the sky
Before our progress climb.
Say, mine eye, why sink’st thou down?
Golden visions, are ye flown?
Hence, thou dream, tho’ golden-twin’d;
Here, too, love and life I find.
Over the waters are blinking
Many a thousand fair star;
Gentle mists are drinking
Round the horizon afar.
Round the shady creek lightly
Morning zephyrs awake,
