Preface to the Second Edition
I have taken advantage of the publication of a Second Edition of my translation of the Poems of Goethe (originally published in 1853), to add to the Collection a version of the much admired classical Poem of Hermann and Dorothea, which was previously omitted by me in consequence of its length. Its universal popularity, however, and the fact that it exhibits the versatility of Goethe’s talents to a greater extent than, perhaps, any other of his poetical works, seem to call for its admission into the present volume.
On the other hand I have not thought it necessary to include the sketch of Goethe’s Life that accompanied the First Edition. At the time of its publication, comparatively little was known in this country of the incidents of his career, and my sketch was avowedly written as a temporary stop-gap, as it were, pending the production of some work really deserving the tittle of a life of Goethe. Not to mention other contributions to the literature of the subject, Mr. Lewis’s important volumes give the English reader all the information he is likely to require respecting Goethe’s career, and my short memoir appeared to be no longer required.
I need scarcely add that I have availed myself of this opportunity to make whatever improvements have suggested themselves to me in my original version of these Poems.
E. A. B.
London, 1874.
Proverbs Tame Xenia
RELIGION AND CHURCH.
Thoughts on Jesus Christ’s descent into Hell
ANTIQUES.
Leopold, Duke of Brunswick
To the Husbandman
Anacreon’s Grave
The Brethren
Measure of Time
Warning
Solitude
The Chosen Cliff
The Consecrated Spot
The Instructors
The Unequal Marriage.
Excuse
Sakontala
The Muse’s Mirror
Phoebus and Hermes
The New Amor
The Garlands
The Swiss Alps
Distichs
Venetian Epigrams
ELEGIES.
Roman Elegies
Alexis and Dora
Hermann and Dorothea
West-Eastern Divan
I. Minstrel’s Book:—
Talismans
The Four Favours
Discord
Song and Structure
II. Book of Hafis:—
The Unlimited
To Hafis
III. Book of Love:—
The Types
One Pair More
Love’s Torments
IV. Book of Contemplation:—
Five Things
For Woman
Firdusi
Suleika
V. Book of Gloom:—
It is a Fault
VI. Book of Proverbs
VII. Book of Timur:—
The Winter and Timur
To Suleika
VIII. Book of Suleika:—
Suleika’s Love
Hatem
Suleika
Love for Love
Hatem
The Loving One speaks
The Loving One again
These tufted Branches fair
Suleika
The Sublime Type
Suleika
The Reunion
Suleika
In thousand forms
IX. The Convivial Book:—
Can the Koran from Eternity be?
Ye’ve often for our Drunkenness
X. Book of Parables:—
From Heaven there fell upon the foaming wave
Bulbul’s Song
In the Koran with strange delight.
All kinds of Men.
It is good
XI. Book of the Parsees:—
The Bequest of the ancient Persian faith
XII. Book of Paradise:
The Privileged Men
The favoured Beasts
The Seven Sleepers
SONGS FROM VARIOUS PLAYS, ETC.
From Faust:—
Dedication
Prologue in Heaven
Chorus of Angels
Chorus of Spirits
Margaret at her Spinning Wheel
Garden Scene
Margaret’s Song
From Faust─Part II.:—
Ariel’s Song and Chorus of Spirits
Scene the Last From Iphigenia in Tauris
Song of the Fates
From Gotz von Berlichingen:—
Liebetraut’s Song
From Egmont:—
Clara and Brackenburg’s Song
Clara’s Song
From Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship:—
Who never eat with tears his bread
Who gives himself to Solitude
My Grief no Mortals know
Sing no more in mournful tones
Epilogue to Schiller’s Song of the Bell