Translations. - A Parable.(from Novalis.) (from The Disciples At Sais) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCDCDEE F G H I J| Long ago there lived far to the west a very young man good but extremely odd He tormented himself continually about this nothing and that nothing always walked in silence and straight before him sat down alone when the others were at their sports and merry makings and brooded over strange things Caves and woods were his dearest haunts and there he talked on and on with beasts and birds with trees and rocks of course not one rational word but mere idiotic stuff to make one laugh to death He continued however always moody and serious in spite of the utmost pains that the squirrel the monkey the parrot and the bullfinch could take to divert him and set him in the right way The goose told stories the brook jingled a ballad between a great thick stone cut ridiculous capers the rose stole lovingly about him from behind and crept through his locks while the ivy stroked his troubled brow But his melancholy and gravity were stubborn His parents were much troubled and did not know what to do He was in good health and ate well enough they had never caused him any offence and until a few years ago he had been the liveliest and merriest of them all foremost in all their games and a favourite with all the maidens He was very handsome looked like a picture and danced like an angel Amongst the maidens was one a charming and beautiful creature who looked like wax had hair like golden silk and cherry red lips was a doll for size and had coal black yes raven black eyes Whoever saw her was ready to swoon she was so lovely Now Rosebud for that was her name was heartily fond of the handsome Hyacinth for that was his name and he loved her fit to die The other children knew nothing of it A violet told them of it first The little house cats had been quite aware of it for the houses of their parents lay near each other So when Hyacinth stood at night by his window and Rosebud at hers and the cats ran past mouse hunting they saw the two standing there and often laughed and tittered so loud that they heard it and were offended The violet told it in confidence to the strawberry and she told it to her friend the raspberry who never ceased rasping when Hyacinth came along so that by and by the whole garden and wood were in the secret and when Hyacinth went out he heard on all sides the cry Little Rosy is my posy This vexed him but the next moment he could not help laughing from the bottom of his heart when the little lizard came slipping along sat down on a warm stone waggled his tail and sang | A |
| - | |
| Little Rosebud good and wise | B |
| All at once has lost her eyes | B |
| Taking Hyacinth for her mother | C |
| Round his neck her arms she flings | D |
| Then perceiving 'tis another | C |
| Starts with terror no but clings | D |
| Think of that fast as before | E |
| Only kissing all the more | E |
| - | |
| Alas how soon was the grand time over There came a man out of strange lands who had travelled wondrous far and wide had a long beard deep eyes frightful eyebrows and a strange garment with many folds and inwoven with curious figures He seated himself before the house of Hyacinth's parents Hyacinth at once became very inquisitive and sat down beside him and brought him bread and wine Then parted he his white beard and told stories deep into the night and Hyacinth never stirred or tired of listening This much they learned afterward that he talked a great deal about strange lands unknown countries and amazingly wonderful things stopped there three days and crept with Hyacinth down into deep shafts Little Rosebud execrated the old sorcerer pretty thoroughly for Hyacinth was altogether absorbed in his conversation and paid no heed to anything else hardly even to the swallowing of a mouthful of food At length the man took his departure but left with Hyacinth a little book which no man could read Hyacinth gave him fruit and bread and wine to take with him and accompanied him a long way Then he came back sunk in thought and thereafter took up a quite new mode of life Rosebud was in a very sad way about him for from that time forward he made little of her and kept himself always to himself But it came to pass that one day he came home and was like one born again He fell on his parents' neck and wept I must away to a foreign land he said the strange old woman in the wood has told me what I must do to get well she has thrown the book into the fire and has made me come to you to ask your blessing Perhaps I shall be back soon perhaps never more Say good bye to Rosebud for me I should have been glad to have a talk with her I do not know what has come to me I must go When I would think to recall old times immediately come thoughts more potent in between my rest is gone and my heart and love with it and I must go find them I would gladly tell you whither but do not myself know it is where dwells the mother of things the virgin with the veil for her my spirit is on fire Farewell He tore himself from them and went out His parents lamented and shed tears Rosebud kept her chamber and wept bitterly | F |
| - | |
| Hyacinth now ran as fast as he could through valleys and wildernesses over mountains and streams toward the land of mystery Everywhere he inquired of men and beasts of rocks and trees after the sacred goddess Isis Many laughed many held their peace nowhere did he get an answer At first he passed through a rugged wild country mists and clouds threw themselves in his way but he rushed on impetuously Then he came to boundless deserts of sand mere glowing dust and as he went his mood changed also the time became tedious to him and his inward unrest abated he grew gentler and the stormy impulse in him passed by degrees into a mild yet powerful attraction wherein his whole spirit was dissolved It seemed as if many years lay behind him | G |
| - | |
| And now the country became again richer and more varied the air soft and blue the way smoother Green bushes enticed him with their pleasant shadows but he did not understand their speech they seemed indeed not to speak and yet they filled his heart with their green hues and their cool still presence Ever higher in him waxed that same sweet longing and ever broader and juicier grew the leaves ever louder and more jocund the birds and beasts balmier the fruits darker the heavenly blue warmer the air and more ardent his love The time went ever faster as if it knew itself near the goal | H |
| - | |
| One day he met a crystal rivulet and a multitude of flowers coming down into a valley between dark columnar cliffs They greeted him friendlily with familiar words Dear country folk said he where shall I find the sacred dwelling of Isis Hereabouts it must be and here I guess you are more at home than I We also are but passing through replied the flowers a spirit family is on its travels and we are preparing for them their road and quarters A little way back however we passed through a country where we heard her name mentioned Only go up where we came down and thou wilt soon learn more The flowers and the brook smiled as they said it offered him a cool draught and went on their way Hyacinth followed their counsel kept asking and came at last to that dwelling he had sought so long which lay hid among palms and other rare plants His heart beat with an infinite longing and the sweetest apprehension thrilled him in this abode of the eternal seasons Amid heavenly odours he fell asleep for Dream alone could lead him into the holy of holies In marvellous mode Dream conducted him through endless rooms full of strange things by means of witching sounds and changeful harmonies All seemed to him so familiar and yet strange with an unknown splendour then vanished the last film of the perishable as if melted into air and he stood before the celestial virgin Then he lifted the thin glistening veil and Rosebud sank into his arms A far off music surrounded the mysteries of love's reunion and the outpouring of their longings and shut out from the scene of their rapture everything alien to it | I |
| - | |
| Hyacinth lived a long time after with Rosebud and his happy parents and old playmates and numberless grandchildren thanked the wonderful old wise woman for her counsel and her uprousing for in those days people had as many children as they pleased | J |
George Macdonald
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Translations. - A Parable.(from Novalis.) (from The Disciples At Sais) poem by George Macdonald
Best Poems of George Macdonald