Explanation Of An Ancient Woodcut Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDEE FFGGHI FFJJKKLL MMNNOO PPQQRQ SSRR QQTTGGGGRRUUVVGGWWQQ GGTTFFQQXXQQYY TTQQFVVVGGGGFFGGVVQQ FFZZQQFFFFVVFFVVSSQQ VVQQTT QQQQQQQQRRFF A2A2TTWWB2B2FFRRC2C2 SSRRFFQQQQQQFF FFRRQQTTQQD2D2GGQQQQ QQZZE2F

EARLY within his workshop hereA
On Sundays stands our master dearB
His dirty apron he puts awayC
And wears a cleanly doublet to dayC
Lets wax'd thread hammer and pincers restD
And lays his awl within his chestD
The seventh day he takes reposeE
From many pulls and many blowsE
-
Soon as the spring sun meets his viewF
Repose begets him labour anewF
He feels that he holds within his brainG
A little world that broods there amainG
And that begins to act and to liveH
Which he to others would gladly giveI
-
He had a skillful eye and trueF
And was full kind and loving tooF
For contemplation clear and pureJ
For making all his own again sureJ
He had a tongue that charm'd when 'twas heardK
And graceful and light flow'd ev'ry wordK
Which made the Muses in him rejoiceL
The Master singer of their choiceL
-
And now a maiden enter'd thereM
With swelling breast and body fairM
With footing firm she took her placeN
And moved with stately noble graceN
She did not walk in wanton moodO
Nor look around with glances lewdO
-
She held a measure in her handP
Her girdle was a golden bandP
A wreath of corn was on her headQ
Her eye the day's bright lustre shedQ
Her name is honest IndustryR
Else Justice MagnanimityQ
-
She enter'd with a kindly greetingS
He felt no wonder at the meetingS
For kind and fair as she might beR
He long had known her fancied heR
-
-
I have selected thee she saidQ
From all who earth's wild mazes treadQ
That thou shouldst have clear sighted senseT
And nought that's wrong shouldst e'er commenceT
When others run in strange confusionG
Thy gaze shall see through each illusionG
When others dolefully complainG
Thy cause with jesting thou shalt gainG
Honour and right shalt value dulyR
In everything act simply trulyR
Virtue and godliness proclaimU
And call all evil by its nameU
Nought soften down attempt no quibbleV
Nought polish up nought vainly scribbleV
The world shall stand before thee thenG
As seen by Albert Durer's kenG
In manliness and changeless lifeW
In inward strength with firmness rifeW
Fair Nature's Genius by the handQ
Shall lead thee on through every landQ
Teach thee each different life to scanG
Show thee the wondrous ways of manG
His shifts confusions thrustings and drubbingsT
Pushings tearings pressings and rubbingsT
The varying madness of the crewF
The anthill's ravings bring to viewF
But thou shalt see all this express'dQ
As though 'twere in a magic chestQ
Write these things down for folks on earthX
In hopes they may to wit give birthX
Then she a window open'd wideQ
And show'd a motley crowd outsideQ
All kinds of beings 'neath the skyY
As in his writings one may spyY
-
Our master dear was after thisT
On Nature thinking full of blissT
When tow'rd him from the other sideQ
He saw an aged woman glideQ
The name she bears HistoriaF
Mythologia FabulaV
With footstep tottering and unstableV
She dragg'd a large and wooden carved tableV
Where with wide sleeves and human mienG
The Lord was catechizing seenG
Adam Eve Eden the Serpent's seductionG
Gomorrah and Sodom's awful destructionG
The twelve illustrious women tooF
That mirror of honour brought to viewF
All kinds of bloodthirstiness murder and sinG
The twelve wicked tyrants also were inG
And all kinds of goodly doctrine and lawV
Saint Peter with his scourge you sawV
With the world's ways dissatisfiedQ
And by our Lord with power suppliedQ
Her train and dress behind and beforeF
And e'en the seams were painted o'erF
With tales of worldly virtue and crimeZ
Our master view'd all this for a timeZ
The sight right gladly he survey'dQ
So useful for him in his tradeQ
Whence he was able to procureF
Example good and precept sureF
Recounting all with truthful careF
As though he had been present thereF
His spirit seem'd from earth to flyV
He ne'er had turned away his eyeV
Did he not just behind him hearF
A rattle of bells approaching nearF
And now a fool doth catch his eyeV
With goat and ape's leap drawing nighV
A merry interlude preparingS
With fooleries and jests unsparingS
Behind him in a line drawn outQ
He dragg'd all fools the lean and stoutQ
The great and little the empty and fullV
All too witty and all too dullV
A lash he flourish'd overheadQ
As though a dance of apes he ledQ
Abusing them with bitternessT
As though his wrath would ne'er grow lessT
-
While on this sight our master gazedQ
His head was growing well nigh crazedQ
What words for all could he e'er findQ
Could such a medley be combinedQ
Could he continue with delightQ
For evermore to sing and writeQ
When lo from out a cloud's dark bedQ
In at the upper window spedQ
The Muse in all her majestyR
As fair as our loved maids we seeR
With clearness she around him threwF
Her truth that ever stronger grewF
-
I to ordain thee come she spakeA2
So prosper and my blessing takeA2
The holy fire that slumb'ring liesT
Within thee in bright flames shall riseT
Yet that thine ever restless lifeW
May still with kindly strength be rifeW
I for thine inward spirit's calmB2
Have granted nourishment and balmB2
That rapture may thy soul imbueF
Like some fair blossom bathed in dewF
Behind his house then secretlyR
Outside the doorway pointed sheR
Where in a shady garden nookC2
A beauteous maid with downcast lookC2
Was sitting where a stream was flowingS
With elder bushes near it growingS
She sat beneath an apple treeR
And nought around her seem'd to seeR
Her lap was full of roses fairF
Which in a wreath she twined with careF
And with them leaves and blossoms blendedQ
For whom was that sweet wreath intendedQ
Thus sat she modest and retiredQ
Her bosom throbb'd with hope inspiredQ
Such deep forebodings fill'd her mindQ
No room for wishing could she findQ
And with the thoughts that o'er it flewF
Perchance a sigh was mingled tooF
-
But why should sorrow cloud thy browF
That dearest love which fills thee nowF
Is fraught with joy and ecstasyR
Prepared in one alone for theeR
That he within thine eye may findQ
Solace when fortune proves unkindQ
And be newborn through many a kissT
That he receives with inward blissT
When'er he clasps thee to his breastQ
May he from all his toils find restQ
When he in thy dear arms shall sinkD2
May he new life and vigour drinkD2
Fresh joys of youth shalt thou obtainG
In merry jest rejoice againG
With raillery and roguish spiteQ
Thou now shalt tease him now delightQ
Thus Love will nevermore grow oldQ
Thus will the minstrel ne'er be coldQ
-
While he thus lives in secret bless'dQ
Above him in the clouds doth restQ
An oak wreath verdant and sublimeZ
Placed on his brow in after timeZ
While they are banish'd to the sloughE2
Who their great master disavowF

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe



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