Hermann And Dorothea - Ii. Terpsichore Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCDDEFG CDDDBHIADJGCGAABDDBD KKLKLMGDCBLN NKFCF KLOPL LCJQ CRDSLDBBGGETUL S TDKDV KBLWKXKDYZFBDB CDLCPBL CD CFKKKPIKCDLGA2PLKDCB 2C2| HERMANN | A |
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| THEN when into the room the well built son made his entry | B |
| Straightway with piercing glances the minister eyed him intently | B |
| And with carefulness watch'd his looks and the whole of his bearing | C |
| With an inquiring eye which easily faces decyphers | D |
| Then he smiled and with cordial words address'd him as follows | D |
| 'How you are changed in appearance my friend I never have seen you | E |
| Half so lively before your looks are thoroughly cheerful | F |
| You have return'd quite joyous and merry You've doubtless divided | G |
| All of the presents amongst the poor their blessings receiving ' | - |
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| Then in calm accents replied the son with gravity speaking | C |
| 'Whether I've laudably acted I know not I follow'd the impulse | D |
| Of my own heart as now I'll proceed to describe with exactness | D |
| Mother you rummaged so long in looking over old pieces | D |
| And in making your choice that 'twas late when the bundle was ready | B |
| And the wine and the beer were slowly and carefully pack'd up | H |
| When I at length emerged at the gate and came on the highway | I |
| Streams of citizens met I returning with women and children | A |
| For the train of the exiles had long disappear'd in the distance | D |
| So I quicken'd my pace and hastily drove to the village | J |
| Where I had heard that to night to rest and to sleep they intended | G |
| Well as I went on my way the newly made causeway ascending | C |
| Suddenly saw I a waggon of excellent timber constructed | G |
| Drawn by a couple of oxen the best and the strongest of foreign | A |
| Close beside it there walk'd with sturdy footsteps a maiden | A |
| Guiding the two strong beasts with a long kind of staff which with skill she | B |
| Knew how to use now driving and now restraining their progress | D |
| When the maiden observed me she quietly came near the horses | D |
| And address'd me as follows 'Our usual condition believe me | B |
| Is not so sad as perchance you might judge from our present appearance | D |
| I am not yet accustom'd to ask for alms from a stranger | K |
| Who so often but gives to rid himself of a beggar | K |
| But I'm compell'd to speak by necessity Here on the straw now | L |
| Lies the lately confined poor wife of a wealthy landowner | K |
| Whom with much trouble I managed to save with oxen and waggon | L |
| We were late in arriving and scarcely with life she escaped | M |
| Now the newly born child in her arms is lying all naked | G |
| And our friends will be able to give them but little assistance | D |
| E'en if in the next village to which to night we are going | C |
| We should still find them although I fear they have left it already | B |
| If you belong to the neighbourhood any available linen | L |
| These poor people will deem a most acceptable present | N |
| - | |
| 'Thus she spake and wearily raised herself the pale patient | N |
| Up from the straw and gazed upon me while thus I made answer | K |
| 'Oft doth a heavenly spirit whisper to kind hearted people | F |
| So that they feel the distress o'er their poorer brethren impending | C |
| For my mother your troubles foreboding gave me a bundle | F |
| Ready prepared for relieving the wants of those who were naked ' | - |
| Then I loosen'd the knots of the cord and the dressing gown gave her | K |
| Which belong'd to my father and gave her some shirts and some linen | L |
| And she thank'd me with joy and said 'The fortunate know not | O |
| How 'tis that miracles happen we only discover in sorrow | P |
| God's protecting finger and hand extended to beckon | L |
| Good men to good May your kindness to us by Him be requited ' | - |
| And I saw the poor patient joyfully handling the linen | L |
| Valuing most of all the soft flannel the dressing gown lining | C |
| Then the maid thus address'd her 'Now let us haste to the village | J |
| Where our friends are resting to night intending to sleep there | Q |
| There I will straightway attend to what e'er for the infant is needed ' | - |
| Then she saluted me too her thanks most heartily giving | C |
| Drove the oxen the waggon went on I lingerd behind them | R |
| Holding my horses rein'd back divided between two opinions | D |
| Whether to hasten ahead reach the village the viands distribute | S |
| 'Mongst the rest of the people or give them forthwith to the maiden | L |
| So that she might herself divide them amongst them with prudence | D |
| Soon I made up my mind and follow'd after her softly | B |
| Overtook her without delay and said to her quickly | B |
| 'Maiden it was not linen alone that my mother provided | G |
| And in the carriage placed as clothing to give to the naked | G |
| But she added meat and many an excellent drink too | E |
| And I have got quite a stock stow'd away in the boot of the carriage | T |
| Well I have taken a fancy the rest of the gifts to deposit | U |
| In your hands and thus fulfil to the best my commission | L |
| You will divide them with prudence whilst I my fate am obeying ' | - |
| Then the maiden replied 'With faithfulness I will distribute | S |
| All your gifts and the needy shall surely rejoice at your bounty ' | - |
| Thus she spake and I hastily open'd the boot of the carriage | T |
| Took out the hams full heavy they were and took out the bread stuffs | D |
| Flasks of wine and beer and handed the whole of them over | K |
| Gladly would I have given her more but empty the boot was | D |
| Straightway she pack'd them away at the feet of the patient and forthwith | V |
| Started again whilst I hasten'd back to the town with my horses ' | - |
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| Then when Hermann had ended his story the garrulous neighbour | K |
| Open'd his mouth and exclaim'd 'I only deem the man happy | B |
| Who lives alone in his house in these days of flight and confusion | L |
| Who has neither wife nor children cringing beside him | W |
| I feel happy at present I hate the title of father | K |
| Care of children and wife in these days would be a sad drawback | X |
| Often have I bethought me of flight and have gather'd together | K |
| All that I deem most precious the antique gold and the jewels | D |
| Worn by my late dear mother not one of which has been sold yet | Y |
| Much indeed is left out that is not so easily carried | Z |
| Even the herbs and the roots collected with plenty of trouble | F |
| I should he sorry to lose though little in value they may be | B |
| If the dispenser remains I shall leave my house in good spirits | D |
| If my ready money is saved and my body why truly | B |
| All is saved for a bachelor easily flies when 'tis needed ' | - |
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| 'Neighbour ' rejoin'd forthwith young Hermann with emphasis speaking | C |
| 'Altogether I differ and greatly blame your opinions | D |
| Can that man be deem'd worthy who both in good and ill fortune | L |
| Thinks alone of himself and knows not the secret of sharing | C |
| Sorrows and joys with others and feels no longing to do so | P |
| I could more easily now than before determine to marry | B |
| Many an excellent maiden needs a husband's protection | L |
| Many a man a cheerful wife when sorrow's before him ' | - |
| Smilingly said then the father 'I'm pleas'd to hear what you're saying | C |
| Words of such wisdom have seldom been utter'd by you in my presence | D |
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| Then his good mother broke in in her turn with vivacity speaking | C |
| 'Son you are certainly right We parents set the example | F |
| 'Twas not in time of pleasure that we made choice of each other | K |
| And 'twas the saddest of hours that knitted us closely together | K |
| Monday morning how well I remember the very day after | K |
| That most terrible fire occurr'd which burnt down the borough | P |
| Twenty years ago now the day like to day was a Sunday | I |
| Hot and dry was the weather and little available water | K |
| All the inhabitants clothed in their festival garments were walking | C |
| Scatter'd about in the inns and the mills of the neighbouring hamlets | D |
| At one end of the town the fire broke out and the flames ran | L |
| Hastily all through the streets impell'd by the draught they created | G |
| And the barns were consumed where all the rich harvest was gather'd | A2 |
| And all the streets as far as the market the dwelling house also | P |
| Of my father hard by was destroy'd as likewise was this one | L |
| Little indeed could we save I sat the sorrowful night through | K |
| On the green of the town protecting the beds and the boxes | D |
| Finally sleep overtook me and when by the cool breeze of morning | C |
| Which dies away when the sun arises I was awaken'd | B2 |
| Saw I the smoke | C2 |
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
(1)
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