Hermann And Dorothea. In Nine Cantos. - Iv. Euterpe Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDEFAAGBHCIJKLADABA BDMJNOPNHQBNRSCTUVCB WXHBYMZNCJCA2CNJPNEN NJBBB JBNCJJ BB2C2ACD2CNBCE2FNE2C BD2BJE2BNNOSJHNBEF2F NCRG2EJCH2 BI2D2BRF2BCBBNRACA RNCJNRRNRCRBRJNCJ2RJ J2 BNCRNRRF2J CCJBNRJRBJRRRNCNNCBJ NRRRRJBBJBRRSRRNBRNN NNBBK2NRJJNJJJEJJ NBBRNEJRNF2NBCJJJN RBBNSOCRJL2BRBNJRNBR RYBJNE| MOTHER AND SON | A |
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| Thus the men discoursed together and meanwhile the mother | B |
| Went in search of her son at first in front of the dwelling | C |
| On the bench of stone for he was accustom'd to sit there | D |
| When she found him not there she went to look in the stable | E |
| Thinking perchance he was feeding his splendid horses the stallions | F |
| Which he had bought when foals and which he entrusted to no one | A |
| But the servant inform'd her that he had gone to the garden | A |
| Then she nimbly strode across the long double courtyard | G |
| Left the stables behind and the barns all made of good timber | B |
| Enter'd the garden which stretch'd far away to the walls of the borough | H |
| Walk'd across it rejoicing to see how all things were growing | C |
| Carefully straighten'd the props on which the apple tree's branches | I |
| Heavily loaded reposed and the weighty boughs of the pear tree | J |
| Took a few caterpillars from off the strong sprouting cabbage | K |
| For a bustling woman is never idle one moment | L |
| In this manner she came to the end of the long reaching garden | A |
| Where was the arbour all cover'd with woodbine she found not her son there | D |
| Nor was he to be seen in any part of the garden | A |
| But she found on the latch the door which out of the arbour | B |
| Through the wall of the town had been made by special permission | A |
| During their ancestor's time the worthy old burgomaster | B |
| So she easily stepp'd across the dry ditch at the spot where | D |
| On the highway abutted their well inclosed excellent vineyard | M |
| Rising steeply upwards its face tow'rd the sun turn'd directly | J |
| Up the hill she proceeded rejoicing as farther she mounted | N |
| At the size of the grapes which scarcely were hid by the foliage | O |
| Shady and well cover'd in the middle walk at the top was | P |
| Which was ascended by steps of rough flat pieces constructed | N |
| And within it were hanging fine chasselas and muscatels also | H |
| And a reddish blue grape of quite an exceptional bigness | Q |
| All with carefulness planted to give to their guests after dinner | B |
| But with separate stems the rest of the vineyard was planted | N |
| Smaller grapes producing from which the finest wine made is | R |
| So she constantly mounted enjoying in prospect the autumn | S |
| And the festal day when the neighbourhood met with rejoicing | C |
| Picking and treading the grapes and putting the must in the wine vats | T |
| Every corner and nook resounding at night with the fireworks | U |
| Blazing and cracking away due honour to pay to the harvest | V |
| But she uneasy became when she in vain had been calling | C |
| Twice and three times her son and when the sole answer that reach'd her | B |
| Came from the garrulous echo which out of the town towers issued | W |
| Strange it appear'd to have to seek him he never went far off | X |
| As he before had told her in order to ward off all sorrow | H |
| From his dear mother and her forebodings of coming disaster | B |
| But she still was expecting upon the highway to find him | Y |
| For the doors at the bottom like those at the top of the vineyard | M |
| Stood wide open and so at length she enter'd the broad field | Z |
| Which with its spreading expanse o'er the whole of the hill's back extended | N |
| On their own property still she proceeded greatly rejoicing | C |
| At their own crops and at the corn which nodded so bravely | J |
| Over the whole field in golden majesty waving | C |
| Then on the border between the fields she follow'd the footpath | A2 |
| Keeping her eye on the pear tree fix'd the big one which standing | C |
| Perch'd by itself on the top of the hill their property bounded | N |
| Who had planted it no one knew throughout the whole country | J |
| Far and wide was it visible noted also its fruit was | P |
| Under its shadow the reaper ate his dinner at noonday | N |
| And the herdsman was wont to lie when tending his cattle | E |
| Benches made of rough stones and of turf were placed all about it | N |
| And she was not mistaken there sat her Hermann and rested | N |
| On his arm he was leaning and seem'd to be looking cross country | J |
| Tow'rds the mountains beyond his back was turn'd to his mother | B |
| Softly creeping up she lightly tapp'd on his shoulder | B |
| And he hastily turn'd she saw that his eyes full of tears were | B |
| - | |
| Mother he said in confusion You greatly surprise me and quickly | J |
| Wiped he away his tears the noble and sensitive youngster | B |
| What You are weeping my son the startled mother continued | N |
| That is indeed unlike you I never before saw you crying | C |
| Say what has sadden'd your heart What drives you to sit here all lonely | J |
| Under the shade of the pear tree What is it that makes you unhappy | J |
| - | |
| Then the excellent youth collected himself and made answer | B |
| Truly that man can have no heart but a bosom of iron | B2 |
| Who no sympathy feels for the wants of unfortunate exiles | C2 |
| He has no sense in his head who in times of such deep tribulation | A |
| Has no concern for himself or for his country's well being | C |
| What I to day have seen and heard has stirr'd up my feelings | D2 |
| Well I have come up here and seen the beautiful spreading | C |
| Landscape which in fruitful hills to our sight is presented | N |
| Seen the golden fruit of the sheaves all nodding together | B |
| And a plentiful crop of fruit full garners foreboding | C |
| But alas how near is the foe By the Rhine's flowing waters | E2 |
| We are protected indeed but what are rivers and mountains | F |
| To such a terrible nation which hurries along like a tempest | N |
| For they summon together the young and the old from all quarters | E2 |
| Rushing wildly along while the multitude little is caring | C |
| Even for death when one falls his place is straight fill'd by another | B |
| Ah and can Germans dare to remain at home in their dwellings | D2 |
| Thinking perchance to escape from the widely threat'ning disaster | B |
| Dearest mother I tell you that I to day am quite sorry | J |
| That I was lately excused when they selected the fighters | E2 |
| Out of the townfolk 'Tis true I'm an only son and more over | B |
| Large is our inn and our business also is very important | N |
| Were it not better however for me to fight in the vanguard | N |
| On the frontier than here to await disaster and bondage | O |
| Yes my spirit has told me and in my innermost bosom | S |
| Feel I courage and longing to live and die for my country | J |
| And to others to set an example worthy to follow | H |
| Oh of a truth if the strength of the German youths was collected | N |
| On the frontier all bound by a vow not to yield to the stranger | B |
| He on our noble soil should never set foot or be able | E |
| Under our eyes to consume the fruits of the land or to issue | F2 |
| Orders unto our men or despoil our women and maidens | F |
| See good mother within my inmost heart I've determined | N |
| Soon and straightway to do what seems to me right and becoming | C |
| For the man who thinks long not always chooses what best is | R |
| See I will not return to the house but will go from here straightway | G2 |
| Into the town and there will place at the fighters' disposal | E |
| This stout arm and this heart to serve as I best can my country | J |
| Then let my father say whether feelings of honour are stirring | C |
| In my bosom or not and whether I yearn to mount upwards | H2 |
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| Then with significance answer'd his good and sensible mother | B |
| Shedding tears in silence which easily rose in her eyelids | I2 |
| Son what has wrought so strange a change in your temper and feelings | D2 |
| That you freely and openly speak to your mother no longer | B |
| As you till yesterday did nor tell her truly your wishes | R |
| If another had heard you speaking he doubtless would praise you | F2 |
| Highly and deem your new resolution as worthy of honour | B |
| Being deceived by your words and by your manner of speaking | C |
| I however can only blame you I know you much better | B |
| You are concealing your heart and very diff'rent your thoughts are | B |
| For I am sure you care not at all for drum and for trumpet | N |
| Nor to please the maidens care you to wear regimentals | R |
| For though brave you may be and gallant your proper vocation | A |
| Is to remain at home the property quietly watching | C |
| Therefore tell me truly What means this sudden decision | A |
| - | |
| Earnestly answer'd the son You are wrong dear mother one day is | R |
| Unlike another The youth soon ripens into his manhood | N |
| Ofttimes he ripens better to action in silence than living | C |
| That tumultuous noisy life which ruins so many | J |
| And though silent I have been and am a heart has been fashion'd | N |
| Inside my bosom which hates whatever unfair and unjust is | R |
| And I am able right well to discriminate secular matters | R |
| Work moreover my arms and my feet has mightily strengthen'd | N |
| All that I tell you is true I boldly venture to say so | R |
| And yet mother you blame me with reason you've caught me employing | C |
| Words that are only half true and that serve to conceal my true feelings | R |
| For I must need confess it is not the advent of danger | B |
| Calls me away from my father's house nor a resolute purpose | R |
| Useful to be to my country and dreaded to be by the foeman | J |
| Words alone it was that I utter'd words only intended | N |
| Those deep feelings to hide which within my breast are contending | C |
| And now leave me my mother For as in my bosom I cherish | J2 |
| Wishes that are but vain my life will be to no purpose | R |
| For I know that the Unit who makes a self sacrifice only | J |
| Injures himself unless all endeavour the Whole to accomplish | J2 |
| - | |
| Now continue replied forthwith his sensible mother | B |
| Tell me all that has happen'd the least as w'ell as the greatest | N |
| Men are always hasty and only remember the last thing | C |
| And the hasty are easily forced from the road by obstructions | R |
| But a woman is skillful and full of resources and scorns not | N |
| Bye roads to traverse when needed well skill'd to accomplish her purpose | R |
| Tell me then all and why you are stirr'd by such violent feelings | R |
| More than I ever have seen while the blood is boiling within you | F2 |
| And from your eyes the tears against your will fain would fall now | J |
| - | |
| Then the youth gave way to his sorrow and burst into weeping | C |
| Weeping aloud on the breast of his mother and softly replying | C |
| Truly my father's words to day have wounded me sadly | J |
| Never have I deserved at his hands such treatment no never | B |
| For to honour my parents was always my wish from my childhood | N |
| No one ever appear'd so prudent and wise as my parents | R |
| Who in the darker days of childhood carefully watch'd me | J |
| Much indeed it has been my lot to endure from my playmates | R |
| When with their knavish pranks they used to embitter my temper | B |
| Often I little suspected the tricks they were playing upon me | J |
| But if they happen'd to ridicule Father whenever on Sundays | R |
| Out of church he came with his slow deliberate footsteps | R |
| If they laugh'd at the strings of his cap and his dressing gown's flowers | R |
| Which he in stately wise wore and to day at length has discarded | N |
| Then in a fury I clench'd my fist and storming and raging | C |
| Fell upon them and hit and struck with terrible onslaught | N |
| Heedless where my blows fell With bleeding noses they halloed | N |
| And could scarcely escape from the force of my blows and my kicking | C |
| Then as in years I advanced I had much to endure from my father | B |
| Who in default of others to blame would often abuse me | J |
| When at the Council's last sitting his anger perchance was excited | N |
| And I the penalty paid of the squabbles and strife of his colleagues | R |
| You yourself have oft pitied me I endured it with patience | R |
| Always rememb'ring the much to be honour'd kindness of parents | R |
| Whose only thought is to swell for our sakes their goods and possessions | R |
| And who deprive themselves of much to save for their children | J |
| But alas not saving alone for enjoyment hereafter | B |
| Constitutes happiness no not heaps of gold or of silver | B |
| Neither field upon field however compact the estate be | J |
| For the father grows old and his son at the same time grows older | B |
| Feeling no joy in To day and full of care for To morrow | R |
| Now look down from this height and see how beauteous before us | R |
| Lies the fair rich expanse with vineyard and gardens at bottom | S |
| There are the stables and barns and the rest of the property likewise | R |
| There I also descry the back of our house in the gables | R |
| Of the roof may be seen the window of my small apartment | N |
| When I remember the time when I used to look out for the moon there | B |
| Half through the night or perchance at morning awaited the sunrise | R |
| When with but few hours of healthy sleep I was fully contented | N |
| Ah how lonely do all things appear My chamber the court and | N |
| Garden the beautiful field which spreads itself over the hillside | N |
| All appears but a desert to me I still am unmarried | N |
| Then his good mother answer'd his speech in a sensible manner | B |
| Son your wish to be able to lead your bride to her chamber | B |
| Turning the night to the dearest and happiest half of your lifetime | K2 |
| Making your work by day more truly free and unfetter'd | N |
| Cannot be greater than that of your father and mother We always | R |
| Urged you commanded I even might say to choose some fair maiden | J |
| But I know full well and my heart has told me already | J |
| If the right hour arrives not or if the right maiden appears not | N |
| Instantly when they are sought for man's choice is thrown in confusion | J |
| And he is driven by fear to seize what is counterfeit only | J |
| If I may tell you my son your choice already is taken | J |
| For your heart is smitten and sensitive more than is usual | E |
| Answer me plainly then for my spirit already has told me | J |
| She whom now you have chosen is that poor emigrant maiden | J |
| - | |
| Yes dear mother you're right the son with vivacity answer'd | N |
| Yes it is she And unless this very day I conduct her | B |
| Home as my bride she will go on her way and escape me for ever | B |
| In the confusion of war and in moving backwards and forwards | R |
| Mother then before my eyes will in vain he unfolded | N |
| All our rich estate and each year henceforward be fruitful | E |
| Yes the familiar house and the garden will be my aversion | J |
| Ah and the love of my mother no comfort will give to my sorrow | R |
| For I feel that by Love each former bond must be loosen'd | N |
| When her own bonds she knits 'tis not the maiden alone who | F2 |
| Leaves her father and mother behind when she follows her husband | N |
| So it is with the youth no more he knows mother and father | B |
| When he beholds the maiden the only beloved one approaching | C |
| Therefore let me go hence to where desperation may lead me | J |
| For my father already has spoken in words of decision | J |
| And his house no longer is mine if he shuts out the maiden | J |
| Whom alone I would fain take home as my bride from henceforward | N |
| - | |
| Then the excellent sensible mother answer'd with quickness | R |
| Men are precisely like rocks when they stand opposed to each other | B |
| Proud and unyielding the one will never draw near to the other | B |
| Neither will suffer his tongue to utter the first friendly accent | N |
| Therefore I tell you my son a hope still exists in my bosom | S |
| If she is worthy and good he will give his consent to your marriage | O |
| Poor though she be and although with disdain he refused you the poor thing | C |
| For in his hot beaded fashion he utters many expressions | R |
| Which he never intends and so will accept the Refused One | J |
| But he requires kind words and has a right to require them | L2 |
| For your father he is his anger is all after dinner | B |
| When he more eagerly speaks and questions the reasons of others | R |
| Meaning but little thereby the wine then excites all the vigour | B |
| Of his impetuous will and prevents him from giving due weight to | N |
| Other people's opinions he hears and he feels his own only | J |
| But when evening arrives the tone of the many discourses | R |
| Which his friends and himself hold together is very much alter'd | N |
| Milder becomes he as soon as his liquor's effects have passed over | B |
| And he feels the injustice his eagerness did unto others | R |
| Come we will venture at once Success the reward is of boldness | R |
| And we have need of the friends who now have assembled around him | Y |
| Most of all we shall want the help of our excellent pastor | B |
| Thus she eagerly spoke and leaving the stone that she sat on | J |
| Also lifted her son from his seat He willingly follow'd | N |
| And they descended in silence revolving the weighty proposal | E |
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
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