Hermann And Dorothea - Iv. Euterpe Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDEFAAGBHCIJKLADABA BDMJNOPNHQBNRSCTUVCB WXHBYMZNCJCA2CNJPNEN NJBBB JBNCJ BB2C2ACD2CNBCE2FNE2C BD2BJE2BNNOSJHNBEF2F NCRG2EJC BH2D2BRF2BCBBNRAC RNCI2| MOTHER AND SON | A |
| - | |
| 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 ' | - |
| - | |
| 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 ' | - |
| - | |
| Then with significance answer'd his good and sensible mother | B |
| Shedding tears in silence which easily rose in her eyelids | H2 |
| '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 ' | - |
| - | |
| 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 | I2 |
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
(1)
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