Hermann And Dorothea - Ix. Urania Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDEFE FCCGFF C HDIEJF CKLFCMENOPCEEEOQRCON OKJ FSAAOTCQ FCEUFEFCP FDEAOKFV OOHOWCOFFCA UC CCXYCAFFFESFZEGAE FFGCAAGFOFVCGECOCCGG CD| CONCLUSION | A |
| - | |
| O YE Muses who gladly favour a love that is heartfelt | B |
| Who on his way the excellent youth have hitherto guided | C |
| Who have press'd the maid to his bosom before their betrothal | D |
| Help still further to perfect the bonds of a couple so loving | E |
| Drive away the clouds which over their happiness hover | F |
| But begin by saying what now in the house has been passing | E |
| - | |
| For the third time the mother impatiently enter'd the chamber | F |
| Where the men were sitting which she had anxiously quitted | C |
| Speaking of the approaching storm and the loss of the moon's light | C |
| Then of her son's long absence and all the perils that night brings | G |
| Strongly she censured their friends for having so soon left the youngster | F |
| For not even addressing the maiden or seeking to woo her | F |
| - | |
| 'Make not the worst of the mischief ' the father peevishly answer'd | C |
| 'For you see we are waiting ourselves expecting the issue ' | - |
| - | |
| But the neighbour sat still and calmly address'd them as follows | H |
| 'In uneasy moments like these I always feel grateful | D |
| To my late father who when I was young all seeds of impatience | I |
| In my mind uprooted and left no fragment remaining | E |
| And I learnt how to wait as well as the best of the wise men | J |
| 'Tell us what legerdemain he employ'd ' the pastor made answer | F |
| 'I will gladly inform you and each one may gain by the lesson ' | - |
| Answer'd the neighbour 'When I was a boy I was standing one Sunday | C |
| In a state of impatience eagerly waiting the carriage | K |
| Which was to carry us out to the fountain under the lime trees | L |
| But it came not I ran like a weasel now hither now thither | F |
| Up and down the stairs and from the door to the window | C |
| Both my hands were prickling I scratch'd away at the tables | M |
| Stamping and trotting about and scarcely refrain'd I from crying | E |
| All this the calm man composedly saw but finally when I | N |
| Carried my folly too far by the arm he quietly took me | O |
| Led me up to the window and used this significant language | P |
| 'See you up yonder the joiner's workshop now closed for the Sunday | C |
| 'Twill be re open'd to morrow and plane and saw will be working | E |
| Thus will the busy hours be pass'd from morning till evening | E |
| But remember this the rimming will soon be arriving | E |
| When the master together with all his men will be busy | O |
| In preparing and finishing quickly and deftly your coffin | Q |
| And they will carefully bring over here that house made of boards which | R |
| Will at length receive the patient as well as impatient | C |
| And which is destined to carry a roof that's unpleasantly heavy | O |
| All that he mention'd I forthwith saw taking place in my mind's eye | N |
| Saw the boards join'd together and saw the black cover made ready | O |
| Patiently then I sat and meekly awaited the carriage | K |
| And I always think of the coffin whenever I see men | J |
| Running about in a state of doubtful and wild expectation ' | - |
| - | |
| Smilingly answered the pastor 'Death's stirring image is neither | F |
| Unto the wise a cause of alarm or an end to the pious | S |
| Back into life it urges the former and teaches him action | A |
| And for the weal of the latter it strengthens his hope in affliction | A |
| Death is a giver of life unto both Your father did wrongly | O |
| When to the sensitive boy he pointed out death in its own form | T |
| Unto the youth should be shown the worth of a noble and ripen'd | C |
| Age and unto the old man youth that both may rejoice in | Q |
| The eternal circle and life may in life be made perfect ' | - |
| - | |
| Here the door was open'd The handsome couple appear'd there | F |
| And the friends were amazed the loving parents astonish'd | C |
| At the form of the bride the form of the bridegroom resembling | E |
| Yes the door appear'd too small to admit the tall figures | U |
| Which now cross'd the threshold in company walking together | F |
| To his parents Hermann presented her hastily saying | E |
| 'Here is a maiden just of the sort you are wishing to have here | F |
| Welcome her kindly dear father she fully deserves it and you too | C |
| Mother dear ask her questions as to her housekeeping knowledge | P |
| That you may see how well she deserves to form one of our party ' | - |
| Then he hastily took on one side the excellent pastor | F |
| Saying ' Kind sir I entreat you to help me out of this trouble | D |
| Quickly and loosen the knot whose unravelling I am so dreading | E |
| For I have not ventured to woo as my bride the fair maiden | A |
| But she believes she's to be a maid in the house and I fear me | O |
| She will in anger depart as soon as we talk about marriage | K |
| But it must be decided at once no longer in error | F |
| Shall she remain and I no longer this doubt can put up with | V |
| Hasten and once more exhibit that wisdom we all hold in honour ' | - |
| So the pastor forthwith turn'd round to the rest of the party | O |
| But the maiden's soul was unhappily troubled already | O |
| By the talk of the father who just had address'd her as follows | H |
| Speaking good humour'dly and in accents pleasant and lively | O |
| 'Yes I'm well satisfied child I joyfully see that my son has | W |
| Just as good taste as his father who in his younger days show'd it | C |
| Always leading the fairest one out in the dance and then lastly | O |
| Taking the fairest one home as his wife 'twas your dear little mother | F |
| For by the bride whom a man selects we may easily gather | F |
| What kind of spirit his is and whether he knows his own value | C |
| But you will surely need but a short time to form your decision | A |
| For I verily think he will find it full easy to follow ' | - |
| Hermann but partially heard the words the whole of his members | U |
| Inwardly quivered and all the circle were suddenly silent | C |
| - | |
| But the excellent maiden by words of such irony wounded | C |
| As she esteem'd them to be and deeply distress'd in her spirit | C |
| Stood while a passing flush from her cheeks as far as her neck was | X |
| Spreading but she restrain'd herself and collected her thoughts soon | Y |
| Then to the old man she said not fully concealing her sorrow | C |
| 'Truly I was not prepared by your son for such a reception | A |
| When he described his father's nature that excellent burgher | F |
| And I know I am standing before you a person of culture | F |
| Who behaves himself wisely to all in a suitable manner | F |
| But it would seem that you feel not pity enough for the poor thing | E |
| Who has just cross'd your threshold prepared to enter your service | S |
| Else you would not seek to point out with ridicule bitter | F |
| How far removed my lot from your son's and that of yourself is | Z |
| True with a little bundle and poor I have enter'd your dwelling | E |
| Which it is the owner's delight to furnish with all things | G |
| But I know myself well and feel the whole situation | A |
| Is it generous thus to greet me with language so jeering | E |
| Which was well nigh expelled me the house when just on the threshold ' | - |
| - | |
| Hermann uneasily moved about and signed to the pastor | F |
| To interpose without delay and clear up the error | F |
| Quickly the wise man advanced to the spot and witness'd the maiden's | G |
| Silent vexation and tearful eyes and scarce restrain'd sorrow | C |
| Then his spirit advised him to solve not at once the confusion | A |
| But on the contrary prove the excited mind of the maiden | A |
| So in words framed to try her the pastor address'd her as follows | G |
| 'Surely my foreign maiden you did not fully consider | F |
| When you made up your mind to serve a stranger so quickly | O |
| What it really is to enter the house of a master | F |
| For a shake of the hand decides your fate for a twelvemonth | V |
| And a single word Yes to much endurance will bind you | C |
| But the worst part of the service is not the wearisome habits | G |
| Nor the bitter toil of the work which seems never ending | E |
| For the active freeman works hard as well as the servant | C |
| But to suffer the whims of the master who blames you unjustly | O |
| Or who calls for this and for that not knowing his own mind | C |
| And the mistress's violence always so easily kindled | C |
| With the children's rough and supercilious bad manners | G |
| This is indeed hard to bear whilst still fulfilling your duties | G |
| Promptly and actively never becoming morose or ill natured | C |
| Yet for such work you appear little | D |
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Hermann And Dorothea - Ix. Urania poem by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Best Poems of Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe