38 GOETHE'S SONGS. 



THE TREASURE. 



Far in the forest, 



I up and down 

 Wandered, ne'er hoping 



Sorrows to drown. 



In shadows saw I 

 A small flower there, 



Like a star shining, 

 Or bright eye fair. 



I would have plucked it 



It said to me, 

 " Shall I to wither 



Deserted be ?" 



I raised it gently 



With all its shoots, 

 And in my garden 



Planted its roots. 



Once more it blossoms 



In quiet bowers 

 Once more it branches, 



And gaily flowers ! 



THE SHAM DEATH. 



Weep, maiden, weep ! by Cupid's gravestone here, 

 He sank by nought by a denial slain : 



And is he really dead ? To that I will not swear : 

 Nothing an accident awakes him oft again. 



SONG. 



A dark deep ocean sweepeth on 

 Our earth, and lives within its zone ; 

 Billows upon billows roll, 

 Clouds on waves, from pole to pole 

 Darker seems the Future's scroll : 

 Now the present hour divine 

 Mortal seize 'tis thine, 'tis thine ! 



Lo ! from Bergli's summit proud 

 Soars the eagle through the cloud; 



Every note sinks in the air, 

 As he mounts to heaven's high portal, 

 And man cries He is immortal ! 



Whither fled he ? Tell me where !- 

 Now the present hour divine 

 Mortal seize 'tis thine, 'tis thine ! 

 Like day now shines thy forehead fair. 

 Like the night thy flowing hair, 



Thy lips Aurora's bloom outvie ; 



Day and night and morning sky, 



Though the fairest, onward fly ! 

 Now the present hour divine, 

 Mortal seize 'tis thine, 'tis thine ! 



