Читать книгу The Greatest German Classics (Vol. 1-14) - Various - Страница 1207

Who will depend upon allies!

For us their promised subsidies

Like conduit-water, will not flow.

Say, Sire, through your dominions vast

To whom hath now possession passed!

Some upstart, wheresoe'er we go,

Keeps house, and independent reigns.

We must look on, he holds his own;

So many rights away we've thrown,

That for ourselves no right remains.

On so-called parties in the state

There's no reliance, now-a-days;

They may deal out or blame or praise,

Indifferent are love and hate.

The Ghibelline as well as Guelph

Retire, that they may live at ease!

Who helps his neighbor now? Himself

Each hath enough to do to please.

Barred are the golden gates; while each

Scrapes, snatches, gathers all within his reach—

Empty, meanwhile, our chest remains.