Читать книгу The Greatest German Classics (Vol. 1-14) - Various - Страница 455

A few steps further, up to yonder stone!

Here rest we from our walk. In times long past,

Absorb'd in thought, here oft I sat alone,

And disciplin'd myself with prayer and fast.

Then rich in hope, with faith sincere,

With sighs, and hands in anguish press'd,

The end of that sore plague, with many a tear,

From heaven's dread Lord, I sought to wrest.

The crowd's applause assumes a scornful tone.

Oh, could'st thou in my inner being read

How little either sire or son

Of such renown deserves the meed!

My sire, of good repute, and sombre mood,

O'er nature's powers and every mystic zone,

With honest zeal, but methods of his own,

With toil fantastic loved to brood;

His time in dark alchemic cell,

With brother-adepts he would spend,

And there antagonists compel

Through numberless receipts to blend.

A ruddy lion there, a suitor bold,

In tepid bath was with the lily wed.

Thence both, while open flames around them roll'd,

Were tortur'd to another bridal bed.

Was then the youthful queen descried

With varied colors in the flask—

This was our medicine; the patients died;

"Who were restored?" none cared to ask.

With our infernal mixture thus, ere long.

These hills and peaceful vales among

We rag'd more fiercely than the pest;

Myself the deadly poison did to thousands give;

They pined away, I yet must live

To hear the reckless murderers blest.