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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=418649" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>Hermann And Dorothea - VIII. Melpomene</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">HERMANN AND DOROTHEA.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">So tow'rd the sun, now fast sinking to rest, the two walk'd together,<br>Whilst he veil'd himself deep in clouds which thunder portended.<br>Out-of his veil now here, now there, with fiery glances<br>Beaming over the plain with rays foreboding and lurid.<br>'May this threatening weather,' said Hermann, 'not bring to us shortly<br>Hail and violent rain, for well does the harvest now promise.'<br>And they both rejoiced in the corn so lofty and waving,<br>Well nigh reaching the heads of the two tall figures that walk'd there.<br>Then the maiden spoke to her friendly leader as follows<br>'Generous youth, to whom I shall owe a kind destiny shortly,<br>Shelter and home, when so many poor exiles must weather the tempest,<br>In the first place tell me all about your good parents,<br>Whom I intend to serve with all my soul from hence-forward;<br>Knowing one's master, 'tis easier far to give satisfaction,<br>By rememb'ring the things which he deems of the highest importance,<br>And on which he has set his heart with the greatest decision.<br>Tell me, then, how best I can win your father and mother.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then the good and sensible youth made answer as follows<br>'You are indeed quite right, my kind and excellent maiden,<br>To begin by asking about the tastes of my parents!<br>For I have hitherto striven in vain to satisfy Father,<br>When I look'd after the inn, as well as my regular duty,<br>Working early and late in the field, and tending the vineyard.<br>Mother indeed was contented; she knew how to value my efforts;<br>And she will certainly hold you to be an excellent maiden,<br>If you take care of the house, as though the dwelling your own were.<br>But my father's unlike her; he's fond of outward appearance.<br>Gentle maiden, deem me not cold and void of all feeling,<br>If I disclose my father's nature to you, who're a stranger.<br>Yes, such words have never before escaped, I assure von<br>Out of my mouth, which is little accustom'd to babble and chatter;<br>But you have managed to worm all my secrets from out of my bosom.<br>Well, my worthy father the graces of life holds in honour,<br>Wishes for outward signs of love, as well as of rev'rence,<br>And would doubtless be satisfied with an inferior servant<br>Who understood this fancy, and hate a better, who did not.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Cheerfully she replied, with gentle movement increasing<br>Through the darkening path the speed at which she was walking:<br>I in truth shall hope to satisfy both of your parents,<br>For your mother's character my own nature resembles,<br>And to external graces have I from my youth been accustom'd.<br>Our old neighbours, the French, in their earlier days laid much stress on<br>Courteous demeanour; 'twas common alike to nobles and burghers,<br>And to peasants, and each enjoin'd it on all his acquaintance.<br>in the same way, on the side of the Germans, the children were train'd up<br>Every morning, with plenty of kissing of hands and of curtsies,<br>To salute their parents, and always to act with politeness.<br>All that I have learnt, and all I have practised since childhood,<br>All that comes from my heart,--I will practise it all with the old man.<br>But on what terms shall I--I scarcely dare ask such a question,--<br>Be with yourself, the only son, and hereafter my master?'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Thus she spoke, and at that moment they came to the peartree.<br>Down from the skies the moon at her full was shining in glory;<br>Night had arrived, and the last pale gleam of the sunset had vanish'd.<br>So before them were lying, in masses all heap'd up together,<br>Lights as clear as the day, and shadows of night and of darkness.<br>And the friendly question was heard by Hermann with pleasure,<br>Under the shade of the noble tree at the spot which he loved so<br>Which that day had witness'd his tears at the fate of the exile.<br>And whilst they sat themselves down, to take a little repose there,<br>Thus the loving youth spoke, whilst he seized the hand of the maiden<br>'Let your heart give the answer, and always obey what it tells you!'<br>But he ventured to say no more, however propitious<br>Was the moment; he feard that a No would be her sole answer,<br>Ah! and he felt the ring on her finger, that sorrowful token.<br>So by the side of each other they quietly sat and in silence,<br>But the maiden began to speak, and said, 'How delightful<br>Is the light of the moon! The clearness of day it resembles.<br>Yonder I see in the town the houses and courtyards quite plainly,<br>In the gable a window; methinks all the panes I can reckon.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'That which you see,' replied the youth, who spoke with an effort,<br>'That is our house down to which I now am about to conduct you,<br>And that window yonder belongs to my room in the attic,<br>Which will probably soon be yours, as we're making great changes.<br>All these fields are ours, and ripe for the harvest to-morrow;<br>Here in the shade we are wont to rest, enjoying our meal-time.<br>But let us now descend across the vineyard and garden,<br>For observe how the threatening storm is hitherward rolling,<br>Lightening first, and then eclipsing the beautiful full moon.'<br>So the pair arose, and wauder'd down by the corn-field,</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Through the powerful corn, in the nightly clearness rejoicing;<br>And they reach'd the vineyard, and through its dark shadows proceeded.<br>So he guided her down the numerous tiers of the flat stones<br>Which, in an unhewn state, served as steps to the walk through the foliage.<br>Slowly she descended, and placed her hands on his shoulders;<br>And, with a quivering light, the moon through the foliage o'erlook'd them,<br>Till by storm-clouds envelop'd, she left the couple in darkness.<br>Then the strong youth supported the maiden, who on him was leaning;<br>She, however, not knowing the path, or observing the rough steps,<br>Slipp'd as she walk'd, her foot gave way, and she well nigh was falling.<br>Hastily held out his arm the youth with nimbleness thoughtful,<br>And held up his beloved one; she gently sank on his shoulders,<br>Breast was press'd against breast, and cheek against cheek, and so stood he<br>Fix'd like a marble statue, restrained by a firm resolution;<br>He embraced her no closer, thoughall her weight he supported;<br>So he felt his noble burden, the warmth of her bosom,<br>And her balmy breath, against his warm lips exhaling,<br>Bearing with manly feelings the woman's heroical greatness.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But she conceal'd the pain which she felt, and jestingly spoke thus<br>'It betokens misfortune,--so scrupulous people inform us,--<br>For the foot to give way on entering a house, near the threshold.<br>I should have wish'd, in truth, for a sign of some happier omen!<br>Let us tarry a little, for fear your parents should blame you<br>For their limping servant, and you should be thought a bad landlord.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Johann+Wolfgang+von+Goethe">Johann Wolfgang von Goethe</a><div class=q>
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So tow'rd the sun, now fast sinking to rest, the two walk'd together,
Whilst he veil'd himself deep in clouds which thunder portended.
Out-of his veil now here, now there, with fiery glances
Beaming over the plain with rays ..."></div>
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