What -- write my name!
How vain the feeble trust,
To be remembered
When the hand is dust --
Grieve rather that the talents freely given
Were used for earth -- not treasured up for Heaven!
My arm for a pillow,
I really like myself
under the hazy moon.
Translated by Robert Hass
I have a heartfelt aversion for crime,--a twofold aversion,
Since 'tis the reason why man prates about virtue so much.
"What! thou hatest, then, virtue?"--I would that by all it were practised,
So that, God willing, no man ever need speak of it more.
Those love cannot leave alone
Love those, cannot leave alone
Cannot love, leave those alone
Leave those, cannot love alone
Those cannot leave love alone
Mußt dir oft den Kopf zerbrechen,
Daß das Wort vom Sinne satt!
Leichter ist es, schön zu sprechen,
Wenn man nichts zu sagen hat.
Mußt dir oft den Kopf zerbrechen,
Daß das Wort vom Sinne satt !
Leichter ist es, schön zu sprechen,
Wenn man nicht zu sagen hat.
The secret of the stars, -- gravitation.
The secret of the earth, -- layers of rock.
The secret of the soil, -- to receive seed.
The secret of the seed, -- the germ.
The secret of man, -- the sower.
The secret of woman, -- the soil.
My secret: Under a mound that you shall never find.
AMBITION, Cupidité,
Et délicieuse Volupté,
Sont les sœurs de la Destinée
Après la vingt-première année.
Since Fancy taught me in her school of spells
I know her tricks-These are not moths at all,
Nor fireflies; but masking Elfland belles
Whose link-boys torch them to Titania's ball.
Motherless baby and babyless mother,
Bring them together to love one another.
