And on the neighboring plain
Mayors disputing,
There turns the ear ere long,
Loving and tender,
Yet to the noise a song
Soon must surrender.
Loud then the flute-notes glad
Sound ‘mid war’s thunder;
If I grow raving mad,
Is it a wonder?
Flutes sing and trumpets bray,
Waxing yet stronger;
If, then, my senses stray,
Wonder no longer.
For ’tis made, ye beauteous ones,For all social pleasures bright.As of old to man a wifeAs his better half was given,So the night is half our life,And the fairest under heaven.How can ye enjoy the day,Which obstructs our rapture’s tide?Let it waste itself away;Worthless ’tis for aught beside.But when in the darkling hoursFrom the lamp…
Oh, let the song re-echo here,Within our festal halls!’Thus spake the king, the page out-hied;The boy return’d; the monarch cried:‘Admit the old man yonder!’‘All hail, ye noble lords to-night!All hail, ye beauteous dames!Star placed by star! What heavenly sight!Whoe’er can tell their names?Within this glittering hall sublime,Be closed, mine eyes! ’tis not the timeFor me…
As a man, for action inclined;As a greybeard, fickle in mind.–Upon thy grave will people read:This was a very man, indeed!
Thus thy fate’s the same, be sure,Whether bold or modest thou.
Fortune learn to seize alone,For that Fortune’s ever here.
And, to subdue the world’s wide all,Looks round, beneath him, high o’er head.He sees the fairest goddess pine,Heaven’s child, the daughter of the clouds,–For her alone he seems to shine;In trembling grief his form he shrouds,Careless for all the realms of bliss,–Her streaming tears more swiftly flow:For every pearl he gives a kiss,And changeth into…
