Selected Poetry of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Penguin Classics)
Language: English
Pages: 336
ISBN: 0140424563
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Goethe viewed the writing of poetry as essentially autobiographical, and the works selected in this volume represent more than sixty years in the life of the poet. In early poems such as 'Prometheus,' he rails against religion in an almost ecstatic fervor, while 'To the Moon' is an enigmatic meditation on the end of a love affair. The Roman Elegies show Goethe's use of Classical meters in an homage to ancient Rome and its poets, and 'The Diary,' suppressed for more than a century, is a narrative poem whose eroticism is combined with its morality. In selections from Faust, arguably his greatest and most personal work, Goethe creates an exhilarating depiction of humankind's eternal search for truth.
• Dual-language edition
• David Luke's exquisite verse translations are arranged chronologically
• Includes an introduction and notes that place the poems in the context of the poet's life and times, as well as indexes of German and English titles and first lines
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
news I bring.’ Now the day breaks. Quickly the girl leaps out Of bed, throws on her clothes; waking in these Strange circumstances, she’s confused no doubt, Looks up, and then looks down again. Now he’s Bidding goodbye to her; she turns about, And as she leaves, her shapely limbs still please His eye. The carriage waits, the posthorn’s sound Cheers him, he’s soon homeward and wifeward bound. Und weil zuletzt bei jeder Dichtungsweise Moralien uns ernstlich fordern sollen, So will auch
delicate wings, his little head to preen – Das Leben so sich im Genuß verliert. Zum Stehen kaum wird noch das Füßchen taugen; So schlürft sie fort, und mitten unterm Saugen Umnebelt ihr der Tod die tausend Augen. 84 UM MITTERNACHT Um Mitternacht ging ich, nicht eben gerne, Klein, kleiner Knabe, jenen Kirchhof hin Zu Vaters Haus, des Pfarrers; Stern am Sterne, Sie leuchteten doch alle gar zu schön; Um Mitternacht. Wenn ich dann ferner in des Lebens Weite Zur Liebsten mußte,
penetrates the soul, and brings Eternal beauty to us as we grieve! The eye grows moist, the heart’s longing feels and hears The heaven-sent gift of music and of tears. Then in relief the heart knows suddenly That it still lives, in purest gratitude Still beats for this great generosity, Still gives itself in answer as it would: I felt – oh stay, for ever let me have This double joy of music and of love! 88 DER BRÄUTIGAM Um Mitternacht, ich schlief, im Busen wachte Das
1789, wrote what she called ‘An den Mond nach meiner Manier’ (‘To the Moon, à ma façon’), a reworking or parody of Goethe’s poem, rather bitterly and clumsily expressing her sorrow at the poet’s absence. As her model for this exercise she probably knew only the 1777 version, but her added quatrains intermittently resemble Goethe’s final text. It has been suggested that she may have sent her reproachful parody to Goethe while he was travelling in Italy in 1786–8, and that what he eventually
was the Word’: why, now 52 It is such joy to hug my beloved so close, to desire her 41 King Behramgur, they say, invented rhyme 73 Lady, say, what are you whispering? 71 Legend see 86 Let man be noble 21 Let the gods be feared 19 Let the Greek make shapes of clay 59 Let us not all be the same, but let each man resemble the highest. 46 Look! when the sun-god weds 60 Lord of worlds, great Mahadiwa 53 Love for love and hour for hour 67 May Song 1