GOETHE^
HERMANN UND DOROTH^^
EDITED, WITH NOTES, BY
C. A. BUCHHEIM, Ph.D., M.A.
LATE PROFESSOR OF THE GERMAN LANGUAGE ASD LITERATURE
IN KIXG'S COLLEGE, LONDON
AND
EMMA S. BUCHHEIM
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
EDWARD DOWDEN, LL.D., D.C.L.
PROFESSOR OF ORATORY ANU ENGLISH LITERATURE IN THE
UXIVERSITY OF DUBLIN
PRESIDENT OF THE ENGLISH GOETHE SOCIETY
OXFORD: AT THE CLARENDON PRESS^ ^
M DCCCC I I K)^^^'^
HENRY FROWDE, M.A.
PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
LONDON, EDINBURGH
NEW YORK
CONTENTS
PAGK
C. A. EUCHHEIM : BlOGRAPHICAL SkETCH ... V
Introduction : by Professor Dowden . . , . xi
HERMANN UND DOROTHEA:—
Elegie r
I. Kalliope: Schicksal und Anteil ... 3
n. Terpsichore: Hermann ir
HI. Thalia : Die Bürger 21
IV. Euterpe: Mutter und Sohn . . . .25
V. POLYHYMNIA : DeR WELTBÜRGER . . -34
VI. Klio : Das Zeitalter 43
VII. Erato: Dorothea 54
VIII. Melpomene: Hermann und Dorothea . . 62
IX. Urania: Aussicht 66
NOTES 79
C. A. BUCHHEIM
A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
SoME men exhibit from their earliest childhood the qualities
that in the course of time are to win them their position in
life, and, though environment and the force of circumstances
may modify their tendencies and direct their Steps, the in-
fluence on their characters is infinitesimal. To this class of
men belonged my father, Carl Adolf Buchheim. Unwearied
industry, love of learning for its own sake, unceasing per-
severance in its quest, these were the keynotes of his disposi-
tion, which were apparent at an age when many boys are
yet untroubled by any thought of the future or their aim
in life.
Carl Adolf Buchheim was born January 22, 1828, in
a small Moravian village near Brunn. There was no possi-
bility of obtaining any but the most elementary Instruction in
his home, and the clever boy soon became dissatisfied and
desired something more than the scanty fare offered to his
intellect. He managed to obtain a Latin Grammar and
tried to prepare himself for the Gymnasium, but, finding that
vi C. A. BUCHHEIM
thiö was more than he could accomplish unaided, he took
matters into his own hands, and at the age of twelve ran away
to his grandfather at Buda-Pesth. The old man received him
kindly, the family acquiesced in the inevitable, and he was
enabled to obtain the teaching for which he craved and to
prepare for the University. He attended the law course,
first at the University of Pressburg and subsequently at
Vienna. The independent life led by the students abroad
enabled him to support himself by journalism. It was work
that he thoroughly enjoyed, and it was always a source of
regret to him that in later years he had no time for its
pursuit.
Those were troubled times, when the minds of intelligent
men were in revolt against the existing State of affairs, and all
Europe was in a ferment. The students of Vienna were not
backward in the fight, and did their best to aid the agitation
for constitutional reform that culminated in the Revolution
of 1848. The men who fought with pen and sword for
ideals of liberty lived to see much of what they desired accom-
plished, but for many the struggle closed the career they
had mapped out for themselves and cut them adrift to Start
a new life. Among these was my father. He fought for
political and intellectual refoims with heart and soul, and
soon took a prominent place among the Champions of con-
stitutional liberty. The students formed into corps, or
' Legionen,' and he became one of the leaders of the
Juristenlegion. With an intimate friend, Oscar Falke, long
since dead, after an honoured career, he founded and edited a
paper called Der politische Kurier der Studenten, as a vehicle
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH VÜ
for their political aims and aspirations, which acquired more
than a passing notoriety, because the new Press laws were
first set in motion on its account. The trial of the young
editors resulted in an acquittal, which became the occasion of
a populär demonstration, the two Champions of Hberty being
borne aloft on the Shoulders of their fellow students amid
the shouts of the crowd.
Vienna was besieged and retaken by the Imperial forces ;
the students, after gallant fighting in the streets, fled from
pursuit, and many of them escaped with difficulty, among
them the editors of the Sludentenkurier, who were con-
demned to death in contumaciam. Their country was closed
against them, and my father never returned to Vienna. He
wandered through Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and
France, occasionally in danger of being given up to the
Austrian Government, for the difFerent States were very
willing to assist each other. The coup d^eiat drove him
from Paris just when his prospects seemed to be brightening,
and he came to England, the one country in Europe in
which he was safe from pursuit ; and here he began life
anew. It was a hard struggle, for he was a foreigner,
knowing only so much of the language as he had taught
himself, and he was destitute of means and references. The
exiles with whom London swarmed stood by each other,
and he soon began to make his way, for, in addition to his
industry and conscientiousness, he always possessed a charm
of manner and an unvarying courtesy that attached so many
of his pupils to him.
Nothing came amiss to him in the way of work. He
viii C. A. BUCHHEIM
iranslated Dickens into German, he lectured on philosophy,
and in addition to teaching German, French, Latin, Greek,
arithmelic and algebra, he wrote novels, one of which, Die
Rebellen von Lübeck, had some success in Germany ; and
amidst all his olher work he found time to obtain from the
University of Rostock the degree of Doctor, which the Vienna
troubles had prevented him from obtaining in his own
University.
As he attained a more independent position and was able
to specialize, he found the work for which he was best suited
ready to hand. It is so easy nowadays to find fitting
books for teaching German, that we have little idea of the
extent of the reform that he inaugurated when, perceiving
the utter unsuitability of the existing German class-books to
his purpose, he turned his attention to the editing of the
German classics, as he always held classical literature to be
the best medium of acquiring a language when once the
elements have been mastered. It is not for me to speak of
the value of his editions. Their great popularity, and the fact
that they have become the modeis for all subsequent editions,
speak for themselves. It was by sheer hard work that his
books became what they were. He was not content to make
a mere school-book. He read up all the original sources,
and, starting with the hypothesis that the great writers whom
he so loved had never penned a word without intending to
convey something thereby, he would never leave an obscure
passage without throwing on it all the light in his power, and
few ihings so delighted him as the successful following up of
a clue, especially if, as repeatedly happened, the explanation
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ix
had eluded the diligent German commentators. He never
gave up a difficulty until all sources had failed him. He was
not satisfied with quoting from reference books, if any tech-
nical expressions occurred, but promptly sought the aid of
the foremost specialists on the subject, and he never failed to
examine carefully any objections that were raised to his
explanations and to acknowledge the sources from which
his explanations were derived.
There is little to record of the remainder of his life. Un-
less a man is a politician or fills some active post, his life, when
once his position is assured, belongs to his family and holds
little of interest for the general reader beyond the history of
his work. Dr. Buchheim's appointment as Professor of the
German Language and Literature at King's College, London,
in 1863, was a great step forward, and gave him wider scope
for putting into practice his views on the teaching of German
and for arousing in his pupils something of his own enthu-
siasm for German literature. Education and educational
reform were subjects that always commanded his sympathies.
He was examiner at various times on all the great examining
boards, and was to the last an active member of the Council
of the College of Preceptors. The last years of his life
brought him unexpected honours. The University of Oxford
conferred on him the degree of Hon. M.A., and shortly
before his death the German Emperor bestowed on him
the Order of the Red Eagle, third class. It came just in
time, for soon after he was taken ill, and he died June 7,
190C. He attended his classes a week before his death, and
was engaged in revising the MS. of his edition of Hermann
X C. A. BUCHHEIM
und Dorothea^ which it was his great wish to add to his list of
works '•
Fifty years of life and work in England had left him as
German at heart as he was on the day when he landed
on English soll. His chief desire was to make his language
honoured and loved by others as he loved and honoured it,
and he spared no pains to accomplish this end, for the niotto
which he took for himself was contained in Iphigenia's
woids :
' Ein unnütz Leben ist ein früher Tod.'
E. S. BUCHHEIM.
London, 1901.
' I must thank Mr. J. Barwick Hodge both in my iiame and that
of my late father for the very kind assistance he rendered us in the
revision of the notcs.
INTRODUCTION
Students of German literature suffered in the death of
Dr. Buchheim a loss which they feel and lament. His work was
always well informed, scholarly, sound in judgement, wisely
directed towards the ends of Instruction. Unhappily the present
volume was not quite complete when he had to relinquish his
labours. But the notes to Hermann und Dorothea were complete,
needing only the final revision which has been diligently and
faithfuUy carried out by Miss Buchheim. The text had been
prepared by Dr. Buchheim ; it has been collated by his daughter
with that of the poem as given in the Weimar edition of the
works of Goethe now in process of publication. Through her
kindness and that of the Delegates of the Clarendon Press the
pleasant task of writing an Introduction has been entrusted to
me. I am aware that there are matters, on which Dr. Buchheim
could have written with authority, of which I am not competent
to speak. But I have long known and loved the poem, and
I have consulted the works of eminent scholars.
I. The Salzburg Exiles.
~" Goethe had little sympathy — at least in its application to his
own poems — with that kind of curiosity which traces a work
of art back to its sources. He thought that when guests are
invited to a feast they may be content to enjoy the good cheer
set before them without visiting the kitchen, calling upon the
Cook to enumerate the ingredients, and proceeding to inspect
the garden where the pot-herbs grew. He himself never
connected Hermann und Dorothea with the narrative of the exiles
from Salzburg, in which it had its origin ; when that narrative
was pointed out as his source in Xhe. Morgenblatt of the year 1809
(No. 138) he uttered neither affirmation nor denial.
xii HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
On October 31, 17 31, Leopold, Archbishop of Salzburg, Legate
of the Holy See and Primate of Gcrmany, issued a decree
directed against his Protestant subjects, by which they were
required to depart from their country, some within cight days,
some after a period less terribly brief, and were forbidden ever
again to enter it, upon pain, if deemed expedient, of death. Snows
had already fallen, The expulsion of the Protestants during
the late autumn and winter months was attended with many acts
of extreme severity. In February, 1732, the exiles received
an invitation from Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia to settle in his
territory ; Protestant princes threatened reprisals against their
Roman Catholic subjects ; and at length some check was placed
upon the Archbishop's violence. All Protestant Europe was
interested in the misfortunes of the expatriated fugitives. A
Pamphlet giving an account of their sufFerings was published in
London in 1732; it sets down the number of exiles from ten
districts of the Archbishopric as 20,678 ; it closes with an
announcement that subscriptions for their relief would be re-
ceived and transmitted by certain gentlemen, lay and clerical,
who are named in a list which includes among others the rector
of Lambeth and the preacher in the German chapel at
St. James's.
This English pamphlet does not contain the story on which
Goethe's poem is founded. But in a German pamphlet of the
same year it is found, and again in 1732 in a large quarto entitled
' Ausführliche Historie derer Emigranten oder vertriebenen
Lutheraner aus dem Erzbisthum Salzburg.' Two years later
the story was rcpeated, as one of the evidcnces of Providential
care extended to the exiles, in Göcking's 'Vollkommene Emigra-
tionsgeschichte.' The following is the version given in the
* Ausführliche Historie ' : —
' In Alt-Mühl, a town lying in the Oettingen district, a worthy
and well-to-do Citizen had a son whom he had oftcn— but without
success — urged to marry. As the Salzburg emigrants were
passing through this üttle town, among them was a maiden who
so attracted the youth that he resolved in his heart to make
THE SALZBURG EXILES xiü
her his wife, if this might be brought about. He made inquiry
of the other Salzburgers respecting the girl's conduct and family,
and was informed that she was the child of good honest folk, and
was always well conducted, but had separated from her parents
on the ground of religion, and had left them behind. Thereupon
the young man went to his father, and told him that, as he had so
often been urged to marry, he had now made choice of a person,
if his father would allow him to have her. When the father
desired to know who this person might be, he was told that
a Salzburg maiden had won his son's heart, and that if she
were not to be his bride he would never marry, At this the
father took alarm, and tried to dissuade him from the match,
Certain friends were calied in, and a pastor, in the hope that by
their means his son might be brought to another way of thinking ;
but all was in vain. At last it seemed to the pastor that God
might design some special providence in this affair, and that
hence it might be for the best, in regard both to the son and
to the emigrant girl ; whereupon consent was finally given,
and the youth was permitted to do as he pleased. Oif then went
the young man to his Salzburg maiden, and asked her how
she liked things in this neighbourhood. " Well indeed, sir,"
answered she. " And would you " — he went on — " be willing to
act as servant in my father's house ? " " With entire content,"
she replied, " and, if he will take me, I mean to serve him faith-
fully and diligently " ; and then she proceeded to enumerate her
various accomplishments, how she could fodder cattle, milk cows,
work in the fields, make hay, with much more of a like kind.
Upon this the youth took her with him and presented her to his
father. He asked her whether she liked his son, and would
marry him. But she, knowing nothing of the matter, thought that
hemeant to tease her, and answered that they hadnorighttojeer
at her : the young man had sought a servant for his father, and,
if he desired to have her, she meant to serve him in all faithful-
ness, and honestly to earn her bread. But when the father stuck
to it, and the son m.oreover showed his serious longing for her,
she declared that if their purpose was earnest she could be well
xiv HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
content, and she would cherish the youth as the apple of her eye.
And when the son presented her with a wedding gift she placed
her hand in her bosom, saying, " I too must give a marriage-
portion," and handed to him a little purse in which were found
two hundred ducats.'
Böttiger, who held close reiations with Goethe while the poem
was in process of development, and who helped to negotiate its
sale, States that Goethe discovered the story in 1794, and that at
first he thought of Converting it into a drama. The incidents
were enough to form a nucleus from which other incidents might
be evolved as soon as imagination came to quicken them. The
personages — the youth, the maiden, the father, the pastor — were
already in existence ; only the mother of the young man, the
apothecary, and the judge, had no prototypes in the tale of
the Salzburg exiles. But Goethe, who held himself aloof from
theological and ecclesiastical partisanship, could hardly have
accepted with pleasure the background of this idyllic love-story —
the strife of Catholic against Protestant, which drove forth the
heroine from her native home. Trusting to the power of art
to confer ideality upon the theme, he resolved to give it more
immediate actuality by placing the incidents and characters in
the present time. It was a time when events of epic proportion
were occupying the attention of Europe ; and bchind the events
lay an epic combat between great ideas respecting the life of
Society. The French Revolution and the upheavals which it
caused in neighbouring countries provided a background of wider
historical extent and of deeper ethical significance than that of
the religious strife of Salzburg some sixty years previously. The
interval between the composition of Hermann und Dorothea and
the supposed time of the action was measured not by years but
by months; Goethe himself in a letter to Meyer (Dec. 5, 1796)
places the events of the poem in the preceding August. The
war of France against Prussia and Austria had fluctuated to and
fro in its earlier years. In 1796 the advance of the French
armies under Moreau and Jourdan, after some iiiiportant
successes, was checked by the vigorous action of the Archduke
THE PROCESS OF COMPOSITION xv
Karl, and the French retreat which followed was marked by
those cruelties which are common to a soldiery rendered
desperate. The imagined scene of Goethe's poem lies near
the right bank of the Rhine, perhaps in the region of Hesse-
Darmstadt.
Goethe himself had witnessed and even experienced some
of the hardships caused by war. In 1792 he accompanied the
Grand Duke of Weimar on that disastrous campaign — led by
the Duke of Brunswick — against the French Revolutionary
forces which closed with the cannonade of Valmy, and a retreat
rendered inexpressibly miserable by insufficiency of provisions
and the torrents of autumnal rain. In Goethe's account of his
experiences, Campagne in Frankreich, will be found the origin
of several incidents and reflections in Hermann und Dorothea.
He had himself seen a young woman who, like Dorothea's com-
panion, had given birth to an Infant during her flight ; an old
female camp-follower made imperious requisitions on behalf
of [the mother and new-born chiid, and, as she knew no French,
Goethe himself expounded in words her passionate gestures. At
foain, on the retreat, the master and mistress of the house
in which he found shelter were fiUed with alarm on behalf of
a son, who like Dorothea's betrothed had been carried äway by
the passions of the time, and had been hurried into the vortex of
the revolutionary maelstrom in Paris ; at his parents' request he
had returned home, deserting the party to which his feelings had
bound him, and, now that he was inscribed in the list of traitors,
he found his new allies overwhelmed with defeat. Thus through
Goethe's personal experiences and through the excitement of his
own day a new life and energy were infused into the story de-
rived from the earlier years of the eighteenth Century.
II. The Process of Composition.
* Hermann und Dorothea^ said Goethe to Eckermann in the year
1825, ' is almost the only one of my larger poems that still gives
me pleasure ; I can never read it without deep interest. I love
XVi HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
it best in the Latin translation ; there it seems to me nobler, as
if, as regards the form, it had reverted to its source.' The poem
was the creation of the best period of Goethe's maturity, a period
when he had escaped from the storm and stress of his earlier
years, when he was delivered from the excessive pressure of
public business that had proved allen to his genius, when the
influences of classical art in Italy had sunk deep into his spirit,
when the Revolutionary wars had animated in his heart the love
)f his own country, when, above all, he enjoyed the Stimulus and
: he Support of Schiller's comradeship,
Some of Goethe's larger works suffered from the way in which
they came to be written. A fragment was produced ; there
foUovved a long interval during which rival interests drew the
poet away in other directions ; and when he resumed his work
it was perhaps in an altered spirit or a different mood. Or,
again, he first adopted the medium of prose, and at a later date
recast his work in verse. The process by which Hermann und
Dorothea was brought into being certainly tended to give the
poem that harmony, or rather that unity, by which it is pre-
eminently characterized. The germ dropped into Goethe's mind,
and lay there for a considerable time ; it was borne about and
nourished in silence ; although the creative energy lapsed away
when some two-thirds of the poem had been swiftly set down in
writing, the capacity for carcful and sympathetic revision remained,
and a second creative Impulse, which carried the work to a close,
followed after a brief interval. There were few perplexing knots
to untie, or tangles to unravel. Goethe's interest in his work
never really waned during the period of creation. Some seven
or eight months— from August 1796 to Rlarch 1797 — sufficcd for
creation and in great part for exact revision. * It is in fact
remarkable,' wrote Schiller, in a letter of April 18, 1797, 'how
swiftly Nature gave birth to this work and how carefully and
considerately Art has perfected it.'
During a visit to Jena from August 8 to October 5, while
Goethe resided in the old ducal Castle, the first four cantos
of Hermann und Dorothea, according to the original arrangement,
THE PROCESS OF COMPOSITION xvü
were written. The whole poem was to be comprised in six
cantos ; the first four correspond to the first six as we liave them
in the final arrangement, according to which each of the nine
cantos bearsUhe name of one of the nine Muses. It was not
until September 1 1 that Goethe actually ' began to versify the
idyl.' 'The execution,' wrote Schiller to Körner (Oct, 28,
1796), 'which, as it were, took place under my eyes, has been
achieved with a lightness and swiftness incomprehensible to me ;
he has written over one hundred and fifty hexameters daily for
nine successive days.* The days from September 11 to Sep-
tember 19 are probably those to which Schiller refers.
The idyll, as the poem had been at first conceived, now
expanded in Goethe's mind into an idyllic epic. At the dose of
October he found himself obliged to go to Ilmenau for a few
days. ' It would be a great piece of good luck,' he wrote to
Schiller, ' if I could manage to write a portion of my epic poem
while in Ilmenau ; the perfect solitude of the place seems to
promise something.' And Schiller, two days later (Oct. 3 r), sends
his greeting to the lonely valley, with a wish that the fairest
of the Muses may encounter his friend : ' yoii may, at all events,
there find your Hermann's little town, and probably also an
apothecary and a green house with stucco work.' But the wind
bloweth where it listeth, and no fresh Inspiration came at
Ilmenau. ' I did not even touch the garment's hem of any one
of the Muses,' Goethe confesses to Schiller on his return to
Weimar ; all he could with advantage attempt was revision and
correction. It was not, indeed, until the days of travel to
Leipzig and Dessau at the close of the year 1796 and the
opening of the new year (Dec. 28-Jan. 10) that the plan of the
unfinished portion of the poem was fully considered and elaborated.
At last during another residence at Jena— from February 20 to
the end of March 1797 — the creative Impulse returned, and that
at a time when Goethe was confined to his room by a cold.
' My work is progressing,' he informed Schiller on March 4. . . .
' In two more days I shall have raised the treasure, and when it
is once aboveground the polishing process will come of itself.
b
xviii HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
It is remarkable how, towards the end, the poem inclines to its
idyllic origin.' The work advanced quickly to the close ; the
task of revision followed and was deliberately pursued. On
April 8 Goethe refers to the * double headings ' of the cantos,
indicating that the distribution of the text into nine books, named
both after the Muses and the subject-matter of each canto, was
thcn in contemplation if not completely carried into effect.
Three weeks later he writes to Meyer : ' My poem is ready ; it
consists of 2,000 hexameters, and is divided into nine cantos.'
Hermann und Dorothea was published in the Taschenbuch für
17^8, which was issucd in the late autumn of the preceding year.
In the labour of revision Wilhelm von Humboldt — one of the
earliest critics of the poem ' — was ever ready with thoughtful
counsel and Suggestion. In 1804 a later revision was begun in
conjunction with Heinrich Voss the younger, with a special view
to metrical improvements. The MS., showing thcse emenda-
tions, remains among the Goethe archives ; the alterations were
not embodied in any printed text, nor can ground for real regret
be found in this circumstance.
III. Goethe and the French Revolution.
Among the forces which helped to mould the poem of Hermann
und Dorothea Goethe's fceling towards the French Revolution
was not the least important. The influences in society which (
make for change and the influences which make for conservation
and stability are both recognizcd in the poem and are both
justified. Goethe would not and does not deny that social
progress and amelioration are themselves essential Clements of
true Order ; but he insists more strongly on the duty of preserving
and maintaining the good that has already been realized in the
well-being of a nation, for in the appalling danger of the timeJ
that truth seemed to be the one chiefly needed by his owng
' Acstlictisclic Versuche über Ooclhe's Hermann und Dorothea, by
Willielm von Humboldt, 1799.
GOETHE AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION xix
country. It is possible to study Goethe's view of the Revolu-
tionary movement in several works written under its immediate
pressure — The German Etnigrants, the Venetian Epigrams, the
Tra-ve/j of the Sons of Megaprazon, the Natural Daughter, the
Grosskophta, the Bürgergeneral, the Aufgeregten, and Reynard the
Fox ; bis matured wisdom will be found summarized in a conversa-
tion with Eckermann of January 4, 1824, He was no friend, he
declares, of arbitrary rule. He was convinced that a great
revolution is never a fault of the people ; it is, on the contrary,
always the consequence of faults of the government, If there
exists a real necessity for a great reform among a people, ' God
is with it, and it prospers.' God, he went on to say, was visibly
with Christ and His first adherents ; He was also visibly with
Luther : neither of these ' was a friend of the established System ;
much more were both of them convinced that the old leaven
must be got rid of, and that it would be impossible to go on and
remain in the untrue, inequitable, and defective way.'
But while Goethe is just to the influences that make for change,
and even for revolutionary change, while, too, his sympathies
were populär as much as aristocratic, he could not, he admits, be
a friend to the French Revolution in the days of its power : ' its
horrors were too near me, and shocked me daily and hourly,
whilst its beneficial results were not then to be discovered.' He
revolted especially from the efforts made in Germany to reproduce
artificially such a State of things as had in France arisen from
a great necessity :
* Nicht dem Deutschen geziemt es, die fürchterliche Bewegung
Fortzuleiten und auch zu wanken hierhin und dorthin.'
So, through the mouth of his Hermann, the poet utters a
warning against the factitious cultivation of Revolutionary senti-
ment by some of his own countrymen. And to Eckermann,
more than a quarter of a Century later, he expresses himself in the
same spirit : ' Nothing is good for a nation but that which arises
from its own core and its own general wants ; . . . All endeavours
to introduce any foreign Innovation, the necessity for which
b 2
XX HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
is not rooted in the core of the nation itself, are therefore foolish ;
and all premeditated revolutions of the kind are unsuccessful,
for they are without God, who keeps aioof from such bungling.'
Goethe could not forget that in bis younger days he was
himself a leader of revolutlon in things of the mind. Götz, -von
Berlichingen was a cry for freedom ; both in substance and form
it revolted against eighteenth-century Conventions. In Prometheus
he asserted in the boldest spirit the independence and individuality
of the artist. But the years of public Service at Weimar had
taught him that freedom is to be attained only through wise
limitation, through intellectual clearness and order, through
purity of feeling and through activity within a definite sphere.
His scientific studies had taught him to expect much from a
gradual evolution ; hc had come to believe that the way of
development is not a way of violent cataclysms. His studies in
art led him to value simplicity and rcpose as the Clements from
which beauty arises rather than the turbulence of passion or the
straining of Immoderate desire. In Italy, in the presence of the
masterpieces of classical sculpture, he feit that intellectual sanity
and obedience to law produce nobler results in art than are
attained by emotional violence or unmeasured caprices of the
imagination. In such a poem as Hermann und Dorothea Goethe
was really assisting in the work of the European revolution of
the eighteenth Century, for he was delivering the ideal man —
true manhood, true womanhood — from the faded Conventions
of the earlier art of the Century, and also from the violences and
sentimentalities of his own younger days. But the spirit in
which he attempted this was far removed from the spirit which
sought for freedom through the machinery of brand-new constitu-
tions or the machinery of the guillotine. His word to the
German people was that for them at least there was a better
way — to preserve, to maintain, to develop what was good ;
to work for humanity through those limitations imposed by the
love of things that are near and real, the home, the little
vineyard, the little town with its kindly ncighbours, father and
inother, and wife and child ; and, when need arises, the country
GOETHE' S HELLENISM XXl
and the nation which include all that is nearest and dearest, all
that is best and most real :
All the firmer amidst this universal disniption
Be Dorothea the tie ! And thus we will hold and continue
True to each other, and still maintain the good that is
given us;
For the man who in wavering times has a mind ever
wayering
Only increases the evil and spreads it wider and wider ;
But who firmly Stands, he moulds the world to his posture.
Not the German's work should it be, this fearful commotion
Onward to urge, or to reel in his courses this way and that
way.
' Here we take our stand ! ' Such be our word and our
action ^.
IV. Goethe's Hellenism.
Readers of Hermann und Dorothea have expressed surprise at
the Union efFected by the poet between German life and manners,
German thought and sentiment, on the one hand, and on the
other a Greek feeling for art and Greek artistic methods. To
admirers of the poem this has seemed an achievement almost
miraculous. One excellent French critic, however, Edmond
Scherer — and his words were quoted apparently with approval
by Matthew Arnold — found something inharmonious, something
even ludicrous in what he styled ' the antico-modern and heroico-
middle class idyll of Goethe.' For him the poem was at best
a feat, and not quite a successful feat, of ingenuity. Goethe's
manner of procfeeding, he declared, is at bottom ' that of parody,'
and the tum of a straw * would set the reader laughing at these
farm-horses transformed into coursers, these village innkeepers
' In the above paragraph I have used some sentences from Goethe
and the French Revolutioti, an Address to the English Goethe Society,
published in my volume New Studies in Literature.
xxii HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
and apothecaries who speak with the magniloquence of a Ulysses
or a Nestor.' This, according to Scherer, is not sincere poetry
at all, but a factitious work, ' the product of an exquisite
dilettantism.'
It ought to have been perceived that a genuine Hellenism is in
no respect opposed to truth of Observation and sincerity of
feeling. Because Goethe was Greek he must — when dealing
with a German theme — be genuinely and profoundly German.
His earlier conception, indeed, of Greek art led him to some
extent away from reality towards a factitious ideal. That earlier
conception had in it certain Clements of the eighteenth-century
I conventional feeling for classical art. It was supposed that
I ideality and the repose of classical art were attained by a process
of abstraction, which thinned away details, and regarded with
indifference, if not with a lofty disdain, whatever is individual.
From this error of the pseudo-classical school Goethe did not
wholly escape ; but an inborn realism in gencral saved his work,
even at its worst, from lifelessness or insipidity. Before Hermann
und Dorothea was written he had visited Italy, and his eyes had
carried into his Imagination and his soul the life and the lesson of
Greek sculpture. Here was the human body presented not in an
abstraction, but in its essential truth ; and the ideal was attained
not by turning away from reality, but by seizing some moment of
the highest physical and moral life, in action or in dignified
repose, and by enabling that life at its füllest to declare and
manifest itself ; for which manifestation it uses every means that
aids a dcploying of the inward forces, omitting only — and that not
so much by deliberation as by instinct — such dross of accident
as rather obscures than interprets the vital energy. And now,
having chosen a little German town as the scene of his epic-idyll,
and German men and women as his actors, Goethe was con-
strained by the very principles of Greek art to manifest our
common humanity through its German prescntment, aiul to do
this with such a profound truth of feeling that in and through
reality the ideal should emerge.
The Homeric poems fllled Goethe with incxhaustiblc delight ;
GOETHES HELLENISM xxiü
but the speculations of Wolf had led him at this time to feel that
the path to modern poetry of an epic character is not barred by
the vast figure of Homer, with whom contention or competition
were hopeless. Many singers — he now held — had contributed to
the material from which arose the lliad and the Odyssey. Why
should not a modern man also sing in a kindred spirit concerning
modern life and action and suffering ? Are not the elementary
and primitive wants and desires and sufferings and joys and actions
of man and woman extant in the world still as in the days of
the singers of Greece ? And if a modern poet should deal with
the world that lies around him in a spirit akin to that of Homer,
is there anything incongruous in a certain general resemblance
to the Homeric manner? If in a few passages there should be
actual reminiscence of the style and the language of Homer, can
this rightly be regarded, to use Scherer's word, as ' parody ' ?
Or ought we not rather to view such passages as a Suggestion to
the reader that, although the Homeric näi'vete (if there is, indeed,
such a thing) no longer is possible and self-consciousness has
come in its place, yet, if men will but lift up their eyes and
look at the world aright, there are things to be seen in it like
those of which Homer sang ? The horses which Hermann
tackles are in reality spirited, majestic creatures, and Hermann
himself is a noble and vigorous youth. Let us no longer be
blinded by what is familiär and customary, let us envisage the
reality, and we shall perceive here a youth who can bear com-
parison with any Grecian charioteer, and steeds as strong and
graceful as those that whirled the chariots on the fields of Troy.
A sculptor Walking along the country-side to-day may discover
in the pose of a sower, or a reaper, or a woman drawing water at
a well, the attitudes of heroes or of gods. It is the dullness of
üur wearied vision which hides the fact ; and may not the poet
remind us once or twice — with a slightly ironic smile upon his
Ups — that nature is still Homeric ?
xxiv HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
V. The Luisf. OF Voss.
Goethe's epic idyll was not without a parentage in eighteenth-
century German literature. Here it is enough to note that its
immediate predecessor was the Luhe of Johann Heinrich Voss.
Both in Contents and in form the poem of Voss exerted an
influence on Hermann und Dorothea, which may be recognized
without detracting from the glory or the originality of the work
of Goethe. The Luise is written in hexameters, in the practica
of which Voss, the translator of Komer, acquired a degree of
mastery which had not been reached by Klopstocic ; it is an idyll
of German life ; it adapts the forms of Greek art to the rendering
of a German theme. The household of a pastor, living in the
country, forms the centre of Voss's idyllic poem; the birthday
of the pastor's daughter Luise is celebrated in the neighbouring
woods, hard by a lake, in a simple, rural fashion ; the visit of her
betrothed and the incidents that lead up to the wedded union of
happy man and maid are related, not without a certain grace of
feeling and of manner. Strength of characterization, depth of
passion, breadth of interest, largeness of conception, the art
of composition, are wholly or almost wholly wanting to the poem.
The idylls, published separately in 1783 and 1784, were revised
and brought together to form the completed poem in 1795.
Voss's Luise became populär, for it feil in with two streams of
tendency — first the return to natura of the pre-Revolutionary
period, when Rousseau was a master of men's feelings and
Imagination, and, secondly, the new sense of the beauty of Greek
art, partly developed and largely guided by the writings of
"Winckelmann.
'I still remember,' Goethe wrote to Schiller (Feb. 28, 1798),
* the genuine enthusiasm which I feit for the pastor of Grünau,
when he first appeared in The Mercury ; I read it aloud so often
that I still know the greater part of it by heart ; and I gained
much good from it, for the delight I had in it became at last
productive in me, and tempted me to work in the same genre —
which resulted in Hermann, and who knows what may yet arisa
PARENTAGE: PLACE AND PERSONS xxv
out of it ? ' Recognizing the faults and imperfections of Voss's
work — its lack of deep passion, its lack of general ideas, its
deficiency in concentration and vigorous continuity, its pettiness
of detail — Goethe did not scruple to accept from it whatever
could serve his own purpose, which, besides the general impulse
of the getire, some characteristics of diction, and the metrical
form, included a few hints for particular passages, and whatever
he appropriated was ennobled. Without Luise, as he indicates,
Hermann und Dorothea might never have come into existence ;
yet the true glory of the parent is derived almost wholly from the
more illustrious child.
VI. The Place and the Persons.
' I have tried in the epic crucible to separate what is purely
human in the life of a small town from its dross ' — so Goethe
wrote to Meyer (Dec. 5, 1796), *and to reflect from a little
mirror the great movements in progress on the stage of the
World.' To a superficial gazer nothing could seem more prosaic,
nothing more trivial than the life of such a petty German town ;
and Goethe does not shrink from any realistic details which help
to give a body, visible and almost tangible, to the spirit of his
poem. The Golden Lion inn, looking out on the market-place,
might have been found a Century ago in any one of a score
of Rhineland towns ; the old-fashioned garden of the apothecary,
with its quaint figures, and grotto adorned with spars and shell-
work, may have been known to Goethe at Ilmenau or elsewhere ;
nothing in the small dull place is so much to be wondered at and
admired as the wealthy neighbour's house, splendid with white
stucco and green paint. Is it notapoor scene for an epic poem ?
and what can be found here to interest the imagination or the
feelings ?
What, indeed, can be found except the bounty of nature and
its^ beauty, what except the fullness of a rieh and beautiful
humanity? Here are wedded happiness, a home presided over
by womanly tact and sympathy ; here are pity for those in need,
xxvi HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
the heart that plans and the hand that executes good deeds ;
here are neighbourly good-will and civic virtues, the love of child
and of parent, afFection for the homestead and the soll, patriotic
pride and passion, the wisdom of iüuminated manhood, maidenly
discretion, maidenly Service and heroic strength, and a noble
sense of personal dignity ; here, above all, is the love of man and
maid, swift and final in its happy election, and the sudden unfolding
of character under the sunshine of a new and deep affection.
And as a background for the personages and their passions we
see not merely the little town, which Goethe views with a feeling
of kindly regard that is touched by humour, but a landscape
wealthy in summer beauty and wholly humanized. Mere descrip-
tion of external nature, detached from the actors and the action
of his poem, is not sought by the poet of Hermann und Dorothea ;
it is indeed hardly permitted by his conception of a narrative
poem ; but the environment of the actors becomes an essential
feature or condition of the incidents. The garden, with its
apple-trees, the honeysucklc bower, the vineyard slopes, whcre
the purple Clusters hang heavy and warm in the sun, the field and
bending corn-crop, are known to us because the mother, now
setting right a prop, now brushing away a Caterpillar, traverses
these as she seeks the distraught Hermann. The pear-tree
on the summit, which is a landmark for all the neighbourhood,
shelters the youth in his lonely perturbation of spirit at noon-day,
and in its shadow, while the moonlight shines clear around,
he sits with Dorothea's hand in his own. Up the steps of
the vineyard path the mother climbs, and it is here in their
shadowy descent that Hermann's beloved, stumbling, finds her
Support upon his breast and Shoulder. The linden-grove near
the neighbouring villagc, with the well and the sheltered green-
sward, lives in our imagination because it is here that Hermann
awaits the tidingsof Dorothea brought by the friendly emissaries,
and here that the lovers lean over the water and see, in its
mirrored blue of heaven, their own wavering forms as they nod
and greet each the other. With little play of what has been
termed the ' pathetic fallacy,' nature even may be said to
THE PLACE AND THE PER SONS XXVÜ
co-operate in the action of the poem. The brooding heat of
the Summer day breaks in the nocturnal thunder-storm. With
her wounded sense of virgin dignity Dorothea is about to quit
the shelter of the Golden Lion, and go forth, bearing her little
bündle, into the night and tempest and downpour of rain ; at
which moment, while the thunder still growls without, the
kindly mother interposes, and there is a Clearing at least in
the moral atmosphere. The heavens themselves — if there were
no stronger powers at work — have made it impossible to permit
Dorothea to leave her true home, and thus, as it were, are in
league with those who have plotted to render her happiness
assured.
There is another and a more formidable thunder-storm— that
in the social and pohtical world — which adds largeness and some-
thing of terror to the scene, and which at the same time serves to
endear to our feelings the tranquil well-being of the little German
town. 'Who will deny,' cries the Judge, 'that his heart was
uplifted within him when he saw the first beam of the risen sun,
and heard of Rights of Man, common to all, of Liberty the
inspirer of spirits, and Equality worthy to be praised ? ' But the
sky darkened ; and the strife became one not for liberty but for
an evil domination. What, after all, if in this little town and
among its quiet Citizens there were more of true wisdom^at
least for Germany and for the immediate present — than could be
derived from the council-chambers of revolutionary Paris ? ' The
homely neighbourhood becomes for the moment a centre in
which the principles of stability and orderly progress are seen
in contention with the principles of the revolutionary reform.
Dorothea's first lover, caught by a generous enthusiasm and
possessed by the new republican hopes, has abandoned her to the
chances of the time, which have driven her forth, a wanderer
from her home, and he himself, having effected nothing, has
perished amid the strife of ignoble gi-eeds and ambitions. No
one can think harshly of the error of his rash gallantry. Her-
mann is also fired to enthusiasm ; the lover rises to the patriot ;
life has grown good to him, and the homestead and the little
XXviÜ HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
town are dearer than ever before. To maintain and to
defend what is of so grcat worth shall be his task ; and the
future of Dorothea is safe in his steadfast and courageous hands.
The conversations are not, as Edmond Scherer represents
them, conducted with 'the magniloquence of a Ulysses or a
Nestor.' They are füll of pleasant familiarities, and they are
often pleasantly touched with a humour, of which the reader,
though not always the Speaker, is conscious. Magniloquence is
monotonous, but the talk of the host of the Golden Lion and his
neighbours rises and falls with a natural variety. And with each
Speaker it is admirably characteristic. With theEästoc-it can
rise into the region of general ideas. He is stillyoung in years,
but he has received the best gifts of culture both sacred and
profane. Faith and hope and charity dwell in his soul, and there-
fore his heart has been open to the deeper truths of human life.
Through his lips Goethe utters some of his own spiritual wisdom,
and it is uttered with the simplicity and directness of true insight.
His trust in the ways and the wisdom of nature is large. The
I^eichtsitm of men, which to the Apothecary seems an offence, is
seen by the Pastor to be a wise provision of nature ; curiosity
seeks for what is new, and through an interest in what is new we
pass to a regard for what is useful, and what is useful leads on in
turn to what is good. The whole of human existence is viewed
by the Pastor as a füll and noble harmony. His friend, the
Apothecary, has told how in childhood the thought of death was
impressed upon him as a thought which niight quell or control
his youthful impatience. The lines which follow, words of the
Pastor presenting life and death as parts of a harmonious and
perpetual circuit, are not found in the MS. preserved at
Weimar among the Goethe archives ; they were a noble after-
thought ofthe poet, and, while wholly in keeping with the young
Pastor's spirit, they lie very near to Goethe's own view of life.
To the wise man death becomes life, for it urges him to activity ;
for the pious it strengthens the hopes of futurity ; death ought
not to be shown to a child as death ; let the young learn the
worth of a riper age and let the aged look towards youth, so
THE PLACE AND THE PER SONS xxix
that both may rejoice in the perpetual cycle of existence, and life
may be fulfilled in life —
' dass beide des ewigen Kreises
Sich erfreuen und so sich Leben im Leben vollende ! '
And at this moment the door opens and those who are to bear
life onward into the future, with its fullness of good, Hermann
and his future bride, ' das herrliche Paar,' are seen. ^ All_Js^
natura here, and all_is-siraple„: but never were envoys of a great
power more majestically announced than these representatives of
life and love by the undesigned appositeness of the Pastor's words.
It is only on this occasion that any one of the Speakers attains
so clear and rare an altitude. In general the Pastor's wisdom is
that of illuminated good sense ; he is no dreamer of dreams ; and
be it remembered to his credit that he can drive a pair of horses
round a difficult turning as skilfuUy as Hermann himself. So also,
speaking figuratively, in managing Hermann's love-affair, at the
moment when Dorothea's outraged sense of dignity threatens a
catastrophe, he drives boldly and comes dangerously near an upset ;
it is only his quick eye and steady band that avert disaster. The
gian of ideas, after all, may prove himself an excellent man of affairs.
The Apothecary is a contrasted figure; yet he is not an
unserviceable coadjutor in spying out the land in Hermann's
interest. He is well advanced in years ; his memories go back to
the days long since, when all things were better than they are
now ; grottoes, and shell-work, and stone figures have gone out
of fashion, and the good old custom of rational wooing by friendly
family negotiation has passed away. From first to last Goethe
gently smiles, with a not unkindly ironic smile, at the good
neighbour, whose eure is that of bodies, not of souls. The
timidity of his prudence heightens our sense of the Pastor's more
generous prudence, which does not shrink from the ventures
of faith. The Apothecary must indulge his grumble against the
townsfolk who have hurried after the poor fugitives for sake of
the pleasure of an idle excitement ; yet he has been one of the
curious sightseers himself; he shrinks from a narration of
XXX HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
the fugitives' distress, and thereupon proceeds with his tale,
omitting no harrowing particular ; when his impatience is rising
he relates how in childhood he had been cured for ever of
impatience. The sight of misery has really disturbed the good
man, partly through sympathy with those who have been thrown
abroad on the world, to the loss of their easy habitual ways and
the loss of not a little property, and partly because he reflects
that before long his own case may be like theirs. He sits musing
in the inn parlour, and needs the prompting of the Host before
he can raise to his lips the glass of eighty-three. One comfort
at least he has — if the invaders should forcc him to fly, his flight
will not be embarrassed by wife or child ; already he has packed
up his valuables, and, if person and property can be saved, there
will be some consolation amid disaster. Life has taught him to
proceed in all things cautiously ; he would like to regild his
sign of the Archangel and Dragon, but the expense has to be
considered. In Hermann's affairs of the heart the motto of wise
conduct is Festina lente ; Dorothea looks indeed what a maiden
ought to be, but it is not well to rely upon appearances. To
trust one's spiritual guidance to the young Pastor may be
sensible enough ; but is it discreet to trust the safety of one's
limbs to such a charioteer ? Yet the egoism of the Apothecary
leaves him well-disposed and neighbourly ; he is prompt to act as
plenipotentiary in the great business of wedlock ; and, if he does
not rashly part with his coin to the unhappy fugitives, he is
generous with the contents of his pouch of cherished canaster.
Hermann's father is constrained by the exigencies of the
narrative to play a somewhat ungrateful part j he is the chief
obstacle which rctards young love in its progress, and over which
love must find out a way. But Goethe contrives that, notwith-
standing his infirmities of temper and a certain deficiency of
intellectual and moral delicacy, the host of the Golden Lion shall
impress us favourably as an honest and genial householder. We
learn to humour him gently, to view his foibles with a smile, and
to remain confidcnt that, with a little exercise of tact, he can be
brought round to good-temper and something like reason in the
THE PLACE AND THE PER SONS XXXI
end. He has toiled since the havoc wrought twenty years ago
by the great fire ; he has grown well-to-do, and has gained a
Position of respect among his fellow townsmen; and now his
days of struggle are over, and his personal ambition is appeased ;
he regards himself with much complacency, and loves — though
not ungenerously — his comfort and his ease. Should his temper
be ruffled, it is enough if his self-complacency can be restored ;
a little oil will allay the troubled waters, though he may not be
able to deny himself the pleasure of feeling in a measure wronged.
The host would not choose to view the misery of the fugitives,
but he is willing to give to them of his substance, for ' to give is
the duty of the rieh ' ; and though he parts from the flowered
dressing-gown, with all its associations of re'pose, as from an old
friend, let this go too, for it is no longer in the fashion, and
a respected Citizen must move with the tinies. The good host
is not, like his neighbour, the Apothecary, oppressed by the fear
of French invaders ; all anxiety is hateful to him, and he cherishes
a comfortable faith in Providence and remembers the sure
barrier of the Rhine. His own time for ease has come, but it
should be his son's business now to take up his task, and advance
in social success from the point to which the father had arrived —
for besser ist besser. And, with so exemplary a parent, Hermann
is an unsatisfactory son ; he will not seek a bride from among
the daughters of the wealthy neighbour, whose white stucco and
green paint glorify the market-place ; why sliould not one of these
fashionable young ladies decorate the inferior of the Golden
Lion and gratify the good father-in-law with fashionable airs
on the piano ? But Hermann is dull and devoid of ambition ; he
has been a laggard in his class at school, while others strode
ahead ; he can content his poor ambition with horses and affairs
of the farm ; and all this though he has a father who has not only
bettered himself but helped to better the town, one who held the
office of 'Bauherr' six times, and that with general approbation.
For certain, Hermann shall never bring across the threshold as
bride, bearingin hand her üttle bündle of belongings, some peasant
daughter-in-law — die Trulle ! And to pardon the host's gross
xxxii HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
outbreak of speech we must needs bear in mind, as does the
wise Mütterchen, that he has quickened his blood with some
glasses of the vintage of eighty-three.
Mother and son are joined against him, and the neighbours
aid and abet their revolt ; they do him wrong, but why should he
vex his soul ? he will submit and let things take their course.
When at length Hermann and Dorothea arrive out of the night,
the host has recovered his good-humour, and the occasion is one
for some harmless banter ; but it fares ill with the father's jests ;
the scene changes to one of indignation and protest, with weeping,
demonstrative women. Was ever kind, indulgent father so
wronged ? Sobs, and bewailings, and confusion at the close of
the day, when a little good sense might have set all right ! For
his part he can endure it no longer and will betake himself to his
bed. It needs all Dorothea's gracious tact to restore harmony ;
but the father's heart is in truth sound and warm, and, as he
embraces his new daughter, the good man has to hide some
happy tears.
The Mütterchen bears a certain resemblance to Goethe's own
bright-hearted and sympathetic mother. In reading Hermann
und Dorothea, though the Pastor with his spiritual wisdom and
Hermann with his streng heart and steadfast will vindicate their
sex, we have to make some allowances for masculine limitations
and infirmities ; but the Ewig-Weibliche is presented in two
exemplars which are whoUy admirable. The Mütterchen is in
love with happiness and with her own business of creating it for
others, and therefore for herseif; and to lessen misery is in
a way to be a creator of happiness. She does not sentimentalize
over sorrow, but straightway sets herseif, as far as in her lies, to
chase it away. Being beneficent, she enjoys the sense of power
and influence which can be wielded for beneficent ends. And
having to deal with a husband whose humours require at times
some skilful management, she knows" that tact is an auxiliary
or a modo of power. Mcn are wayward and rathcr irrational
creatures, but then thcy are only men, and it cannot be expected
that they should be as intelligent as a woman. Even the Pastor
THE PLACE AND THE PER SONS xxxüi
is a little too much given to philosophical reflections on lightness
of temper and the virtues of curiosity, and the new, the useful,
and the good, when he ought rather to satisfy her curiosity at
once with a budget of news ; the mother must be pardoned for
growing a little restive under his discourse. As for the husband,
who twenty years ago wooed her amid the ruins of their homes
and bore her in his arms over the smouldering ashes of the
conflagration, he is dear to her with all the dearness of happy
use and wont ; and he is her own to guide and rule, while she
will never show that she rules ; but her son is wholly her owa
in even a more delightful way. And, since his happiness is hers,
she has no toiich of maternal jealousy ; through his joy in
Dorothea, a daughter after her heart, she will double her own
joy. It is true that she had already in imagination chosen for his
bride the rieh neighbour's daughter, Minchen —
' Minchen fürwahr ist gut und war dir immer gewogen ' ;
but marriages are made in heaven, and it seems that Minchen is
not the bride-elect ; therefore Dorothea, though she may bring
only a bündle for her dowry, shall be beloved by the mother
almost as her own child. We must take our children as heaven
^ends them ; she will not have her Hermann rated for being
what God made him ; he has his own gift, and must use it in his
own way; he will prove a model to burgher and countryman,
and will not be the last or least in the civic Council. And so she
departs to seek the good son and comfort his troubled heart.
Never was there more entire sympathy between mother and
son. At first Hermann veils his heart, but it is with a veil that
is transparent to the loving maternal eyes. What is all this talk
about soldiering and drum and trumpet ? Such is not Hermann's
true and instinctive form of patriotism ; he is a brave and noble
youth, but his vocation is one of tranquil toil and domestic duty.
And presently, through her clear divination and womanly courage
in sympathy, the veil is wholly dropped and Hermann's naive
confession comes forth— /Vä entbehre der Gattin. It only remains
to test a little further the virtues of promptitude and courage ;
C
XXXiv HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
leading Hermann by the band, she will confront bis fatber and
with tbe utmost directncss will make the Situation clear. And
happily, just at the moment before the pair enter, the Pastor has
been dilating, in words which carry weight however they may
appear to be disregarded, on the excellcnce of such a temper as
that of Hermann, calm in its energy, stcadfast, bent on acquiring
and maintaining what is useful, and unvcxed by misleading
ambitions. The fumes of tbe eighty-three bave evaporated
from the Host's brains, and who can qucstion tbe result ?
Under Hermann's quietude and reserve tbere lie much
sensitiveness, much moral delicacy, and a capacity for genuine
passion. It is remarkable that Goethe has succeeded in making
US feel at once the solidity of Hermann's character and its
natural refinement. This youth is no Wertber, incapable of
contending effectively with morbid emotion which disturbs tbe
intellect and saps the power of tbe will. He has attached bimself
from childhood to what is useful ; be is eminently hcalthful of
heart, and, when love takes possession of him, love itself, over-
mastcring in its strength, brings him strength, and is indeed
a part of the bighest sanity. In the perfect understanding which
exists between mother and son we find evidence of Hermann's
freedom from the dullness and egoism that are not uncommon
with bis sex and age. As a scbool-boy he was sensitive for bis
fathcr's honour, and thosc graceless comradcs who mockcd at the
host's efflorcscence of Sunday costume soon found that tbere was
sometbing dangerous in the quiet son, who rarcly resented any
provocation directed against bimself alone. When bis fatber has
rcproachedbim unjustly and pronounced in anticipationasentence
against the maidcn of bis choice, Hermann utters no indignant
word, but endurcs tbe wound and gently withdraws to unburden
bis heart in solitude. He is not insensible to the good father's
infirmities, but never have bis lips opened on tbis theme to
any one ; and when as a bint of guidance to Dorothea he must
needs refer to the host's rcgard for external denionstrations of
respect and aftection he does so with the fincst ilelicacy ; and
that he expresses even so much is an indication of his absolute
THE PLACE AND THE PERSONS XXXV
trust in Dorothea, and of the perfect Community of feeling
already established between them. Hermann hitherto has been
the reverse of lethargic ; he has diligently attended to the
labours of the farm ; but half his nature has lain dormant There
was something a Httle fatuous in his dutiful efForts to cultivate
the airs and graces expected by the young ladies of the great
house in the market-place ; and to poor Hermann-Tamino,
when, in an agony of shame, he laid aside his superfine coat
and pulled his hair out of curl, the fatuousness was apparent.
But now his total seif gives authority to a wise passion ; his
whole nature is aroused and all its powers are consentaneous.
As Hermann, on his return from the errand of mercy, enters the
room, the Pastor observes that he is an altered man ; a new
animation has taken possession of him ; he, who had been silent
or reserved, now can wax eloquent ; he must needs step forth to
rebuke the Apothecary for his self-regarding celibate views.
And when a Httle later under the great pear-tree Hermann pours
forth his grief, and r.nnounces his patriotic resolve to fight and
to die for his country, it is not mere vapouring or the enthusiasm
of a dream. The passion of his heart, foiled in its immediate
aims, bears him onward to new and generous designs. AVhen
once again that passion concentrates itself on Dorothea and the
substantial joys of home, it contains within it a better patriotism,
founded on a love first for what is near and real, and then for the
mother country which presides over and preserves all the blessed-
ness of the hearth and home. Hermamij with his delicacy of
feeling, is no confident lover, assured that the son of the w-ell-
to-do host must carry all before him ; he has the good sense
to trust much to the discretion of his friends ; he is perfectly
assured that they can make no discovery about Dorothea which
will not enhance her honour; but, for his own part, he is subject
to all a lover's vicissitude of hopes and fears. Whatever she may
say cannot but be good and reasonable —
' Was sie sagt, das ist gut, es ist vernünftig, das weiss ich ' —
but the ring upon the maiden's fmger fills him with forebodings ;
c 2
XXXvi HERMANN UND DOROTHEA
one so beautiful must surely have bcen wooed — perhaps won —
already ; and Hermann almost to the last fears to put bis fate to
the touch, * to gain or lose it all.'
Yet Hermann's love is that of a heart strong and sane, and it
is fixed upon one who is as strong of heart as he, and as good as
strong — ' so gut wie stark.' While be as yet is but half developed,
and retains much of tbe reserve and shy sensitiveness of youth,
she has already come into complete possession of her adult
powers. Her perceptions are ahvays clear, her judgement always
unerroneous, her will always at command and prompt for right
action. At the centre of her being is the desire for beneficent
Service to others ; but she i^ not careless of her own wclfare, or
reckless of her future, or insensible of her own rights. In
defence of the weak against the outrage of the oppressor she can
flame forth with a righteous rage like that of Spenser's Britomart.
But she can show her strcngth as tenderness when aiding the
feeble mother with the new-born habe ; and as she turns to
depart from the band of fugitives in Company with Hermann the
cry of children is heard, and they cling to her skirts as to those of
a second mother. "With wise foresight she inquires of Hermann
how she may win the esteem and regard of the master and
mistress of the Golden Lion ; and, having been satisfied by his
answers, she can inwardly indulge a touch of dawning love and
at the same time an outward touch of playfulness in the question —
* Aber wer sagt mir nunmehr : vpie soll ich dir selber begegnen,
Dir, dem einzigen Sohn und künftig meinem Gebieter?'
For Dorothea, if she has none of the modish, ungenerous wit of
the young ladies of the great house in the market-place, has
a lambent brightness of her own, which is part of her joy in life.
We remember her less, however, by any words than by her
deeds ; by what she does and by what she shows herseif to be^in
the unconscious nobility of her attitude, and in evcry gracious
turn both of mind and of person. We think of her, staff in
band, guiding, urging, rcstraining the great oxen which draw the
Waggon where the pale mother and the infant rest. We think
THE PLACE AND THE PER SONS XXXVÜ
ofher_as the armed champipn of chastity, an Athene addrcssed to
combat. We think of her under the apple-tree, preparing little
garments for a child. We think of her, still bent on Service to
others, at the fountain, bearing the vessels for water in the right
hand and the left. We think of her as she sank, in that stumble
of good omen, on her lover's Shoulder, and, with no awkwardness
or embarrassment, at once turned off the significance of the
incident and concealed the pain of her wrenched ankle with
a jest and a smile. Goethe during his Italian journey and his
residence at Rome had aroused and calmed his sense of beauty
by the contemplation of classical sculpture. No marble god-
dess of the Roman galleries has more of dignity than Dorothea,
who yet is of warm and breathing humanity, of flesh, not
marble, and who withal, in heart and souI, is true German. The
circumstances of the time have made her a wanderer, but such
upheaval is allen to her nature ; she is made to build upon sure
foundations the honour and the happiness of the German home.
She will not spend herseif in aspirations towards the unattainable ;
but whatever can be attained by dutiful ways, by loyalty, fidelity,
steadfastness, disinterested service, will be in the possession of
those who are dear to her. -Thejinbpunded trust which Hermann
reposes . in her has no extravagance in its kind or its degree ;
assuredly all will be fulfilled.
Other poems teil us of the nobility that may esist in suffering ;
it is well to read a poem which makes us feel the nobility ,thaL.
|sjn happiness.
EDWARD DOWDEN.
GOETHE
HERMANN und DOROTHEA
l^trmann unö Bnxtxtlfm
■Jllfo t^a^ iväre 3?erhccl)cn, t'aiß cinft 5i>rover^ mid) bcijciflcrt,
^Daf 9}Zartial ftd; ,511 mit auc^, ber oenvegne, gefeüt?
2)a§ ic^ bic ■^Utcn nid)t (;inter mir Ue^, bie Schute ju (niten,
5)af fle nad^ Satium gern mir in bas iJe6eu gefolgt?
I)a^ i^ dlntm unb ^iinfi 511 fd?aiin mic^ treulich f>e|lrebe, 5
2)a^ fein i)Iamc mid) täiifdu, ba^ mid) fein 5£!ogma 6efd?ränft?
2)ap nic^t beo :^f6enö bebingenber I^rang mic^, ben ilienfdjen,
üeränbert,
I)ap id) ber -§eud>'Iei biuftige Ü)ia«fc iterfc^nui^t ?
@otdjer Segler, bie bii, 0 3Diufe, fo emftg gepfleget,
Seilet ber ^bhd mic^; $ö6el nur fte^t er in mir. 10
5a, fogar ber -^effere fel6ft, gutmütig unb f'ieber,
2Bift mic^ anberS ; boc^ bu, »Diufe, 6efie§(ft mir aüeiu ;
2)enn t'U 6i|i e§ allein, bie nod^ mir bie innere 3ugenb
(yrifd) erneueft unb fte mir 6i§ ju @nbe üerfpric^ft.
■}iitx öerbopple nunmehr, 0 ©ijttin, bie ^eilige Sorgfalt! 1.5
Qtc^ bie <Sd}eiteI umreaüt reic^Iid^ bie Socfe nic^t me^r:
^a feebarf man ber .^ränje, jtdi feI6|i unb anbre ^u täufduMi ;
Ärdnjte bod? (Safar felbft nur an§ -Jöebürfniö bac^ J)aupt !
^aft bu ein 2or6eerreiä mir tefiimmt, fo U^ eg am B^^^eigc
ÜBeiter grünen unb gieb einfi es bem SCBürbigern ^in ! ^o
5Iber Otofen icinbe genug jum ^dusüdien J^ranje !
SSalb aU Silie fd^fingt fttberne Öocfc ftd^ burd?.
a ^eimanu unb X)orott)ea
©rf^üre bic ©attin bal Seiier, auf reinlichem -&erbe ju foc^en I
QBcrfe ber Änatc baö 9tcie!, [^.nclenb gefdjäftiij baju!
JJa^ im a?ed;ci- uid}t fe{)(eu ben ffiein ! ©efpidrtjige ^reunbe, 35
(Sleid^geftnnte, ^cvein ! Äiänje, fte irarten auf eud;.
Qx\t bie ©cfunb^eit beö SDianneö, ber, enblic^ 00m iJlameu
v^omeroei
Mü^n unö fiefrcicnb, unS and; ruft in bie öottere 33a^n !
üienn iver luagte mit ©ötteru ben Äampf? Uub iver mit bem
einen ?
!I)ocf) ^cmeribe ju fein, aud; nur aU Ie|tcr, ift fc^on. 30
5)arum l;ijret bag neufte ®ebid}t! 9bcfc einmal gctrunfcn!
^ud) fceftec^e ber 3Bein, 5reunbfd)aft unb 8ic6e bag O^r!
2)eutfd)eu felkr fiit)r' id) (5ud) ,^u in bie ftiUerc 3Bol)nung,
2Bo fid), nal; ber iJuitur, menfc^Iid; ber löienfc^ uod; erjie^t ;
Un§ begleite beä 1)ic^ter§ ©eifl, ber feine SJuife 36
9tafd) bem unirbigcn Breunb, un§ ju entjücfcn, tterbanb.
■^lud; bie traurigen 'Silber ber ^üt, fte fii^r' id? »ooriiber;
•^Iter eg ftege ber Nullit in bem gefunben @efd;Iec6t!
J^aO' id; C^ud) 3:^{;räncn ing 5(uge gelorft unb Sufi in bie «Seele
©ingenb geflij^t, fo fommt, brürfet mid) i^crjlid; ang «§erj ! 40
aBeifc benn fei bag ©efpräd? ! llng Iet)ret SBeigt^eit om (5nbe
2?ag 3at}r(;unbert ; iven l^at bag ©efdiicf nid)t ge^^rüft?
l^Iicfet tjeiterer nun auf jene <Sd}mer^cn ^uriide,
SBenn (Sud; ein fvi3l)(id;cr @inu mand;eg ent(ic^rlid; erfiärt !
*})(enfdien lernten ivir tennen uub Dilationen ; fo la^t ung, 45
Unfer cigeneg ^&cr^ fcnncub, uno beffen erfreun!
^c^icffal unb Zuteil
„jQAb' id) bell ''DUdt unb bte ©trafen boc^ nie fo einfam ges
fe^en !
3fl bod^ bie (Stabt njie gefe^vt, iine auögeilorfeeu ! ^^i^t fünfzig,
!l)eu^t mir, 6Iie6en ^uriicf oon aütn unfern iBen^ol^nern.
2Bag bie 0leugier nir^t t^ut ! @o rennt unb läuft nun ein jebcr.
Um bcn traurigen ßug ber armen 3Sertrie6nen ^u feigen. 5
2ßiä jum 2)ammiveg, n-'elffien fle jietin, ift'6 immer ein ©tünbc^en,
Unb ba (ouft man l)ina6 im !^ei§en ©taube beg 2)?ittagö.
tSJlbdjt' i^ mic^ boc^ nic^t rii^ren t>Dm ^^lal, um ju feigen baä
@(enb
®uter flie^enber 5Dcenfc^en, bie nun mit geretteter >§a6e
!iieiber ba§ i'i6errf)einifc()c l*anb, bag fctjöne, i^erfoffenb, 10
3u unä ^erii6erfommen unb burcf) ben glitcfüc^en SBinfel
2)iefeg fruchtbaren Xi:^ahi unb feiner ^riimmungen iranbern,
Jrefflic^ :^aft bu ge{)anbe(t, 0 5rau, baf bu miibe ben ©o^n fort
©c^itftefl mit aüem VHnnen unD etrcag (äffen unb 3:'rinfen,
Um eö ben '3(rmcn ^u f^^enben; benn ©eben ijl ©ac^c beö
liReic^en. 15
5öa8 ber Sungc borli fafirt unb ivie er bdnbigt bie >§engftc !
©ei)r gut nimmt ba« J^iitfrf;cf)eu f!cf) aug, bag neue; bequemlic^
(Säpen öiere barin unb auf tem '^ocfe ber Äutfc^er.
2)iegmal fut)r er allein ; wie roßt' eö teic^t um bie @de ! "
<So fprac^, unter bem ^^oxe beg ^§aufeg ft^enb am 'Diarfte 20
2Bo^(6e^ag(icl>, jur Jrau ber ÜSirt jum golbeuen Öijiren.
B 2
4 .^ermann unt ^Dorotfjea
Unb eg öerfc^tc barauf bie fluge, fcrflcinbigc »giaugfrau :
„93ater, nic^t gerne öerfd^enf ic^ bic abgetragene ilJeinn^anb;
I)enn fle ift 3U manchem ©ebraud;, unb für ®elb nic^t ju
l^aben,
9Benu man il)rer t«cbarf. 'S)od} fceutc gab idi fo gerne 25
9J?an^cö beffcre (Stücf an Überzügen unb <§embcn ;
I)enn id^ leerte oon Jlinbern unb Otiten, bie narfenb bal^erge^n.
2Birfi bu mir a6er üer^ei^n? bcnn auä) bein (Sci;ranf ifl ge=
plünbert.
Unb fcefonberei ben «Sd^Iafrocf mit inbianifc^cn "Blumen,
QSon bem feinften Jlattun, mit feinem Sknette gefiittert, 30
®nB ic^ t)in ; er ifl bünn unb alt unb ganj auö ber Wlott."
■ilUx eS lädielte brauf ber trefflid^c ^augirirt unb [agte :
„Ungern oermiff ic^ il^n bod), tm alten fattunenen Sd?Iafro(f
6d;t oflinbifc^en @top ; fo etn:«aö friegt man nic^t iviebcr.
ffio^I ! ic^ trug il^n nic^t me^r. Wum mU je§t freitid^, ber 3>iann
[Ott 35
Smmer gel^n im ©iirtout unb in ber ^i'cfefdje ftd^ geigen,
Smmer gefliefelt fein; ücrbannt ift Pantoffel unb 2)?ü§e."
„@iel^el" oerfe^te bie 5rau, „bort fommen fc^on einige njicner,
2)ie ben 3»9 "»t ö^fftiu; er mu^ boc^ wo'i)! fc^on öorBei fein.
@ef)t, nne aUm bie @dni:^e fo ftaubig ftnb, une bie ©eflc^ter 40
©litten! Unb jeglid;er fü^rt bag ©c^nupftud; unb ivifd^t fld^
ben @c^itci§ a(\
3)Zöd)t' idj bodi aud) in ber ^it^e nad; fold^em @(^auf^jie( fo
jveit nic^t
Saufen unb leiben I Jürwal^r, i(^ j^abe genug am drjäl^Iten."
Unb eö fagtc barauf ber gute 93ater mit ^^adibrurf :
„@oId; ein 3Bcttcr ift feiten 3U foId;er ö-riitc gcfommen, 45
Unb roir Bringen bic gruc^t herein, n?ie baö «§eu fd^on herein ift,
S^rorfen; ber Fimmel ift "i^cU, eg ift fein 2ß6Ifdien ju feigen,
Unt 'oon 3)Jorgcn itei^et ber iißinb mit lieSIidjer Ji{ii|Iung.
I. StaU\o)ßt 5
2)aä xft Beflcinbigeä SBetter, utib überreif ifl baä Äorn fc^ou ;
SKorgen fangen reir an ju fc^neiben bie reic^Iic^e drnte." 50
%U er fo fpra(^, uernie^rten flc^ immer bie ©cJjaren ber
SKänner
Unb ber 2Bei6er, bie ü6er ben '^axtt fld^ nad6 >§aufe begaben ;
Unb fo fam auc& jurücE mit feinen Xb<i)kxn gefal}ren
dici\ä) an bie anbere Seite be§ 2)?arftg ber Begüterte iJ^ac&bar
Qln fein erneiierteä >§ang, ber erfte Äanfmann be§ Orteg, 55
5m geöffneten 3Bagen (er war in SJanbau verfertigt).
Siebl^aft warben bie ©äffen ; benn ico^I war beöötfert baS
(atäbtdjen,
ÜÄanc^er Jabrifen befliß man jtc^ ba unb mand^eg ©ewerbeä.
Unb fo fap baä trauliche $aar, ffcfj unter bem S^^orweg
Über M§ wanbernbe 93olf mit mancher SBemerfung ergofeenb. 60
(Snblid) aber begann bie würbige «öaulfrau unb fagte :
„(Sef)t I bort fommt ber ^rebiger l^er ; e§ fommt aud) ber SRac^bar
Q{)30t^efer mit il^m ; bie fotlen ung atteS erjä^Ien,
3Ba6 fie brausen gcfe^n unb trag ju fd^auen nid^t fro'^ mad)t."
S^reunblid; famen !^eran bie beiben unb grüßten ba§ (Sf)*
^aar, 65
@e|ten ftd? auf bie Sßänfc, bie l^öl3ernen, unter bem 3!t)orweg,
<ötaub öon ben Süfen fd^üttelnb unb ü^uft mit bem 3!uc^e flc^
fäc^elnb.
2)a begann benn ^uerfl na^ wec^felfeitigen ©rü^cn
2)er %pot^dex ju fpredjen unb fagte beinal^e öerbrie§Iid) :
„(So ftnb bie a)Jenfd^en, fiirwai^r! Unb einer ift bod; wie ber
anbre, 70
5)af er ju gafen ftd; freut, wenn ben 0^ä(^fien ein Ungtürf
befäßet !
Säuft bo(^ jeber, bie (flamme ju fe^n, bie öerberblic^ em)3orfc^Iägt,
Seber ben armen 3Serbred^er, ber ^jeinlid) ,5um ilobe gefüi^rt wirb.
Seber f^pajiert nun t;inaug, ju fc^aueu ber guten 33er triebneu
6 ^ermann \n\\:^ 'DoiotEien ,
dlenb, unb niemanb tebeuft, fap i^n baö ci^nlici)e Sc^icffal 75
^iid\ öieHeirtit junäd;ft, betreffen faitn, ober bod) fünftiii.
Unöerjei^lid^ finb' id) ben Selc^tflnn ; boc^ liegt er im 3)?enfc(?en."
Unb el [agte bavauf ber eble, Oerflänbige ^farrt)err,
(5r, bie 3iffbe ber @tabt, ein Süngling näl^er bem 2)?anne.
2)iefer fannte bag iJebcn imb fannte ber >§6rer SSebiirfnigi, 80
9Bar toni bolzen SGBerte ber l^eiligen «Schriften burcöbrungen,
5)ie uns ber SJfeufd^en @efcl)icf entlnitten unt i^ire (Meftnnung ;
Unb fo fannt' er and) woi^i bie ttefien ireltlic^en @d;riften.
5)iefer f:prac^ : „ 3d; table nidn gern, wa8 immer bem !i)ienf(^en
5ür unfdjciblidje triebe bie gnte SDhttter SRatur gab ; 85
2)enn irag 93erftanb unb 33ernunft ni^t immer öermi3gen, öer=
mag oft
©olc^ ein glücflici^er -§ang, ber iiniüiberfte^Iid) unö leitet,
Socfte bie SReugier nidit ben a)?enfd)en mit i^ieftigen Oieij^en,
Sagt, erfülir' er u^o'^l je, ivie fchön ftd) bie ireltlid)en 2)ingc
' ®egen einanber üerl^alten? 2)enn erft Jjerlangt er baö 9Jeue, 90
@ud)et ba§ 91ii|Iid)e bann mit unermübetem S'^eipe,
(Jnblic^ begehrt er bas? ®ute, bag iiin erl;cbet unb n?ert madn.
3n ber Sugenb ijt if)m ein frokr @efät>rte ber 'i?eid)tftnn,
5)er bie @efat;r i^m üerbirgt unb t;eilfam gcfd^ivinbe bie >£v»re»
Sülget beg fdnner^Ii^en Übelg, fobalb et^ nur irgenb oorbeijog. 95
Jreilidj ift er ju ^jreifen, ber SS}i\nn, bem in reiferen 3a^ren
(Sid) ber ge[e|te 33erftanb (\xi§' fo(d)em 5rol)itnn entiindelt,
2)er im &lüd \vk im Unglüd ftd) eifrig unb t^ätig beftrebet;
2)enn bag ®ute dringt er ^eröor unb erfe^et ben @d)aben."
5reunbti(^ begann fogleid^ bie ungebulbige ^angfrau : 100
„«saget unö, iraS 3^r gefe|)n ! 2)enn bag begel;vt' i(^ ju rciffen."
„ (Sd)irerlid;," oerfe^te barauf ber Ql^otl^efer mit ^^adibrucf,
„Sßerb' ic^ fo balb mi^ freu'n nad; bem, iraö id) aUeS erfal^ren.
Unb »cer erjcit)Iet eö luol^l, t>a^ mannigfaltigfte (Jtenb!
(Sc^on oon ferne fal;n wir ben (Staub, nod; e^' mv bie liefen 105
I. ^(\Uiopc 7
^(Strärtg famen ; ber 3ii9 "-'iir fcfiou üon '§iujet 511 ^iu^el
Unafcfc^Iirf) ba^^in, man fonnte wcnu] erfcnnen.
%U wir nun aber ben 2ßeg, ber quer burc^g Z\)al ge|)t, erreid^ten,
9ßar ©ebräng unb ©etiimmel nod; gvo^ ber 5Banbrer unb ffiagen.
Selber fallen irir noc6 genug ber Qlrnien öorfccijie^n, iio
.S^onnten etngetn erfahren, vok Bitter bie fd^merjlicfje 5Uid?t [ei,
Unb n^ic fro!^ ba§ ©efiibi beS eilig geretteten I^cScng.
ilraurig rtax e§ 3U fe^n, bie mannigfaltige «§a6e,
2)ie ein -^aug nur öerSirgt, baä irofjlyerfe^ne, unb bie ein
©uter 9Birt um'^er an bie rechten ©tetten gefe|t ^at, 1x5
Smmer bereit jum ©eBraudie ; benn aUt§ iji nötig unb niifelicti ;
SRun ju feigen baä aüc^, auf mandjerlei 5Sagen unb J?arreu
2)urc[)einanber gelaben, mit Ütereilung geftiicf^tet.
Üfier bem (Scl^ranfe lieget baf^ (2ie6 unb bie tt)ot(enc 2)ecfc ;
5n bem 3BacEtvog ba§ -^ett unb baö Scintuc^ iiBer bem *8pieget. 120
Qtc6, unb e» nimmt bie ©efa^r, \vk wiv 6eim 3Branbe üor 5trani;ig
3a:^ren aucf; irofcl gefe^n, bem 3Jicnfcf;en aüe Q3eftnnung,
2)ap er ba§ Unbebeutenbe faft unb ba§ 3:'eure juriicfläpt.
Qüfo fül^rten aucft ^ner mit untefonnener Sorgfalt
iS^Ied^te ©inge fte fort, bie Oc^fen unb ^ferbe ftcfc^icerenb, 125
Qdte ^Bretter unb Sdffer, ben ©änfejlaU unb ben Ääftg.
•3lud) fo feuctjtcn bie 9Bei6er unb ^inber, mit ^Bünbcln ftdi
fcf^Iep^jenb,
Unter .Kör6en unb ^Butten üofl «2ad)en feinest ©ekaud^eg;
5?enn eö öerlapt ber SDJenfc^ fo ungern ba§ Se§te t»er >§abe.
Unb fo 30g auf bem ftauBigeu 5Beg ber brängenbe 3"g fort 130
Orbnung»Io6 unb t^errcirrt. 2)iit fc^iväc^eren lieren ber eine
SBünfcfcte langfam ju fa^^ren, ein anberer emftg 5U eilen.
5)a entflanb ein ©cfdirei ber gequetfd^tcn 5Bei6er unb .Äinber
Unb ein 5?Iöfen beg ^sie^eö, bajunfdjen ber ^unbe ®e6elfer,
Unb ein SeWaut ber QKten unb Jlranfen, bie ^oc^ auf bem
fcfeiceren, 135
8 ^ermann unb 3)crot^ea
ÜUrqtpadten 9ßagen auf SBetten fafen unb fdbiranften.
Qlber ausi beni ®Ieife gebvängt nad) bem 9Ranbe beö «^od^roegg
Srrte bag fnarrenbc 0iab ; e§ ftiir^t' in ben @ra6en baS Su^rrocrf
llmgefc[)Iagen, unb treitf)in entfiürjten im (Sdncunge bie SDienfdben
Wlit entfe|Uci)em ©d^rei'n in baö Selb t)in, aticr bocfe gliicflid) ; 140
©iJätcr fiiirjten bie Äaften unb fielen nä^er bem QBagen.
2Ba:^irtict), wn im JaÜen fte fa{), ber envavtete nun, fte
Unter ber ^^ift ber .Giften unb Sci^ränfe jerfc^mettert ju fd)auen.
Unb fo lag gerferocben ber 2Bagen unb l^ilfloä bie 5Kmfcl;en ;
2)enn bie üBrigen gingen unb ;;ogen eilig üoriikr, 145
SRur fiel) felkr kbenfenb unb t)ingeriffen üom (Strome.
Unb nnr eilten l^iuju unb fanben bie Äranfen unb 5Uten,
2)ie 3n >§au8 unb im SBctt [d}on faum iüir bauernbe§ 5}eiben
artigen, t)ier auf beni !3?oben, kfd)äbigt, M}\en unb jammern,
U3on ber (Sonne verbrannt unb erfticft 00m ivogenben (Stank." 150
Unb e§ fagte barauf gcriil;rt ber menfdilid^e «§au3nnrt :
„äl'öge bod) v§ermann fte treffen unb fie erguicfen unb f leiben !
Ungern tvi'irb' id; fle \d)u ; mid) fd^merjt ber Qln(ilicf beö 3ammerö.
@dion i?on bem erften -^eiidH fo großer JJeiben gerü^ret
@d)irften ivir eilenb ein (Sd;erf(ein üon unferm Überfluß, ba^ nur
Ginige nn'irben geftärft, unb fdiienen unö felbcr terul^igt. 156
•JU^er laft un§ nid;t met)r bie traurigen ^^ilber erneuern !
2)enn eg kfd^leid^et bie 5nrd;t gar balb bie ^er^en ber ü)?enfd)en
Unb bie (Sorge, bie mel;r ale felbft mir baS llbel öer!^afn ift.
3!retet l;erein in ben Hinteren 9iaum, baö fiUiIere SiUd^en ! 160
3lie fd^eint (Sonne bal^in, nie bringet a\irmere iJuft bort
2)urd) bie ftcirferen 5)?auern ; unb 9Kütterc^en bringt unö ein
©läöc^en
5)reiunbac^tjiger f)er, bamit ivir bie ©ritten öertreiben.
>§ier ift nidit frennblid; i,n trinfen ; bie fliegen umfummen bie
©Idfer."
Unb fte gingen bat)in unb freuten ftdi i\Ü( Per J{ü(;(ung. 165
I. 5?aniopc 9
©or^fam Sradjte bie 2)?utter beg Haren, ^errlic^en SSeineö
3n ge[cf)Iif|ener 8^Ia[c^e auf fclanfem, ginnernem jRunbe
2Rit ben griinlicben JJtijmern, beii c^ten SBec^evn beg 0ll^ein=
ttieing. —
llnb fo fl^enb umgoSen bie brei ben glänjenb getiot)nten,
Sflunben, braunen -lifc^, er ftanb auf mäc&tigen Srüfeu. 170
•Reiter flangen fogtetc^ bie ©läfer beä SBirteg unb ^farrerä ;
^oä) untea^eglic^ l^ielt ber britte benfenb baö feine,
Unb eg forbert' xi)n auf ber SBirt mit freunb(icl)en ffiorten :
„5rif(^, «§err 0iac^6ar, getrunfen! ©enn nod; 6eaH-i:^rte üor
Unglücf
©Ott ung gnäbig unb roirb aud^ fünftig ung alfo fceiral^ren. 175
2)enn irer ernennet eö nic^t, baf feit bem fd)recfUctien SSranbe,
2)a er fo l^art ung gefiraft, er ung nun Befiänbig erfreut ^at
Unb beftänbig befd^ü^t, fo njic ber 2ßenfc^ fld^ beg 5tugcg
Äöftli^en 5f^fel beu^a^rt, ber üor cilkn ©liebern i^m liefe ift.
@oüt' er fernerhin nic^t un§ fc^ü|cn unb >§ilfe bereiten? 180
S)enn man ftei}t eS erft reci^t, njieöiel er öermag, in ®efal;ren.
(Sollt' er bie bliil^enbc ©tabt, bie er erfi burd) fleißige 9Siirger
SReu au^ ber 5lfc^e gebaut unb bann fle reid^Ud; gefegnct,
3e|o roieber jerfiören unb olle Sßemü^^ung öernid^ten?"
«Reiter fagte barauf ber treffliche Pfarrer unb milbc : 185
„«galtet am ©lauben feft unb feft an biefer ©eftnnung!
$Denn fte ma^t im ©liicfe öerftänbig unb fic^er, im Unglitcf
3fleic^t f!e ben fd^onjten ilroft unb belebt bie l)errlid?fte -öof^
nung."
2)a öerfefete ber Ößirt mit männli^en, fingen ©ebanfen :
„9Bie begrii^t' ic^ fo oft mit «Staunen bie Saluten beg Di^ein^
ftrom§, 190
SCBenn ic^ reifeub nad) meinem ©efc^äft il)m icieber mic& nal^te !
Smmer fc^ien er mir gro^ unb er^ob mir @inn unb ©emiUe ;
^ber id; tonnte nid)t benfen, bap balb fein lieblic^eö Ufer
10 ^ermann unb 2)orotf)ea
(goßte icerben ein 2Batt, um abjuitel^reu tm ^vanhn,
Unb [ein oerireiteteg SBett ein attöer^inbernber ©raben. 195
<Stf)t, fo fc^ü|t bie Sflatur, fo fcf?ü§en bic irarferen 2)eutfc(;en,
Unb fo fc^üfet uns ber >§err! 3Ber rvoUU tBöridit oerjagen?
2)Zübe fc^on flnb bie (Streiter, unb aUe§ beutet auf g-rieben.
SWijge ioit} auci), wenn bag t^t^, bag lang' erreünfc^te, gefeiert
2Birb in unferer .Kircfce, bie ©locfe bann tönt ju ber Drgcl, 200
Unb bie ^rom^jete fdjmettert, ba§ tjol^e ^^e 2)eum Begleitenb:
STOögc mein <§ermann bod^ auci^ an biefem 3!age, «§err Pfarrer,
3)?it ber aBraut entf(^Ioffen sor (?uc^ am Qdtare ft^ fteßen,
Unb bag glücfU^e 5cfi, in atlen ben l'anben Begangen,
%ü<i) mir fünftig erfd^einen, ber i)äu§lic^en g'reuben ein 3al^rg=
tag ! 205
Qt6er ungern fe^' ic^ ben Süngling, ber immer fo t^ätig
3»ir in bem >§aufe ftc^ regt, nadj au^en langfam unb fc^üc&tern.
QBenig finbet er !iJuft flc^ unter iJcuten ju j^eigen ;
3a, er öermeibet fogar ber jungen 9)Zäbcl)en ©efettfcCrnft
Unb ben frötjlid^en S^anj, ben atte Sugenb begetjret." 210
5lIfo fprad) er unb l^orc^te. SKan f^öxU ber j!am).'>fenben ^^ferbe
^erneö ©etöfe fid) nai)n, man l^ijrte ben roltenben 'slßagcn,
2)er mit gewaltiger (Sile nun bonnert' unter ben 3^:^ornjeg.
II. f rrpfirfjnre '
ipermann
%U nun bcr njD!§Ige6iIl?ete 8o§n ing 3ii»ni«r ticreintrat,
©c^aüte ber ^rebigev ifim mit fc&aifen 3SIi(fen entgegen
Unb betrachtete feine ©eftalt unb [ein ganzes 33ene|men
W\t bem Qluge bei Sorfc^erl, ber leicht bie 3)Henen enträtfelt,
;?äd^elte bann unb [?>racf^ ju i!^m mit traulidien QSorten : 5
„Äommt 3^r boc^ aU ein oeränberter 2)fenfc^! 3d) l^abe noc^
niemals
(Sudi fo munter gefel^n unb ©ure 3?ncfe fo Ie5!^aft.
5rö§li(!& f ommt 3^r unb Reiter ; man fte^t, 3^r {)a6et bie @aBen
Unter bie 5trmen öerteilt unb i^ren (Segen empfangen."
iRu^ig ernnberte brauf ber ©ol^n mit ernftlic^cn SSorten : 10
„06 ict) löblid) ge!§anbelt, icl) ivci^ e6 nicfet ; a6cr mein «^erj ^at
SKic^ ge^eifen ju t^un, fo icie ic^ genau nun erjä^le.
SWutter, 3^r framtet fo fange, bie alten ©tiicfe ju fuc^en
Unb ju irdl^Ien; nur f^^ät ivar erfl ba§ Zimbel ,^ufammen,
5(uc^ ber 2Bein unb bal Sßier warb langfam, forglic^ gepacfet. 15
Qtig ic^ nun enblid^ Oor§ X^ov unb auf bie Strafe l^inauS*
fam,
©trörnte jurücE bie Sßenge ber 93ürger mit Sßeibern unb Äinbern
SKir entgegen; benn fern irar fc^on ber 3"g i>t>^ 33ertriebnen.
©c^neüer §ielt ic^ mi^ bran unb fu^r te^enbe bem 2)orf ju,
2Bo fle, njie i^ gel^ijrt, i^eut' üBernadjten unb rajien. 20
Qtfg icb nun meineg SBegeg bie neue (Strafte ^inanful^r,
Siel mir ein 5Bagen inS Qtuge, oon tü^tigen ^Bäumen gefüget,
12 .^ermann m\t> "^oxottfca
33on jreei Oc^fen gebogen, t»en größten unb ftdrfjien teg QluS«
lanbg ;
0^et)cni)er ater ging mit fiarfen ©^ritten ein 2J?äbc^en,
!?enfte mit langem (Stabe bie beiben gewaltigen Spiere, 25
^xiih fle an unb i)ielt fie jurürf; fte leitete fli'igtic^.
%U mid^ bag SWabc^en erfclicfte, fo trat fle ben Q3ferben getaffen
dlä^ix unb fagte ju mir : 3^i(J^t immer rear eg mit ung fo
SammeröoH, al8 3§r ung |cut auf biefen ÜBegen erb(icfet.
d^oii) nidjt bin icf) geirot)nt, com Jremben bie @abe ^u ^eifc^en,
2)ie er oft ungern giebt, um toä ju irerben ben Qlrmen ; 31
5lber mic^ bränget bie 9Rot, ju reben. ^ier auf bem Strome
Siegt bie erft entbunbene 5rau beg reichen ^3eft|erg,
Die icfe mit (Stieren unb 3Bagen noc^ faum, bie ,f raufe, gerettet.
(S^ät nur fommen njir na^, unb faum bag !?eben erf)ielt fle. 35
SiZun liegt neugeboren ba§ Äinb if)r nacfenb im Qlrme,
Unb mit irenigem nur oermögen bie Unfern ,;;u l^elfen,
3ßenn «lir im näct^ften Dorf, wo wix i)mU ju raften gebenfen,
Qluc^ fle ftnben, irieicol^I id) fiirc^te, fte flnb fc^on oorüber.
5Bär' @uc^ irgenb öon Seiniranb nur irng ©ntbel^rlid^eg, ivenn
S^r 40
<§ier aug ber SRad^barfd^aft feib, fo fpenbet'g gütig ben "Hrmen!
„ QUfo f^nac^ fte, unb matt ert)ob fl^ 00m @trof)e bie bleid^e
©ijd^nerin, fd^aute nad^ mir ; i^ aber fagtc bagegen :
©Uten 3Kenfd;en fiinral^r f^ric^t oft ein i^immlifd^er ®eifi ju,
Daf fle fiit)Ien bie 3lot, bie bem armen Sßruber beüorfte^t ; 45
Denn fo gab mir bie 3)?utter im 53orgefii:^Ie üon (Surem
Sammer ein 93ünbel, fogleic^ eg ber nacften iRotburft ju reiben.
Unb ic^ Bfie bie knoten ber (Schnur unb gab Ü^r ben (Sdjlaf*
rocf
Unferg Qßatcrg bal^in unb gab i^r <§emben unb Seintuc^.
Unb fte banfte mit l^rcuben unb rief: Der ©li'icflic^e glaubt
nid;t, 50
II. üerpftt^ore 13
2)a§ nod? <IBuni?er i;e[cbet)u ; beim nur im (SIcnb cifcunt man
©ottcö «^anb unb Ringer, ber gute 3Kenf^en jum @uten
2eiUt 9Bag er burdi (Suit) an ung rl^ut, t^u er @uct> fclber!
Unb id) fa^ bic SBbdinerin froi) bie üerfd^iebene iJeiniranb,
•Jlber 6e[onber§ ben reeid^en S^Ianeß beg @^Iafrocfg befühlen. 55
@ilen rcir, fagte ^u ii)t bic Sungfrau, bem 2)orf ju, in welchem
Unfre ©emeine fc^on rafiet unb biefe iJlad^t burc^ fi^ auff)ält!
2)ort beforg' ic^ fogleic^ i»«^ .ßinbcr^eug, aüeö unb jebe^.
Unb fle grüßte mid; no^ unb frrac^ ben l^erjlic^fien 2)anf auö ;
ilrie"6 bie Dc^fen ; ba ging ber SCBagen. 3c^ aber öerreeilte, 60
^ielt bie 513ferbe noc^ an; benn B^iief^alt rear mir im -^er^en,
OB i^ mit eilenben Sftoffen bag 2)orf erreid^te, bie (S:|}ei[en
Unter bag übrige 23oIf ju f^enben, ober fogleid) ^ier
■2(f(eä bem SJJäbd^en gäbe, bamit f!e cg n^eillid) oerteilte.
Unb ic^ entfc^ieb mic^ gleic^ in meinem <§erjen unb fu^r i^r 65
(sackte nac^ unb erreichte fte balb unb fagte Be^enbe:
@uteg 5Käbc^en, mir :^at bie 2)Zutter nic^t !iJeinn?anb aWeinc
5tuf ben SEagen gegeben, bamit ic^ ben Städten bef leibe,
(sonbern fte fügte ba^u noc^ «S^eif unb manc^eö ©etränfe,
Unb eS ift mir genug bation im .Mafien beg SCBageng. 70
9^un bin id^ aber geneigt, auc^ biefe ®aben in beinc
«§onb ju legen, unb fo erfüü' ic^ am beflen ben 5(uftrag ;
2)u oerteilfi fte mit @inn, i^ mü^te bem ^nfaü gcl^orc^cn.
2)rauf öerfe|te bag 2)?äbc^en : SKit aller Sreuc tierrecnb' id^
@urc ®aben; ber 2)ürftige fotl flc^ berfelben erfreuen. 75
Qllfo fprad) jlc. 3c^ ijfjitete fc^nell bie Äaflcn beg Sßageng,
3ßraci^te bic <£d)infen ^cröor, bie fdjrccren, brachte bic 23rotc,
5'lafdicn 5Beineg unb SBicrg, unb reid^t' i^r atleg unb jebeg.
@crne ^ätt' id^ noc^ me^r i^x gegeben, bod) leer njar ber Äaften.
5ttleg pcidu fte brauf ju ber QBöd^nerin 5üF" ""^ s^S f'' ^°
SBeiter; i<^ eilte jurücf mit meinen ^}ferben ber @tabt ju."
5tlg nun >§ermann geenbet, ba nal;m ber gef^jrac^ige 0lad;bar
14 «^ermann itnb !l)orotf)ea
®Icic^ baS Söort imb rief: „D glücflic^, iter in ben iaqm
2)icfer B^Iuc^t unb 33erttiircung in feinem •^anS nur aCtein lebt,
SCßem ni(f)t S'rau unb Äinber jur «Seite Bange fld; fc^miegen ! 85
®\Mliä) fiit)!' ic^ mic^ ie|t- id} möc^t' um tielel ni^t l^eute
SSater l^ei^cn unb nicfjt für 5rau unb Jtinber 6eforgt fein.
Dfterg bac^t' ic^ mir and) f^on bic Sfu^t unb l^afce bic Bcflen
(Sachen jufammenge^arft, baö alte @elb unb bie Letten
!D?einer feiigen SUJutter, tcoüon nod) nic^tg üerfauft ifi, 90
^reilid^ 6Iie6e noc^ öieleö juriicf, bag fo leicht nic^t gefc^afft mirb.
@eI6ft bie Kräuter unb SBurjeln, mit öielem S^Iei^e gefammelt,
Wli^t' idi ungern^ wenn au* ber 2ßert ber 9Bare nic^t gro§ ifl.
3BIei6t ber $roöifor juritd, fo ge^' irf) getröftet oon >§aufe.
•^ab' id} bie 33arfc^aft gerettet unb meinen Äorper, fo l^afe' icf> 95
5(tteö gerettet ; ber einzelne 3Kann entflieget am lei^tften."
„ 0lac^bar/' öerfe^te barauf ber junge «^ermann mit S^ad^brucf,
„ Äeinegitjegegi benf id; \me 5f)r, unb table bie 3fiebe.
3|i rco^I ber ein njürbiger 2)?ann, ber im ©liicf unb im Unglücf
<Sid} nur allein fcebenft unb !&eibcn unb ^reuben ju teilen 100
dlidjt öerilef)et unb nicf^t ba^u öon ^erjen Setregt irirb?
Sie6cr moc^t' id) a(§ je mirf; ^eute jur -Beirat entfct;Uef en ;
25enn mancl» guteS a)J(ibc(}en fcebarf beg fd^ii|enbcn äßanneö,
Unb ber 3J?ann beg cri^eiternben 9Bei6g, irenn i^m Unglücf
Beöorfte^t."
Särf)elnb fagte barauf ber QSater : „(So l^ör' id) bic^ gerne I 105
(Bold) ein öernünftigeö SBort {)afi bu mir feiten gefprorfjen."
^6er eö fiel fogteid} bie gute 3)hitter fce^enb ein :
„ (So^n, fürwahr I bu t)afi: recl>t ; irir Altern gaten bag Seifviel.
2)enn tvir l^aBen ung nid^t an frö§Iid)en 2!agen ennäl^Iet,
Unb ung fnüpfte öielme^r bie traurigfie Stunbe ^iufammen. xio
aWontag morgenS — ici^ rceif eä genau ; benn tageö i3orf)er inar
Sener fd^recEIidje 3Sranb, ber unfer «Stäbtcfien öerjef)rtc —
Siranjig 3al)re flnb'ö nun; eä uhu' ein Sonntag ivie i)mk,
II. Xtxp^i0)oxc 15
«^eip unb tvocfen Die 3fit ""!> ireitig SSaffer im Drte. /
5lUe SJeute »raren, fpajierenb in feftlirfjen .^(eibern, iis
5tuf ben ^Dörfern verteilt unb in ben Sc^enfen unb 50?ü^Ien.
Unb am ®nbe ber 8tabt Begann bag 5eucr. 2)er SBranb tief
(^ilig bie «Strafen t)inburc^, er^eugenb jtd^ feI6er ben ßugnjinb.
Unb eä Brannten bie «Scheunen ber rcic^gefammelten @rnte,
Unb cö Brannten bie ©trafen 6iö ^u bem Wlaxtt, unb baö «§auä
njar 120
9)leinc8 3Sater8 i)ierneBen öcrje^rt unb biefeä juglcic^ mit.
SGBenig fliic^teten trir. 5c^ faf bie traurige 0lact)t burd)
33or ber @tabt auf bem 5tnger, bie Mafien unb aSetten 6eiraf)renb ;
3)od^ ^nk^t Befiel mic^ ber «Schlaf; unb aU nun beg 2)?orgeng
Wiä:) bie .tiitilung erreecfte, bie öor ber Sonne ^eraBfäUt, 125
<Bai) {(t) ben Olauc^ unb bie ®Iut unb bie f)o^Ien 2)?auern unb
effen.
2)a irar Beüemmt mein «§er5 ; aftein bie ©onne ging njieber
>§errtic^er auf alg je unb flößte mir 2)?ut in bie (Seele.
2)a eri^oB ic^ mic^ eitenb. (Sl trieB mi^, bie (Stätte gu feigen,
3Bo bie 9Bof)nung gejianben, unb oB fiel) bie <§ü^ner gerettet, 130
I)ie ic^ Befonberä gelieBt ; benn finbifd? irar mein @emüt noc^.
QU§ ic^ nun üBer bie S^rümmer be§ ^aufeä unb •§ofeS ba|)er ftieg,
2)ie nocf) rauchten, unb [0 bie SEo^nung anift unb jerftört fa'^,
Äamft bu gur anbern Seite t)erauf unb burc^furf^tejl bie Statte.
2)ir war ein 5Pferb in bem Statte öerf^üttet; bie glimmenben
aSalfen 135
Sagen barüBer unb Schutt, unb nic^tä ju fel^n njar öom Spiere.
5Ufo ftanben inir gegen einanber, Bebenflic^ unb traurig;
2)enn bie QBanb icar gefallen, bie unfere «§öfe gefcf)ieben.
Unb bu fa^teft barauf mic^ Bei ber -öanb an unb fagtefl :
Sieöc^en, irie fommft bu ^terl^er? @e^ reeg! 2)u oerBrenneft
bie Sohlen; 140
3)enn ber Schutt ift ^ei^, er [engt mir bie [tarferen Stiefeln.
16 J^amann m\t) "Doiüttjca
Unb bu l^oSefl mi^ auf unb trugfi mic^ ^eriiBer burcf) bcincn
«§of tteg. 2)a jianb noc^ baö Jl^or beä «§aufe§ mit feinem
®ett)ijlt>e,
ÜBic eä ie|t fte^t; eö irnr attcin üou aüem geblieben.
Unb bu fe^tefl micf) nieber unb fü^tcfi mic^, unb id) mxivc\)tt' eö.
5t6er bu fagtefl bnrauf mit freunblid; Sebeutenben Sorten : 146
@iet)e, bag «^auö liegt nieber. 33IeiO ^ier unb ^ilf mir e6 bauen
Unb ic^ ^elfe bagegen auc^ bcinem SSater an feinem.
^oä) iö) terftanb bic^ ni(i^t, Big bu jum 3Sater bie SKutter
®ct)i(ftefl unb fc^nett baS ©elüSb' ber frijt)lid)en @^e ooßbrarfjt
war. 150
0lo^ erinnr' ic^ mic^ ^eute beö ^alböerbrannten ©ebälfeö
Sreubig unb fei)e bie ©onne norf) immer fo f^errlic^ l^eraufgel^n ;
5)cnn mir gab ber iag ten ©ema^I, eg i;aben bie erfien
3eiten ber roitbcn S^tfiörung ben @o^n mir ber 3ugcnb gegeben.
2)arum lob' id) birf;, J^ermann, ba§ bu mit reinem 3>ertrauen 155
%u(t) ein 3)fäbc^en bir benffi in biefen traurigen Seiten
Unb eö uiagteji ^u frei'n im Ärieg unb über ben 3!rümmcrn."
2)a oerfe|te fogleic^ ber ^-l>ater lebhaft unb fagte :
„2)ie ©eflnnung ift löblid), unb wai^x ifl andj bie ®ef(^id;te,
!iD?ütterc^en, bie bu er^ä^Iji; benn fo iji atteä begegnet. 160
^(ber beffer ift beffer. dl\<i)t einen jeben betrifft eg,
'•^Injufangen öon com fein gan^eg itbw unb SBefen.
i)iic^t fott ieber ftc^ quäien, roie wir unb anbere traten.
O, wie gliicflidj ift ber, bem 33ater unb SJJuttcr bag ^aug fdiou
SSol^tbefieÜt übergeben, unb ber mit ©ebei^en eg aug^iert ! 165
Qtncr Einfang ift fd^wer, am fd^werflen ber ^(nfang ber äßirtfc^aft.
5?Jand)erIei S)ingc bebarf ber a)ienfd^, unb aüeg wirb täglid)
3:eurer; ba fei;' er ftd; oor, beg @elt>eg me^r ^u erwerben!
Unb fo l^off' ic^ oon bir, mein ^ermann, ba^ bu mir näc^fieng
3n bag ^aug bie aSraut mit fc^ijner SOZitgift ^ereinfü^rfi ; 170
2)enn ein waderer 3Kann uevbient ein begiiterteg ÜJidbc^en,
II. S^erpfic^ore 17
Unb e§ Besaget fo luo^I, warn mit beiii getin'mfcfieten 5öei6c(;eu
Q(uc^ in .fiJrSeii unb Mafien bie niifeüc^e ®ci6e ^eieinfommt.
ffli^t umfonfi bereitet burc^ manche Sa^te bie 2)?utter
SSiele .?einn?anb ber 5'oc^ter yon feinem unb flavfem ©eiveOe ; 175
SRic^t umfonjl öere^ren bie ^^aten i^v ©ilBercjeidte,
Unb ber 93ater fonbert im $uttc btiä fettene ©olbfti'icf ;
S)enn fte fott beveinfi mit i^ren ©iitern unb ®AUn
3enen Sitngling erfreun, ber fle öor äffen erwählt l^at.
3a, i(t) icei^, «ic feel^aglict; ein SBeiScf^en im «öaufe flc^ finbet,
2)aö il^r eignes ©erat in MM)' unb 3ii"inern erfennet 181
Unb baS SSette flc^ felSfi unb ben 'Xiid^ jtc^ felSer gebecft ^at.
9lm »jo^tauSgeftattet möc^t' ic^ im ^aufc bie Sßraut fe^n ;
Denn bie Qtrme luivb bo^ nur jute^t öom SO^Janne »erachtet,
Unb er ^ä(t fle aU SCJagb, bie aU SDJagb mit bem 3?iinbe(
!^ereinfam. 1S5
Ungerecht Heiten bie a)Mnner, unb bie 3«iten ber 2ie6e t>erget)en.
3a, mein J^ermann, bu reiivbeft mein Qdter ^öc^Iic^ erfreuen,
3jßenn bu mir balb inS 'iQm^ ein *ecf)njiegertüct)tercf;en 6räcl)tefit
5(uä ber Ükc^Sarfc^aft §er, an^ jenem >§aufe, bem grünen.
9Reid) ifi ber i)?ann fiirwa^r, fein <§anbe[ unb feine 8^a6rifen 190
SWac^en i^n täglict? reicher; benn wo geiviunt nic^t ber ^anf*
mann ?
SRur brei S^od^ter fmb ba ; fte teilen attein baS ^>ermijgen.
(Sc^on Iji bie äitfte fceftimmt, id) wd^ e§ ; aUx bie jiueite
2Bie bie britte ftnb noc^, unb 0ieKeicf}t nicfit lange, ^u ^a6en.
9Bdr' i(^ an beiner @tatt, id) l^ätte 6ig je^t nic^t gejaubert, 195
Sing mir ber 2Räb(^en geholt, fo ivie id) bag SDhttterc^en
forttrug."
2)a üerfe^te ber <Sof)n 6efc(}eiben bem brimjenben 93ater:
„ 2öirf(ic^, mein 3Bi((e icar aud? wW dnrer, eine ber ^öd)ter
Unferä O^ad^barä 3U red^len, SBir flnb jufammen erlogen,
@VifIten neOen bem Sörunuen am 2)tarft in fvi'i^eren Bfiten, 200
c
18 vi^ermann unb 'Dorothea
Unb idj i)abe fte oft cor Der ÄnaOen QBilf^eit kfdn'i^et.
3)ocl? bag ift lange fcfcon t)er ; eä Oleifcen bie ivacfifenben SKciDc^en
^nblid) bittig ju Ǥaug unb fUelni bie filteren Spiele.
SSofitgc^ogen ftnb fle gcivip ! 3cl) ging and? ju 3fiten
SRod; aus alter Sßefanntfd^aft, [o roie 3^r eö njünfc^tet, l^iniiber ;
%Ux i^ fonntc mid^ nie in ii;rem Umgang erfreuen. 206
3)enn fle tabelten ftetg an mir, bag mufjt' id^ ertragen:
©ar ju lang njar mein 9ftorf, 3U gro6 baö Zuö:) unb bie 5arbe
®ar ju gemein, unb bie «§aare nic^t recbt gejtu^t unb gefräufelt.
Gilblid) f)att' iü) im Sinne, mid) audi ju )?u|en reie jene 210
>§anbelgOiibc^en, bie fietö am Sonntag brü6en flc^ geigen,
Unb um bie, t)alt>feiben, im Sommer baS Sä^J^t^cn l^erumi^ängt.
Qlber nod} friil; genug merft' id), fte l^atten mid) imtner gum
bcfien ;
Unb bag irsar mir en^jfinbli^, mein Stolj war Seleibigt ; bod^
mel)r nod)
Äränfte mid^'ö tief, bap fo fle ben guten SGBitten berfannten, 215
Den id) gegen fte liegte, befonberg SKinc^en, bie jimgfte.
Denn fo ivar id) :|uletjt an Dflern hinübergegangen,
«§atte ben neuen JKorf, ber jel^U nur oten im Sdnant l)ängt,
^Inge^ogen unb war friftert ivie bie übrigen 3ßurfc^e.
5l(ö id) eintrat, fidiertcn fte; bod) jog id)'g auf mid) nid)t. 220
a)iind)e<i fafj am JUav»ier ; eö war ber ^ater jugegen,
<§örte bie ^^odjterc^en fingen unb tpar entjücft unb in JJaunc.
QWand^eö berftanb id) nid)t, reaö in ben I^icbern gefagt war ;
5l6er id) l;örte üiel i^on $amina, üiel oon 3:!amino,
Unb id} wollte bod) aud) nid)t flumm fein. Sobalb fte geenbet, 225
5ragt' id) bem 3^erte nad) unt) nac^ ben beiben ^erfonen.
Qllle fd)anegen barauf unb läd)elten ; aber ber 5>ater
Sagte: 01id)t wal;r, mein 5reunb, Gr fennt nur Qlbam unb (5öa?
liRiemanb l)ielt fid) alcibann,'unb laut auf laditen bie SDiäbc^en,
ll*aut r.uf lad)ten bie Jtnaben, e§ tiielt ben 'Band) fid) ber 'Jllte. 230
II. 3;erpft^ore 19
glatten licp iäj ben ^ut x>ox i5evIt\3en^Hnt, unb baä ©efic^er, ^^
S)aucrte fort unb fort, fo oiel fle auc^ fangen unb fpielten. — •
Unb ic^ eilte befd)ämt unb üerbrie^tid? icieber nad; ^^aufe,
hängte ben jRocf in ben Sc^ranf unb jog bie ^aare fierunter
aWit ben Ringern unb fc^tcur, ni^t me^r ju betreten bie
S^rceUe. 235
Unb i^ ^atte rco^t recl)t; benn eitel flnb ffe unb lieHoä,
Unb iä) f)öxe, noc^ l)eip' ic^ Bei i^nen immer Jlamino."
2)a öerfe|te bie 2)hitter : „ Su foüteft, -Hermann, fo lange
2)iit ben Äinbern nid^t jiirnen ; benn Jlinber ftnb fte ja fdmtlidn
2)?in^en fürrea^r i|l gut unb luar bir immer gewogen; 240
0ieulic^ fragte fte noc^ noc^ bir. 2)ie fotttefi bu wählen!"
I)a üerfe^te fcebeuHic^ ber @of)n : „ Mj tnei^ ni*t, e0 ^xäo^k
Sener 23erbru^ ftc^ fo tief bei mir ein ; id) mb^te füriva^r nic^t
@ie am .^laoiere mt^x fe^n unb il^re ;?ieb^en üiernel^men."
2) od) ber 33ater fu^r auf unb fpra^ bie ^ornigen SBorte : 245
„Sßenig Sreub' erteb' id; an bir! 5c^ fagt' e» bod) immer,
Mä bu ju ^ferben nur unb J^uft nur bejeigtejl jum QWer.
5Ba§ ein .ilnedjt fd)on »errichtet beö luol^ISegiiterten ü)ianneS,
Si^nji in; inbeffen nuip ber i^ater beö So^meS entbehren,
5^er i^m jur @t)re boc^ auc^ öor anbern 33iirgern j!c^ jeigte. 250
Unb fo tdufc^te mid) friif) mit leerer Hoffnung bie Sfhitter,
9Benn in ber ©c^ule baä S^efen unb (Schreiben unb Js^erncn bir
niemalö
äöie ben anbern gelang unb bu immer ber Unterfte fafefi.
j^reilic^! bag fommt ba:^er, ivenn G^rgefü^I nic^t im Sufen
ßineS Simglingeä lebt, unb icenn er uic^t :§ij:^er i^inauf wiü. 255
J^dtte mein Q3ater geforgt für mic^, fo njie id; für bi^ tf)at,
SD^ic^ jur ©^ule gefenbet unb mir bie Se^rer gel^alten,
3a ! i^ rcdre rcaS anberö aU SSirt jum golbenen Sörcen."
Qtber ber (Sol^n fianb auf unb na^te ftc^ fc^ireigenb ber 3^üre,
Sangfam unb o^ne ©crdufdj ; aKeiu ber ^ater, entrüfiet, 260
c 2
20 Hermann imb 1)orotfH'a
Otief i^m md): „@o ge^e nur ^iu! 3d) fenne beii 3:ro^fo)3f!
®e^ unb fü^re fovtau bie Sßivtfd^aft, baf ic^ nic^t fc^elte!
%Ut benfe mir nic^t, bu ivottefl ein iäurifc^eS SWäbc^en
3c mir Bringen inS -^anB, aU ©c^njiegertoc^ter, bie ^rufle!
JJange l^ait' ic^ gelebt unb ivei^ mit ä'ienfcfcen ju f)anbeln, 265
2Bcip gu bercirten bie «Ferren unb S^rauen, baf fle aufrieben
aSon mir reeggcl^n ; ic^ njeij? ben (^remben gefällig ju fd;meic^eln.
Qlber fo foU mir benn auct) ein @c^njiegertöd)terd)en enblid^
SBieberbegegnen unb fo mir bie öiele 2)Jü!^e ocrfüfen!
©fielen foU fte mir and) bag ^faüier ! (13 fotten bie fd)ii»nften, 270
SBeften Seute ber ©tabt flct) mit 33ergniigen üerfammeln,
3Bie eö @onntagl gefd;iei)t im «§aufc beS 9kcf)barö." 2)a brücfte
Seife ber <So^n auf bie Älinfe, unb fo »erlief er bie "Stube.
IIT. f Ijalia
Sic asürgcr
QUfo entreid; bev 6cfci}eibene <Boi)n tier t^eftiijen 3^^ebe;
Witt ber 33atev fu^r in ber -Krt fort, wk er begonnen :
„5Cßa^ im ?[)?en[c(}cn nic^t ift, foinmt andi nicl^t aug i£)m, nnb
[c^iuerUd)
3i]irb mid} beg ^erjüc^ften 3Jßunfc^eä erfitßnng jemals erfreuen,
2)a^ ber ®ot)n bem Q^ater nid)t gleid) fei, fonbern ein -^eff'rer. 5
Denn trag icäre bag Jpaug, ivag iväre bie ®tabt, ivenn nid;t
immer
Seber gebädite mit Ihift ju erhalten unb 5U erneuen
Uni) ju iuH-6effern aud;, une bie 3eit ung (ef)rt unb bag '2(ug(anb!
^off bod) nid^t aU ein *lU(j ber 3)Zenfd) bem 3Soben entnjrtd?fen
Unb öerfauien gcfd)nnnb an bem $(a6e, ber if)n erzeugt ^at, 10
Äeine ^pur nadjiaffenb öon feiner leSenbigen 2Eirhing !
(Sie^t man am «^aufe bod) gleid; fo beutlic^, iceg @inneg ber
«Öevr fei,
3Bie man, ba§ «StäDtctjen Betretene, bie D6rigfeiten beurteilt.
iSenn iro bie Sürme öerfaHen unD iWauern, reo in ben ©rdben
Unrat ftc^ Raufet unb Unrat auf afien ©äffen herumliegt, 15
2Bo ber ^tein aug ber 5uge fld; riicft nnb nic^t roieber gefe|t
icirb,
5H}ö ber 'halfen üerfault, unb bag -^iinS öergeblic^ bie neue
Unter|liiöung erwartet : ber Ort ifl iibet regieret.
2)enn wo nicfjt immer öon oben bie Drbnung unD Of^einlic^feit
ivirfet,
5)a geivij[;net ftd} leidn ber 'Bürger ju fd;muöigem Saumfal, io
22 ^ermann unb 2)orot()ea
9Bie ber SScttler ftc^ auci; an (uiiUMge Äleirer geivöljnet.
2)arum 'i^aV i(i) gctrimfc^t, eS fotte ftd) ^ermann auf 0teifcn
3Balb begetfii unb fel^n jum n^enigflen (Strasburg unb Jranffurt
Unb bal freunblirfje a)?ann:^etm, baä gleid) unb \)dtn gebaut ifl,
Denn wer bie @täbte gefcl^n, bie großen unb reinlid^en, xüi)t
nidjt, ^ 2|
künftig bie QSaterftabt fctfcfl, fo flein jle auc^ [et, ju öerjiercn.
Sobt nic^t ber S'rembe ki ung bie ouggefcefferten 3^ore
Unb ben gcirei^ten 3!urm unb bie ivoi^Ierneuertc Jlirc^c?
0tü^mt nic^t jeber baö ^fkfler, bie irafferreidjen, s^erbecften,
2Bot)IöerteiIten Kanäle, bie 0^ut3en unb @ic(;er^eit bringen, 30
5)a^ bem 5euer fogleid) beim erflen 'Jtugbrud) geivelirt fei?
3fl bag nic^t aUeg gefd^e^n feit jenem fc^iecflic^en *^ranbe?
SSaul^err n?ar id; fedjSmal im Otat unb l^abe mir 93eifatt,
«§abe mir tierjlid^en Danf öon guten ^Bürgern öerbienet,
5Baä id} angab, emftg betrieben unb fo audi bie Qlnftalt 35
0iebIidjer 3)Jänner öoUfül^rt, bie fle unvoüenbet »erliefen.
@o fam enblid) bie SJufi in jebeö a)?itglieb beö Oiateg.
Qttte beftreben fld; jel^t, unb fdion ift ber neue 6^auffecbau
&efl befc^Ioffen, ber ung mit ber großen ^2tra§e oerbinbet.
Qlber id^ fürdjte nur fel^r, fo wirb bie Sugenb nid^t l^anbeln ! 40
Denn bie einen, f!e benfen ouf I^ufl unb tjergcinglic^en ^Ju§
nur ;
5lnbere |ocfen ju <§auö unb brüten l^inter bem £)\tn.
Unb, bag findet' idi, ein folc^er n?irb <§ermann immer mir bleiben."
Unb eg ßerfe^te fogleic^ bie gute, öerfiänbige iDcutter :
„ Smmcr bijl bu bod}, 33ater, fo ungerecht gegen ben @o^n ! unb 45
<So ivirb am irenigften bir bein QBunfd; beS ®uten erfitdet.
Denn unr fonnen bie .tinber nac^ unferem (Sinne nid^t formen :
@o njie ©Ott ffe ung gab, fo muf nion fle l^aben unb lieben,
@ie erjiet)en aü\ä befte unb jeglid;en laffen gewäl^ren.
Denn ber eine i^at bie, iie anberen anbere ®aben; 50
III. Xtjaüa 23
Sebcr braudjt flc, unt' jobcr ift bod) mir (iwf eigene QCeife
®ut unb glücflic^. 3d? laffe mir meinen >§ei-mann nidjt [dielten ;
JDenn, \(b itei§ eg, er ifl ber ©iiter, bie er bereinfi erbt,
SBert unb ein treffü^er 9Birt, ein Wluftex ^^iirgern unb Säuern,
Unb im Oiate getvif, id^ fe^' t§ öorauö, nid^t ber Ie|te. 55
%Ux täglich mit ©ekelten unb labein l^cmmfi bu bem Qlrmen
Qttlen aßnt in ber 33ruft, fo luie bu eg :^eute gett)an fiaft."
Unb fle »erlief bie @tube fogleid; unb eilte bem 8o:^n nac^, ,
3)a^ fte i^n irgenbnjo fänb' unb i^n mit gütigen SCBorten
SBieber erfreute ; benn er, ber trejfüdie ®o^n, er üerbient' eg. 60
Sdc^elnb fagte barauf, foBalb fte ^inireg icar, ber 33ater :
„ (Sinb boc^ ein irunberli(^ SSoIf bie ^ßjeifecr fo irie bie Äinber !
Sebcä lebet fo gern na<i) feinem eignen ^Belieben,
Unb man foüte i)ernad} nur immer loben unb ftreid^efn.
Einmal für attemal gi(t ba§ iva^re «Sprüchlein ber -2((tcn : 65
©er nid)t öonvärt'5 gef)t, ber fommt jurücfe ! 80 bleibt cei."
Unb eo tterfe^te barauf ber Qlpot^efer bebäc^tig :
„@erne geb' ic^ e§ ^u, -§err iJladjbar, unb fet)c mic^ immer
«Selbfi nad? bem Sefferen um, ivofern e§ nid^t teuer, boc^ neu ift;
Qlber l^ilft es fünca^r, irenn man uic^t bie 5'ütte beg ®elbg ^at, 70
3^ätig unb rührig ju fein unb innen unt» ciu^m ju beffern?
^lur ju fei^r ifi ber Sßürger befd)ränft ; 's^a^ ®ute permag er
9tic^t ju erlangen, n:enn er eä feunt ; ^u fdjirac^ ifi fein 'Beutel,
2)a8 SBebürfnig ju gro^ ; fo ivirb er immer ge^inbert.
5Kan^eö :^ätt' id} getl^an ; aÜein icer fdieut nic^t bie «Sofien 75
Solcher 93eränbrung befonberä in biefen gefcibrlid^en 3eiten !
Sauge Ia(^te mir f^on mein '^aii§ im mobifrijen Äteibc^en,
Sänge glänzten burc6au§ mit großen Scheiben bie S'enjier:
5(ber wn tt)ut bem .Kaufmann eö nadi, ber bei feinem 33ermögen
5(uc^ bie SOBege noc^ fennt, auf irelc^en 'tas^ Sefie ju i)aben. 80
®el^t nur baä <^c[u^ an ba brüben, baä neue I 9Bie präditig in
grünen
24 4'>cvmaim uiit) 2)orot()ea
geifern bic (Sturfatur Uv itei^cii Scl^növfel fid) nuemimmt I
®rop flnb bie ^iafeln bev 5'enfter ; ivic glänjcn unb f).neijflu
bie ©djeikn,
!I)a^ ücrbunfelt ftcl;n bic üOrigen ^ciufev bco 3i)kvftcS!
Unb bod) wavm bic unfern gleid^ nacl; bem 33rnnbe bie f^onfien, 85
'J^ic -U^iot^dc jum ßngel fo \vk ber golbene J^önje.
(So wat mein ©arten aud) in ber ganzen ®egcnb 6criit)mt, unb
•Seber Oteifenbe ftanb unb [at; burc^ bic roten (Stafctcn
^^a^ ben 93ettlcrn öon @tein unb nac^ ben farbigen 3i^'cig«"-
$ßem ic^ ben .Kaffee bann gar in bem i^errlic^en ®rottcnn?erf
reidjtc, 90
3)aä nun freilid^ l^rftautt unb I)alb üerfatten mir baftc^t,
5)cr erfreute ftd; l;od) tt& farbig fc^innnernben ^id^tt^
©d^ijngeorbneter 2)hifc^eln, unb mit geblenbctem 5luge
«Schaute ber «Kenner fclbfl ben 931eiglanj unb bie Äoratlen. /J^
(S-benfo ivarb in bem (BaciU bic i'uilcrci and) bmiunbert, "' 95
2Bo bie gepu^ten <§erren unb 2)amcn im (Martcu fpajicreu
Unb mit fvi^igen S'ingcrn bie 3ÖIumen reic!^en unb polten.
3a, iver fä^e baö je^t nur nodi an! 3d) get)e ocrbrie^Iid;
Äaum mel^r ^inauö ; benn dic^ foü anbere! fein unb gef^nmcfooU,
^JCßie jle'ö l^ei^en, unb kc\^ bie i?atten unb tiijljernen aSänfc. 100
'ilüt^ ift einfad; unb glatt ; nic^t €d)ni§n:erf ober Q3ergoIbung
ÜBitt man md)v, unb cö foftet ia^ frcmbe «^ol^ nun am mciften.
9hin, id) wäx' cö jufrieben, mir aud) luag d\tm§ ju fd^affen,
"^(uc^ ^u gcfin mit ber 3cit unb oft ^u i'^cränbern ben «öauörat ;
■iJU^cr eö findetet ftd; jeber, aud; nur ^^u rüden ba§ ^leinfte, 105
2)enn iver öerm5d;te \vo\)l je§t bie Qlrbeitöleutc ju jal^lcn?
SJeuIid) fam mir'ö in Sinn, ben ßngel 3)iid;acl irieber,
2)er mir bie Dffijin bejcid;net, tiergolben gu laffen
Unb ben greulid;en 2)rad;en, ber i^m ju 5ü§en ft^ ivinbet;
■5(ber id; lief; ii)n öerbrdunt, Jcie er ifi; mic^ fd^recEte bie
5'orbrung." 110
IV. lEuttrpt
aWiittcr ttiib ®ol)n
Qllfo f^jvacfceu bie SJhinnei' fic^ unterl^altent». 2)ie 2)iuttcr
©ing inbeffen, ben @o^n erfi oor bem >§aufe ^u fudjcn
5hif ber fieinernen 33anf, ivo fein gerrö^ntic^er 6i| n:ar.
5118 fte bafcI6ft it)n nicfjt fanb, fo ging fte, im (Staße ,5u fc^aiien,
D6 er bie t)errli^eu ^ferbe, bie -§engfte, felBer feeforgte, 5
3)ie er aU 5'o'^len getauft unb bie er niemanb ttertraute.
Unb eg fagte ber Äuec^t : „(Ex ijl in ben ©arten gegangen."
2)a burd)fd^ritt fte Bet)enbe bie langen, bop)?eIten ^öfe,
Sie^ bie Statte ^uriirf unb bie n:D^(ge,5immerten edieunen,
S^rat in i^en ©arten, ber iveit 6i§ an bie 3)huern beci ©täbtdienei 10
JReic^te, fdjritt i:^n l^inburd) unb freute ftd} jeglidjeg 2öad}^-
tumg,
©teilte bie (2tü|en jurcc^t, auf benen 6elaben bie 5(fic
JRu^ten be6 Ql^^felbaumä irie be§ '£irn6aum§ laftenbe S^^^fig^/
^ai^m gleid) einige Sftau^en öom fräftig iiro|enben Äo^I ireg;
2)enn ein gefd^äftige^J ®eiS tl^ut feine Schritte »ergebend. 15
-^üfo irar fte an§ (5nbe beg langen ©arteng gefomiuen
3Bi8 jur ^auht, mit ©eieblatt ktecf t ; ni^t fanb fte ben <Soi^n tu,
GSenfoicenig alß fte 6iä je|t \i)n im ©arten erblicfte.
-5tkr nur angelei^nt irar baä ^fijrtc^en, baä aug ber 5?au6e
%ü§ tefonberer ©un]l burc^ bie STOauer be§ (Stäbtd^cnö gebrochen 20
«§atte ber %i)nf)txx einft, ber rcürbige SSurgemeifter.
Unb fo ging fte Oequetn ben trocfnen ©raSen t)inü6er,
5Bo an ber i^trape fogleid) ber ivo^tumjaunete OSeinberg
26 ^ermann iinb 2)oiotf)ca
Qtufftiofl fteileren ^4^fabf\ bic <vläcl)c jur ®onnf i]cfct)rct.
5üid; bcn fcl^ritt flc f)inauf unb freute ber 5ütlc ber ilrauben 25
@ict) im (Steigen, bie faum ^dj unter ben SBIättcrn oerfeargen.
(Sd^attig wax unb bebccft ber f)o^e mittlere !S?au6gang,
S)en man auf Stufen erftieg öon unbefjauenen platten.
Unb eä l^ingen l^erein ©utebel unb 2)hieifatfUer,
Sfiötlic^BIaue banekn yon ganj fccfonberer @r5pe, 30
Qtße mit 5Iei^e ge^jflanjt, ber ©äfte ^lad^tifctj ju jieren.
Qlber ben übrigen SBerg fcebecftcn einzelne @töcfe,
kleinere 3^rau6en tragenb, oon benen ber foftliri^e 5öein fomuit.
^Ufo fd)ritt fie ()inauf, fld) fc^on beg ^erbilcö erfrcuenb
Unb bc8 fefUid;en 2!agg, an bem bie ®egenb im 3u6el 35
."IrauBen liefet unb tritt unb ben ü)iofi in bie Säffer oerfam-
melt,
B'eueriüerfe beg ^Jtftenbö öon allen Drten unb ßnben
ll^eud)ten unb !nat(en unb fo ber ©rnten fd^öntlc geet)rt unrb.
2)od) unrul^iger ging fte, nac^bem fle bem Sol;ne gerufen
Snjci* aiiä^ breimal, unb nur bag @d)o oielfa^ jurüdfam, 40
2)a§ üon ben Sürmen ber «Stabt, ein [e^r gefd^icäl^igeö, t)erflang.
5^n ju [ud;en icar if)r fo fremb; er entfernte ftd) niemals
SGBeit, er fagt' eS i^r benn, um ju ijeri^üten bie Sorge
©einer liebenben SKutter unb it)re 5^urd)t oor bem Unfatt.
5I6er fte t)offte noc^ ftetg, it)n bod) auf bem ®ege ju finben ; 45
5)cnn bie S^^ürcn, bie untre fo irie bie obre, beg QBeinbergg
Stauben gleid)fans offen. Unb fo nun trat fte in» ^elb ein,
!I)a6 mit weiter Jläd^e ben Otücfen beS >§ügelg bebccfte.
Smmer noc^ iranbelte fte auf eigenem 33oben unb freute
Sid) ber eigenen (Baat unb beg :^errlid^ nicfenben Jlorneg, 50
2)ag mit golbener Jtraft ftd) im ganzen Selbe beivegtc.
Sreifc^en ben 'iicfern fd^ritt fle t)inburdi auf bem JKaine ben
<§atte ben ^^irnbaum im '^tugc, bcn grojjcn, ber auf bem ^ügcl
IV. eiiterpc 27
<Staut', tie Oiicn^c t>cr Selber, bic il^rcm >§aufc gehörten.
SEBer ii)n ge^^flanjt, mau fonnt' eö ntd^t njiffcn ; er rear in bcr
©cgcnb 55
SCBcit iinb Breit gefei)n, unb teriil^mt bic ??rü(^te be? 3ßaume§;
Unter if)m ^jflegten bie @cf>nitter beö Wlaf)U ftc^ ju freuen am
SKittag,
Unb bic <§irten bc8 Sßic^ä in feinem ©chatten ju «warten ;
9Bänfe faubeu fte ba t>ou rof)en «Steinen unb Oiafen.
Unb fte irrcte nidn ; bort fa^ i^r >§ermann unb ru^te, 60
®a^ mit bem Qhme geitüfet unb fc^ien in bic ©egenb ju fc^aucn
SenfcitI, nacfi bem ©etnrgj er fefirte ber 2>iutter ben OlücEen.
(Sacfcte fd^Iid) fie ^inan unb rü^rt' i^m leife bie @ct)ulter.
Unb er reanbte f!c^ fc^nett; ba fol^ fte il^m 3:^ränctt im Qtuge.
„«Kutter," fagt' er betroffen, „3t)r üSerrafcfct micfe ! " Unb
eilig 65
3:;ro(fnet' er ah bie 3^ränc, ber Sitngling eficn ®efül^Ie§.
„9Bie? 2)u ireincft, mein Sof)n?" tierfe|te bie S'hitter Betroffen ;
„5)aran fenn' icft bi* nicBt ! 3ct) i)a6e bag niemals evfaferen!
<Sag', wag fceflemmt tir bag «^er^? 9Bag treiOt bicB, einfam
ju ft^en
Unter bem 9BirnBaum :^ier? 9Bag Bringt bir 3^räncn tng
5(ugc?" 70
Unb eg na:^m ftcf? jufammen ber treffliche SüngUng unb fagte :
„SBal^rlicb, bem ift fein -^er^ im eBernen ^Sufen, ber }e|o
ülid^t bie SRot ber 2)?enfcf)en, ter umgetrieBnen, em^finbet ;
5)em ijl fein Sinn in bem Raupte, ber nid^t um fein eigenes
SBo^I ftd?
Unb um beg 35ater(anbg 9So:^l in biefen ilagen Befiimmert. 75
2Bag ic^ l^eute gefe:^n unb ge^^ört, bag rührte bag «^er^ mir;
Unb nun ging ic^ ^eraug unb fa|) bie l^errlic^e, reeite
ÖanbfcBaff, bie ftcB i^or ung in fruc^tBaren >§itge(n umt)erfc(>Iingt,
@a^ bie goldene 5ru^t Den ©arten entgegen ftd> neigen
28 ^^ermann iinb ^orot^ea
Unb ein reictjUc^cö Db\t uns t»oC(c j?ammerii »erfprecfien. 80
Qtfcer, ac^! icie ual^ ifi ber Jeiub! Sie Sluteu bcö Di^eiiicö
@^ü|en uns jroar ; boc^, ac^ I irag flnb nun fluten unb 5?ergc
Senem [ctrecf liefen ^olfe, t>a§ ane ein ©enjitter baf)crjiei)t !
Senn flc rufen j^ufnmmen aug allen (Snben bie Sugcnb
2ßie bal Qllter unb bringen geicaltig bor, unb bie 3Kenge 85
(£cl)eut ben 2!ob nid^t ; eS bringt gleirii nac^ ber iKenge bie SKenge.
Qldj ! unb ein 2)eutf(i;er »v agt in feinem >§aufe ju Hei6en,
«Öofft öießeic^t ju entgefien bem al(e§ bebrol)enben Unfall!
Sie6e 3)?utter, ic^ fag' (Judi, am l)eutigcn ^age öerbviept mirf\
Saß man mid) neulidi cntfdiulfigt, aiä man bie <8treitenben
auSlaö 90
Qtug ben 'Biirgcvn. 5itrival;r, id; 6in ber einzige *Sol)n nur,
Unb bie 9öirtfd;aft ift grof?, unb ivnd}tig unfer ®etvcr&c.
*^t6er tcdr' id) nid}t 6effer, ju unberftel^en ba öorne
%n ber ©renje, nl^ l)ier ^^u cnvartcn (5(cnb unt' Äneditfdmft ?
3a, mir ^at eö ber Weift gefagt, unb im innerftcu ^i?ufcn 95
ölcgt ft(^ 3}hit unb 'Regier, bem üsaterlanbe ^u leBen
Unb ju fterben unb anbern ein unirbigcö i^eif^ncl 5U ge6en.
2ßaf)rlid;, iväre tiie Jiraft ber beutfd^en Cnigcnti Bcifammen
Qln ber ©renjc, öerbünbet, nid^t nac^3ugc[»en ben Jremben,
O, fle follten unä nidit ben Ijerrlid^en 'iBoben betreten loo
Unb öor unferen -klugen bie 5rüd}te be6 5}anbcei oev^e^rcn,
dlid^t ben aDfännern gebieten unb rauben 3BeiOer unb SKäbdjen !
(Se^et, 3)2utter, mir ift im tiefften ^erjen befd^loffen,
3Salb ju tl)un unb g(eid), u\ig red)t mir beud)t unb öerflänbig^
Senn icer lange bebenft, ber irä^It nic^t immer baö ^^efte. 105
<Se^et, idj werbe nic^t irieber nac^ ^aufe fe^ren ! OScn ^ier an^
®e^' id} gerab' in bie 6tabt unb iibergetc ben Jtriegern
Siefen -Jlrm unb bieg >§erj, bem ÜJaterlanbc gu Dienen,
(Sage ber 33ater alSbann, 06 nidit ber @l)re (^)efii^l mir
'^ludi ben '43ufen belebt, unt} ob id) nid;t ^ij^er hinauf luilll" iio
IV. (Juterpe 29
3)a sjerfe^te fcebeutenb bie gute, öerilänbige 2)hUter,
©tittc $5:^ränen üergie^enb, fte fameii x^x teic^tlicö ing 5tuge:
„8ol^n, jraö Bat ft^ in bir öerdnbcrt imb beinern ©ernüte,
2)af bu gu beiner 2)iutter nic^t rebefi wie gej^evn unb immer,
Offen unb frei, unb fagjl, n:ag beinen 2ßiinfcf)en gemd^ ifi ? 115
«Öijrte ie§t ein britter biet) reben, er tüürbe fitnratir bicfc
v^öci^Ii* loben unb beinen ©ntfdjlu^ aU ben ebetften ^"»reifen,
^urc^ bein 2Bort sjerfiiiirt unb beine Bebeutenben Oteben.
2)oct) icfe table bic^ nur ; benn ftel^e, id^ fenne bic^ beffer.
2)u oerbirgfi bein >§er3 unb l^afl ganj anm ©ebanfen. 120
2)enn i(b tcei^ e§, biet) ruft nic^t bie Jrommel, uic^t bie 3!rompete,
0lic^t bege^rfi bu ju [c^einen in ber 2)?ontur öor ben äliäb^en ;
2)enn eg ift beine *3efiimmung, fo reacEer unb braö bu auc^
fonft bijl, 123
SBo'^I ^u oenral^ren bag •^au^ unb jlittc baä «Jelb ju ieforgen.
2)arum fage mir frei : 2Da» bringt bicb 5U biefer @nt[*Iie^ung ? "
(Jrnft^aft fagte ber 8o^n : „ 3§r irret, äßutter. ©in Sag i|l
SRic^t bem anberen gleic^. ©er Süngting reifet jum SOianne;
Keffer im ]liffen reift er jur 5!£)at oft üi^ im ©erdufcfcc
5BiIt»en, [djiranfenPen Gebens, tiag mand^en 3üngting t)erberbt ^at.
Unb fo flitt ic^ auc^ bin unt» vcax, fo !^at in ber -^rufl mir 130
©oct) ftct) gebitbet ein »^erj, ba§ Unrecf)t baffet unb Unbift,
Unb id) öerfte^ie red)t gut, bie trettlid^en 5^inge ju fonbern ;
%u(i) ^at bie Qtrbeit ben Qlrm unb bie jj-itfc mächtig geftärfet.
Qtttel, fiU;r ic6, ift um^r ; ic^ barf eä fiibntid) bel^au^^ten.
Unb bod) tabett 3^u- mic^ mit 0ted3t, 0 i^iutter, unb ^abt mictj
Qtuf l^albipa^ren ^Borten erta^))t unb i;alber SSerftctlung. 136
2;enn, gefte^' idi e§ nur, ni^t ruft bie na^e @efa{)r mic^
Qtug bem «^aufe beä 33aterö unb nic^t ber bo'^e ©ebanfe,
3Äeinem SSatertanb ^ilfreic^ ju fein unb fc^recflid) ben Jeinben.
9ßorte iraren eg nur, bie id) f^^rad) ; fte foftten öor duä) nur 140
2)ieine ®efiit)te i^erfiecfen, bie mir ba» Jperj jerreipen.
30 ^ermann unb !Dorctf)ca
Unb fo Ia§t niid?, o Sltutter I 5)eiin t>a id) lu^riieHid^e 2öünfcfce
^ege im 3ßufcn, fo mac] aixd] mein lieben üeujeSIid; ta^ingebn!
2)enu ic^ iteip eg re^t iko!^! : ber Sinjelne fc^abet f!d^ fcI6ev,
2)er jid) :^ingie6t, irenu flc^ ni(^t alte ^um ©anjeu feeftrebeu." 1^5
„ Sa^re nur fort/' fo [agtc baraiif bie oerfidnbige 3)iutter,
„ QlUel mir ju er^d^Ien, baä ©rö^te irie ba^ ©cringfie ;
2)enn bie SRämter ftnb l^eftig unb benfen nur immer baS Se^Ue,
Unb bie <§inberniö treibt bie «heftigen (eic^t oon bem 5ßcge ;
Qiber ein QBeib ifl gefc^icft, auf Qßittel ju benfen, unb njanbelt
^lud^ 'Dm Unuceg, gefc^icft ju if)rem 3>^fff J" gelangen. 151
(Sage mir aÜeS bat)er, irarum bu fo t;eftig bcivegt bifi,
2Bie ic^ bi^ niemalö gefcl^n, unb ba§ S(ut bir icaüt in ben
*2tbern, 153
SBiber SßiÜen bie 3;i^räne bem Qtugc ftd^ bringt ju entfiitr;^en."
5)a iiberüep fld^ bem @d;mer^e ber gute Süngüng unb ireinte,
äßcinte laut an ber Sßruft ber 3)iutter unb fprad^ fo cn»eid^et :
„$Ba^rIid}, beS 51>aterö 9Bort l^at l^eute mid} fränfenb getroffen,
2)aö id) niemals ocrbient, nid)t i^eut unb feinen ber iJage;
I)enn bie Altern 3U et)ren, tvar friil^ mein J^icbfleä, unb uiemanb
@d)ien mir flüger ju fein unb »reifer, alö bie mid) erzeugten 160
Unb mit (?rnft mir in bunfelcr 3cit bor Jiinbt}eit geboten.
9[>ie(eg \)üV id) fimval;r üon meinen ®ef))ielen gcbulbet,
SBenn fte mit Xüde mir oft ben guten SBiden »oergaiten ;
Oftmals \)ab' ici) an il^nen nidit ©urf nod) <2treid)e gerod^en.
5lber fpotteten flc mir ben Q3ater anä, trenn er Sonntagö 165
5tuä ber .Rirc^e fam mit n?ürbig bcbäditigem (Schritte,
Sad}ten fle über baö i^anb ber 9)iül^e, bie 'Blumen bcö 8d)Iafro(f8,
5)en er fo ftattUd) trug unb ber erft l^cute oerfdKuft ivarb:
Bürc^terli^ tatlte |lc^ gleid) bie Jaufi mir; mit grimmigem
5ßüten
%id id) fle an unb fd)(ug unb traf mit bUnbem -Beginnen, 170
01;ne ju fe^en, ivofcin. (sie l)eultcn mit blutigen Oiafen
IV. (Sutcrpe 31
Unb cntriffcu ftd? faum beu icütenben ^'ritten unb <S^Iägcn.
Unb fo \vüü}ä icf; ^eran, um öiel t»om 93atfr ju bulben,
2)er ftatt anberer mic^ gar oft mit SBorten i^erumnal^m,
QBenu bti Otat it^m 5?erbru^ in bev Ie|ten ©i^uug erregt amrb ;
Unb id? Süpte ben Streit unb bie öiänfe feiner .Kottegen. 176
Oftmals l^abt 3^r mid^ felbft feebauert ; benn üieleg ertrug iü),
@tetg in ©cbanfen ber (Jltern öon «^erjen ju e^renbe SBol^lttjat,
3)ie nur ftnnen, für ung ju mehren bie >§a6' unb bie Öüter,
Unb |tc^ felber mancfceg entjiel^n, um ju f^jaren ben Äinbern. 189
QlBer, a<i) ! nicbt ba8 <S:j)aren allein, um f^jät ju genicpen,
2)?a(6t bag ©litcf, eg mac^t nic^t bag ©lücf ber >§aufe beim
«Öaufen,
SRic^t ber %dtx am 5((fer, fo fc^ön ^id) bie ©üfer auc^ fd^Iie^en.
2)enn ber Q3ater njirb alt, unb mit i!^m altern bie <Bö^ne,
O^ne bie g'reube beg Sagg unb mit ber Sorge fitr morgen. 185
(Sagt mir unb fc^auet ^inafc, rcie ^errlic^ liegen bie fd^ijnen,
Oteid^en ©eSreite nic^t ba, unb unten QBeinberg unb ©arten,
2)ort bie Sd^eunen unb Ställe, bie fc^ijnc Oieil^e ber ©üter!
^6er fe^' ic^ bann bort bag «§inter^aug, wo an bem ©ioBel
Si^ bag Jenfter ung jeigt üon meinem StiiOd^en im ®acl;e, 190
5)enf' ic^ bie ^«iUn ]uxM, nne manche 0]aci}t id^ ben SOionb
fc^on
I)ort erwartet unb fctjon fo manchen 3)Zorgen bie Sonne,
9Bcnn ber gefunbe Sd^laf mir nur icenige Stunbengenüv3te:
Qld} ! ba fommt mir fo einfam öor trie bie .Kammer, ber ^of unb
©arten, bag t)errli(^e gelb, bag ü6er bie ^ügel ftd; l;inftrecft;
5llleg liegt fo 5be t»or mir: icf) entbehre ber ©attin." 196
2)a antwortete brauf bie gute 2)?utter öerftänbig :
„ So^n, met)r rcünfc^eft bu nicl^t, bie *5raut in bie Äammer 3u
füi)ren,
%U ber 33ater eg n.ninfft5t unb bie \DJutter. QBir ^akn bir
immer
32 ^ermann unb !Dpvot^ea
3ugerebct, ja, btc^ getrieben, ein 2Jfäbdien ju n^äfjten. 200
5(6er mir ifl e§ befannt, unb je|o faqt eä bag «§erj mir :
5Benn bie ©tunbe nicf^t fommt, bie recbte, trenn nidjt baä rechte
9)?äbc^en gur (Stunbe ftd; jeiijt, fo bUibt baä 9Bä^(en im »reiten,
Unb cg irirfet bie Jurd^t, bie falfd;e ju greifen, am meifien. 204
@oÜ ic^ bir fagen, mein @o^n, fo ^aft bu, id^ glauk, gereä^let ;
JDcnn bein ^erj ifl getroffen unb me^r aU geirij^nUd? empfinblic^.
®ag' e8 gerab' nur t)erau^\ benn mir fc^on fagt eö bie (^eele :
3eneö 2>?äbd)en ifi'ö, bag oertrieBene, bie bu geiräf)(t i)a]t." 208
„Äie6e SKutter, 3^r fagt'g! " öerfe^te lebhaft ber <So^n brauf.
„ 3a, ftc ifl'ö ! Unb fi'i|r' ic^ fte nid;t a(g 3Braut mir na^ J&aufc
J^eute nod;, jiei^et fte fort, oerfd^rcinbet oietteic^t mir auf immer
3n ber 93ertrirrung beö .^riegl unb im traurigen ^in= unb
^erjie^n. 213
SWutter, ercig umfonfi gebei:^t mir bie reiche 23ef!|ung
2)ann oor Qlugen; umfonfl flnb fiinftige Sa^re mir fruchtbar.
3a, baö geroo^nte <lQ<\iid unb ber ©arten ifl mir jmriber; 215
Qtc^ ! unb bie Ii^ieOe ber 2)?utter, fte fe(6fl nic^t tröfiet ben Firmen.
2)enn eä lijfet bie lHe6e, 'i^a^ fii^C ic^, jegliche ©anbe,
^^mn fle bie irrigen fnü^ft ; unb nidjt bal SDfäbc^en attein lä§t
93ater unb 9)iutter juriicf, irenn fte bem enräf)(eten Wlcinn folgt,
-}ludj ber 3itngUng, er irei^ nic^t'3 mc^r üon ^Dhitter unb ^i>ater,
QBenn er baä 9}?äbc^en fte^t, baä einjigge(ie6te, baoonjiei^n. 221
2)arum Inffet mic^ gefjn, iro^in bie 'i.'erjirciflung mid) antreiOt !
2)enn mein ^-i3ater, er i)at bie entfd^eibenben QSorte gefprod^en,
Unb fein «^auä ifl nid)t me^r baö meine, trenn er baä 3)?äbd)en
9ht8fd)Iie§t, baä id; aHein nad; ^auö ju fii^rcn bege!^re." 225
3)a üerfefete 6e[;cnb bie gute, rerftaubige ^JDhitter :
„ ©te^cn reie Reifen boc^ jtrci Scanner gegen einanber !
Unktregt unb ftolj triff feiner bem anbern ]id} nd^ern,
deiner jum guten QBorte, bem erftcn, bie 3i>iigf beiregen.
2)arnm fag' id; biv, ®o(;n : nod; lebt bie >6offnung in meinem 230
IV. (Suterpe 33
•^crjcn, baf er f!e bir, rcenn fle gut unb Brao ifi, «crlobc,
Dbgtei^ arm, fo cntfd^ieben er auct> bie 5trmc öerfagt f^at.
I)enn er rebet gar manc^eg in [einer l^eftigen %xt axi^,
I)a8 er boc^ ni^t öotlbringt ; fo giefet er aud^ ju bag Sßerfagtc.
5t6er ein guteä 9Bort »erlangt er unb faan eg »erlangen ; 235
2)enn er ij^ aSater. Qluc^ anffen ivir wo^l, [ein ßorn ift nac^
3;i[(^e,
9Bo er l^eftiger [prid^t unb anberer ©rünbe Bejiceifelt,
fflk feebeutenb; e8 reget ber SCBein bann jegliche Äraft auf
©eines l^eftigen 3Bo(leng unb laft i^n bie SGBortc ber anbern
0iic^t öerne^men, er ^öxt unb fü^It atteine jlc^ [cI6er. 240
5l6er eg fommt ber 5t6enb ^eran, unb bie Dielen ®e[präci^e
@inb nun jvci[^en i^m unb [einen ^reunben geTOe^[eIt.
SKilber i[t er füntat)r, ic^ reei§, »enn ba§ 9iäu[^c^en öorbei ifi
Unb er bag Unrecht fü^It, bag er anbern lebhaft erzeigte.
.Komm ! reir wagen eg gleid^ ; bag 5'rifc^gewagte gerät nur. 245
Unb rcir fcebürfen ber iJreunbe, bie je|o Bei i^m noc^ »er[ammelt
@i^en; te[onberg anrb ung ber n?ürbige ©eijilict^e l^etfen."
5ü[o [^Jradj [le bct)enbe unb 30g 00m (Steine ftd^ ^efeenb
5tuc^ öom @i§e ben @o^n, ben reittig fotgenben. SBeibe
Äamen [cöreeigenb f'erunter, ben wichtigen 33or[a| feebenfenb. 250
®pr 9BcItbürfler
%Ut (0 [a^en bie brei nod^ immer f^jred^enb jufammen,
SD^it bem gfifilic^en ^errn ber %pot1)tfet Beim Sßirtej
Unb eö wav baä ©efpräc^ noc^ immer etenbaöfelSe,
3)a8 öiel f)\n unb ^fr na<i) aßen Seiten gefi'it)rt n?arb.
5tber ber treffliche Pfarrer öerfe^te reürbig geflnnt brauf: 5
„ 2Biberi>re(^en ivitt ic^ (5uc^ nic^t. 3c^ rceif eö, ber SDienfd)
ioÜ
3mmer ftrebeu jum 33effern ; unb, rcie nrir fe^en, er ftrefet au*
3nimer bem ^o^eren na<i), jum rcenigflen fudjt er baei d}nu.
Qlber ge^t nid^t ju rceit! I)enn neben biefen ©efit^Ien
@ah bie iJktur unS au<i) bie ^n^, ju »erharren im Qilten 10
Unb ftd) beffen ju freu'n, reaö jeber lange ge>voi)nt ift.
5iüer 3»flanb ifl gut, ber natürlich ifl unb t>ernünftig.
93iele6 »üiinfc(;t flc^ ber 2)?enf*, unb bo* bebarf er nur »renig ;
2)enn bie ^age flnb fur3, unb befc^ränft ber (SterHid^eu @d;icffal.
9Uemal8 tabl' ic^ ben ü)?ann, ber, immer t^ätig unb rafllog 15
Umgetrieben, baS SWeer unb atle (Strafen ber @rbe
Jlü^n unb emflg befd^rt unb flc^ beg ©eroinneS erfreuet,
2Be(djer flc^ reic^Iid^ um i]()n unb um bie (Seinen ^erumt)äuft ;
Qlber jener ifi aud) mir »rert, ber ruhige *^iirger,
JDer fein oäterlid^ ©rbe mit fllUen ©d^ritten umgebet 20
Unb bie @rbe beforgt, fo wie eö bie @tunben gebieten. '-J
Sfiic^t t^eränbert fld> i^m in jebem 3at)re ber SBoben; ^
9^id?t ftrecft eilig ber ^Boum, ber nengej^flanjte, bie Qlrme
V. ^^o(i)^^mnia 35
©egen beit J&immel au§, mit reid^Iic^en Sßlüten gejieret.
0lein, ber SKann kbarf ber ©ebulb ; er Bebaif au^ beg reinen, 25
3mmer gleichen, ruhigen @inn§ unb beS graben Q3erftanbcg;
Denn nur wenige (Samen x)ertraut er ber naf)renben (Srbe,
Söenigc SÄere nur öcrfle^t er me^renb ju jte{)en;
3)enn bag 9}ü|Iic^e W\U attein fein ganjer ©ebanfc.
©lürflid), tt»em bie 9latur ein [0 geftimmteä ©ernüt gab! 30
@r ernäl^ret ung aU(. Unb -§eil bem 3ßürger be§ fleinen
<Stobtd^enS, welcher tänbUc^ ©ereert mit SSürgergeirerS paart \
5tuf i^m liegt nic^t ber 2)rucf, ber ängftlic^ ben SJanbmann be*
fc^ränfet ;
3^n öenrirrt nic^t bie @orge ber ttielbege^renben @täbter,
2)ie bem 3fieirf>cren |ietg unb bem ^ö^eren, wenig oermijgenb, 35
0lac^ju|ireben gewohnt flnb, befonberg bie ffieiber unb SPMbc^en.
(Segnet immer barum beg ©ol^neg ru^ig SBemü^en
Unb bie ©attin, bie einji er, bie gleic^geflnnte, ft(^ wählet ! "
Qllfo \pxaä) er. @g trat bie ^P^utter sugteicE» mit bem (So^n ein,
Siil^renb i^n bei ber «^anb unb Oor ben ©atten i^n jtettenb. 40
„ SSatcr," f)3rac^ fle, „ wie oft gebauten wir untereinanber
®d^wa|enb beg frij!^li(^en ^agg, ber fommen wi'irbe, wenn fimftig
^ermann feine Sraut flc^ erwä|Ienb ung enbticfc erfreute!
Ǥin unb wieber backten wir ba; balb biefeg, balb jeneg
3Ääb(i§en bejiimmten wir i^m mit elterli^em ©efc^wä^e. 45
SRun ifi er fommen, ber ^^ag ; nun l^at bie ®raut il^m ber
Ǥimmel
^ergefit^rt unb gezeigt, eg l^at fein ^er^ nun entfd^ieben.
Sagten wir bamalg nic^t immer, er foüe felber ftct) wälzten?
SCBünfd^tefl bu nictit noc^ öor^in, er mi?ctjte i;eiter unb lebhaft
i^üx ein SPMbc^en em^ftnben ? 0lun ift bie (Stunbe gefommen ! 50
3a, er f)at gefiil^It unb gewallt unb ift männlid? entfci^ieben.
3eneg SKäbc^en ift'g, bie 5rembe, bie i^m begegnet,
©ieb fle il^m, ober er bleibt, fo fc^wur er, im lebigen Stanbe."
D 2
36 «Öcrmann unb 3)orot^ea
Unb e§ fiJijte bcr ^£0^11 : „ 3)ie gcGt mir, Q3ater I ^Wein J^crj l^at
9Rein unb ftd^er cjeicä^It j ©udj ift fie bie tpürbigfie S^oct^ter." 55
Q(6er ber 35ater fcöirieg. 3)a flanb ber ©eiftUcftc fd^netl auf,
SRa^m ba§ 2Bort unb fpra^ : „ '3)er Qhigenblicf nur entfci^eibet
Über baä J^ckn beS ÜWenfd^en unb ü6er [ein ganjeg ©efc^icfc ;
Denn nac^ langer ^Beratung ifi boc^ ein jeber (Sntfc^Iu^ nur
SBerf beg ÜlJomentS, eö ergreift boci^ nur ber Q3er[länb'ge bag
0leri^te. 60
Smmer gefd^rlicf^er ijl'g, Beim SCBä^ten biefeg unb jeneö
9Re6en:^er ju fcebenfen unb fo bag ®efüt)I ju oern^irren.
3Rein ij^ ^ermann; idj fenn' i^n öon Sugenb auf; unb er ftrecfte
(5c{)on als Änabe bie «§änbe nic^t auS nad) biefem unb jenem ;
SBag er 6eget)rte, baö irar i^m gemäp; fo l;ielt er eö fej^
auctj. 65
@eib nic^t fc^eu unb üennunbert, bafi nun auf einmal erfc^einet,
9Ba6 3t)r fo lange geirimfc^t. (Sä f)at bie ©rfcbeinung für«
iv)at)v nict)t
3e^t bie Öeftalt "tn^ 9Bunfc^e8, fo n»ie 3^r i^n ettva ge^eget.
Denn bie 3Bi'tnfd;e öerl^ünen unö felbft bag ©etrünfdjte ; bie @aten
Äommen »on oben l;erab in it}ren eignen ©ej^alten. 70
9Run üerfennet eö nic^t, baö SWöbc^en, bag ©urem geliebten,
©Uten, oerflänbigen (So^n juerfl bie Seele betregt t)at !
©lücflic^ ift ber, bem fog(eid) bie erfte ©eliebte bie «^anb reicht,
2)em ber lieblic^fte QBunfc^ ni^t t)eimUd? im J&erjen »crfd^mad^tet !
3a, idj fet/ e§ i!^m an, eö ift fein ed^icffat entfdiieben. 75
933at)re Steigung üoUenbct fogleid; ,^um aJianne bcn 3üngling.
üRid^t beiteglic^ ifi er ; id; findete, üerfagt 3l^r i^m biefc§,
®el;en bie 3at)ve bal^in, bie fdiönften, in traurigem Jieben."
5)a öerfe^te fogleid) ber Qlpottjcter bebäd^tig,
Dem fd)on lange \iAi iBort von ber VHvve ju fpringen bereit
ivar : So
„Capt uns auc^ biegmal bod; nur bie 5Kitteljtrajje betreten !
V. ^oh)^^mn{a 37
©ile mit 3Bci(eI baö irar felbft .^aifer QhiguftuS' '£et>ife.
©erite fcfeld' icfc mtc^ an, ben liefen 9la(^6arn ju bienen,
unfeinen geringen ^erflanb ,511 i|rem 9ln|en jn Brauchen;
Unb 6e[onber§ Bebarf bte Sugenb, ba§ man fte leite. 85
iJa§t mid^ alfo l^inangl Sci^ tritt e§ i^rüfen, ba§ SKäbcf>en,
3Bitt bie ©emeintie Befragen, in ber fte Ie6t unb befannt ijt.
9^iemanb Betrügt mid) fo leicfct ; ic^ wn^ bie äBorte ju frf}ä|en."
2)a üerfe^te [ogleic^ ber eo^n mit geflügelten 5Borten :
„ Xijnt e§, i)^a^Bar, unb ge:^t unb erfunbigt dud) ! ':J(6er ic^
inünfdje, 90
5)a^ ber >§err 5^^farrer ftd;? and) in @urer ©efeÜfrfjaft Befinbe ;
Swei fo treffliche 2)?änner flnb unöerttierfüc^e Saugen.
O, mein 33ater ! jte ift nic^t f)ergetaufen, bagi SKdbc^cn,
Jleine, bie burc^ bag ßanb auf Qlbenteuer uml^erfc^Jceift
Unb ben Süngling Bejlrirft, ben unerfai^rnen, mit 3ficinfen. 95
»Jtcin, ba§ reitbe ©efc^icf be§ atlöerberBtic^en «fricgcS,
5)a6 bie 3BeIt jerjiört unb mandieö fefte ©eBdube
(Sd^ou au^ beni ©runbe gel^oBen, l^at auc^ bie Qtrme öertrieBen.
(Streifen nic^t :^errlic^e SOJdnner üon ^of)er ©eBurt nun im
eienb?
^ürjien fliel^en öermummt, unb «Könige leBen öerBannet. 100
-Jid}, fo ifi aud) fte, Oon i^ren @c^tte|lern bie U]te,
•2(ug bem Sanbe getrieben; if)r eignet Unglücf öergeffcnt»,
@te:^t fte anberen Bei, ifi o^ne ^ilfe noc^ :^ilfreicfc.
©rof ftnb 3ammer unb iRot, bie üBer bie @rbe ft^ Breiten ;
@ottte nic^t audj ein ©lücf aug biefem Unglücf {)erüorge!^n, 105
Unb ic^ im 5(rme ber 'iBraut, ber jut>erläffigen ©attin,
^id) nic^t erfreuen bei .Rriegg, fo rcie 3§r beg SSranbeg (^xid)
freutet ? "
5)a S)erfe|te ber Q3ater unb tl^at Bebeutenb ben 2)?unb auf:
„ SEie ifl, 0 ®o^n, bir bie Bunge gelöfi, bie fdjon bir im 3}?unbe
Sauge 3a§re geftocft unb nur flc^ bürftig Beivegte! iio
38 ^ermann unb 2)orotf)ca
3Äu§ i(^ boc^ l^eut crfal^ren, trag jebem SSater gebrol^t ifl,
2)a§ ben QBinen bcg @ot)n0, ben l^cftiijen, gerne bie 3J?utter
Qlttju gelinb fcegünftigt, unb jeber 9lac()t>ar gartet nimmt,
SCßenn eg ü6er ben a3ater nur ^crgef)t ober ben S^'mann.
Win ic^ reitt euc^ jufammen nirtjt iriberjlei^en ; reaö l^iilf eg? 115
2)enn id) fct)e boc^ fd^on t^iier 3;ro| unb J^firänen im oorauei.
©el^et unb ^prüfet unb Bringt in ©otteä i)^amen bie ilodjter
üD^ir ing '^an8 ! 3Bo nic^t, fo mag er bag SRcibcljen öergeffen ! "
5(I[o ber 33ater. ©g rief ber (So^n mit froher Cs)e6ärbe:
„dlo(b oor 5l6enb ift föurf) bie tref|li(?^|le J^o^ter Befeueret, 120
2ßie fle ber 2)?ann fi^ münfc^t, bem ein fluger Sinn in ber
©ruft lebt,
©lücflid; ifl bie @ute bann an&i, [0 barf i* eg i^offen,
3a, flc banfct mir enjig, ba§ ic^ i^r 33ater unb 2>Jutter
2Biebergege6en in eucb, fo rcie fie üerflanbigc Äinber
SBünfdien. Wex id] j^aubre nidn mef)r ; ic^ fdnrre bie l^^ferbc 125
©leid) unb fü^re bie Sreunbe i^inaug auf bie <Bpm ber ©elieSten,
llBerlaffe bie 5Dhinner ftd) felOfl unb ber eigenen Ä(ug!^eit,
SRid^te, fo fd^njijr' ic^ @ud) ^u, mic^ gan,^ nac^ it)rer (^ntfc^eibung,
Unb ic^ fe^' eg nidjt lieber, alg 6ig cg mein ift, bag 2>?äbd)cn."
Unb fo ging er l^inaug, inbeffen manc^eg bie anbern 130
333ciglid) ertcogen unb fc^nett bie iri^tige @ac^e fcefvrad^en.
«^ermann eilte jum «Statte fogleic^, n:o bie mutigen ^engfte
9lu^ig ftanben unb rafc^ ben reinen .§afer öer3e£)rten
Unb bag trodene «§eu, auf ber 6eften 5öiefe genauen.
@ilig legt' er i^nen barauf bag blanfe ©efcif an, 135
Bog bie iRiemen fogleic^ burc^ bie fc^ön öerfllberten Sc^naÜen
Unb fcefePigte bann bie langen, breiteren ßügel,
S^ii^rte bie ^ferbe l^eraug in ben >§of, «jo ber rcitlige Äncd^t fd^on
aSorgefc^oben bie .tutfc^e, fte leicht an ber 3)eid)fel bereegenb.
Qtbgemcffen fnüvften fte brauf an tu S35age mit faubern 140
(©triefen bie rafd;e Jlraft Der leicht ^injie^enben 'iliferbe.
V. ^?olJ)t)i)mnia .39
«^ermann fa^tc bie *l^eitfc^e; bann [a^ ec unb roIKt' in ben
5II6 bie ^reunbe nun gleich bic geräumigen $Iä|e genommen,
Olottte ber SBagen eilig unb lief baö ^ßflafier jurücfe,
JJief jurücE bie ^Kauern ber @tabt unb bic reinlichen 3!ürme. 145
@o fu^r ^ermann ba^in ber njo^lBefannten S^auffee ju
üta\ä) unb fdumete nirf^t unb fui^r 6ergan reie krgunter.
%U er aber nunmehr ben Xmm beg 25orfeg erSIicfte,
Unb nic^t fern mct)r tagen bie gartenumgeknen ^dufer,
^aä)t' er bei flc^ felSfit, nun anju^alten bie ^ferbe. 150
33on bem njürbigen 2)unfel eri^afiener ü^inben umfc^attet,
$Die Sa^r^^unberte [c^on an biefcr ©tetle gereurjclt,
2Bar, mit 3Rafen bebecEt, ein weiter, grünenber 5Inger
33or bem I)orfe, ben ^Bauern unb na^en «Stdbtern ein 5^uftort.
glac^ gegraben befanb fl^ unter ben 3Bdumen ein 33runnen. 155
6tieg man bie (stufen ^inab, fo jeigten ftc^ jieiuerne 5Bdnfc,
OtingS um bie DueUe gefe|t, bie immer lebenbig ^eröorciuott,
0ieinlic^, mit niebriger 3)?auer gefaxt, ju fd^öpfen bequemlic^.
«^ermann aber befd^Io§, in biefem ©d^atten bie ^ferbe
a^it bem SBagen ju galten. @r t^at fo unb fagte bie Sßorte : 160
„(Steiget, Sreunbe, nun aug unb ge^t, bamit i^r erfahret,
Ob bag SKäbc^en auc^ ttert ber <§anb fei, bie ic^ itjr biete I
3rear ic^ glaub' eö, unb mir erjd^It i:^r ni^tä dltnt^ unb ®eltnel ;
jQätV id) ottein ju t^un, fo ging' ic^ be^enb ^u bem I)orf ^in,
Unb mit wenigen SBorten entf^iebe bie ®ute mein <Sc^irffat. 165
Unb i^r werbet fle balb üor atten anbern erfennen;
2)cnn wo^I fc^werlic^ ifi an Sßilbung il^r eine öergteic^bar.
5lber ic^ geb' euc^ no^ bie ßei^«" ber reinlichen .Kleiber:
^enn ber rote Sa^ eri^ebt ben gewölbeten 3ßufen,
(gc^ön gefc^nürt, unb eö liegt bag fc^warje Sßieber i§r tmpp
an; 170
«Sauber ^at fte ben @aum beö ^embe§ jur .Traufe gefaltet,
40 ^ermann iinb CDorot^ca
5)ic \i)x bag Jlinn umi]ie6t, baS runbe, mit reiii(ici;cr ^?(nmut ;
5rei unb tjeiter ^eigt ftdj beei ÄopfeS jicrlic^c^ föinnib ;
@tarE flnb öielmal bic Bövfe um ftlbernc 9iabeln geictcfelt ;
33ielgefattet unb hlau fängt unter bem Jia|e bcr 3flotf au 175
Unb umfc^Iägt i^r im @c^n bie ico^tgebilfeten Jlnoct^el.
^od) bag njitt iä) cudt> fagcn unb nod; mir auöbrücf Ilcö erbitten :
Sftebet nic^t mit bem aJMbcbeu unb Ia§t nic^t merfen bie -Jlbfic^t,
(Soubern befraget bie anberu unb Ijort, ivaö fle altc^ erjäl;fen !
«&afct il^r 0tac^rid^t genug, ju beruhigen 93ater unb aJhttter, 180
Jtel^ret ju mir bann ^uri'icf, unb unr bebeufen baö Üßeitrc.
5(lfo ba^t' i^ mir'ä auei ben 3i>eg ^er, ben unr gefahren."
Qllfo fprac^ er. (51 gingen barouf bie Jreunbe bem iDorf ju,
2Bo in ©arten unb @d;eunen unb v^äufern bie 2Renge oon
aWenfc^en
SÜBimmelte, ^arrn an Äarrn bie breite (Strafe ba^in ftanb. 1S5
SJZänner öerforgten baö briiHenbe 23ie!^ unb bic ^^fb' an ben iBagen,
^IBäfcije trocfncten emfig auf aUcii ^ccfcn bic iücibev,
Unb eö crg5|tcn bie Jitinber ftd) ^ilätfd^crnb im iüaffcr bcö 33ad)eä.
^Ufo burdj bie QBagen fldj brängenb, burd) 'JDJcnfdKu unb licre,
(©at;en fle red^tS unb linfö jlc^ um, bie gefenbctcn @^.iä^er, 190
Ob fle nic^t ettra baS 33i(b bcS bejcidjucten a)fiibd;eng crblicften ;
-2lbcr feine üon aUcn eifd;icn bie !^icrrlid)e Jungfrau.
(Stärfer fanbcn fic balb baö ©ebrängc. 5)a tuar um bie SEagen
(Streit ber broi;enbeu SJZdnner, ivorein fld? mifd^ten bie 2Beiber,
©c^reienb. 2)a na^te fid; fd^ncÜ mit ivürbigcn 6d;ritten ein
5nter, 195
^^rat ju ben @d;eltenben l;in, unb fogleidj öertlang baö ©etöfe,
'UU er üixii^i gebot unb ödtcrlid) crnfl fte bebro^te.
„>§at unö," rief er, „noc^ nidjt baö Unglücf alfo gcbänbigt,
2)a§ irir cnblic^ öcrftetin un8 untercinanbcr ^u tiulben
Unb ju »ertragen, ivenn aud) nid;t fcber bic «^aublungen ab^
mipt ? :oo
V. ^oh)f)i;miua 41
UnSicvtrngürfi fünrat)r ift ber ©lücflirtie. 'Üöerben bie iJcifen
(Snblicf) cucb lehren, nid^t me^r ivic [onfl mit bem SSruber ju
:^abcrn ?
©önnet einanber ben 5J3(afe auf fi-embent 58oben unb teilet,
QBaö il^r '^abet, jufammcn, bamtt i^r ^^arml^er^igfeit finbet ! "
5(ffo fagtc ber Biaxin, unb atte [^iriegen ; öerträglic^ 205
Orbneteu -23teB unb äBagen bie iviebcv fcefänftigten »Dienfc^en.
5110 bcr ©eiillirf^e nun bie JRebe beö ülianneg öernommen
Unb ben ruhigen @inn beS fremben Olic^terö entbecfte,
Srat er an i!^n ^eran unb fpraci^ bie 6ebeutenben Sffiorte :
„QSater, fürrcal^rl rcenn ta^ 33oIf in glücftict^en ilagen bal^tn*
lebt, 210
3Son ber 6rbe ftd? näl;}renb, bie weit unb Breit ft* auftaut
Unb bie envünfc^ten ®a6en in 3ai)ren unb 3)ionben erneuert,
3)a gel^t atieö öon )"eI6fi, unb jeber ifi ftc^ ber ^lügfte
SBie ber -^efie; unb fo 6efie!^en ftc ncBeneinanber,
Unb ber öernünftigj^e aiiann ift tvie ein auDrcr geiiaiten ; 215
2)cnn n?aS aüeö gefc^ic^t, gei^t ftitt ipie oon fel6er ben @ang fort.
Qtter zerrüttet bie i)lot bie geivö^nlicben 9Bege be§ JJeknö,
Steift bag ©eBdube nieber unö rcü^Iet ©arten unb ^aat um,
Zxübt ben SKann unb baö 5Beib 00m Olaume ber trauli^en
SBol^nung,
©d^le^ipt in bie 3rre fle fort bur(^ dngfilic^e 3:^age unb SRäc^te : 220
^ä) ! ba fte^t man fid^ um, rcer icol;! ber oerfiänbigfie 'iDiann fei,
Unb er rebct nic^t me^r bie l^errli^en 3Borte tiergebenö.
@agt mir, 93ater, 3^r feib gereip ber 9fii^ter tion biefcn
j^Iücfctigen 2)iännern, ber 3f)r fogleid; bie ©emiiter beruhigt?
3a, 3^r erfc^eint mir l^eut alg einer ber älteflen ^ü^rer, 225
2)ie burc^ Sßüfien unb Srren öertriebene 23ijlfer geleitet.
2*en!' ic^ bod? eben, id) rebe mit 3ofua ober mit 5[Jiofey."
Unb eä öerfe|te barauf mit ernftem 33Iicfe ber Otic^ter :
„ 32Bal^rIid^, unfere 3cit i'iergleic^t ft^ ben feltenfien 3^1^^"»
43 ^ermann unb ^ovot^ca
I)ie bic ©efc^ic^te Bemerft, bic ^eilige icie bie gemeine; 330
2)enn irer gcfiern unb ^eut tu biefen 3!agen gelebt i)at,
«^at fc^on Sa^re gelebt : fo brdngett flc^ afle ©ef^lc^ten.
IDenf icf> eitt irenig ^urücf, fo fc^eint mir eilt graueä Filter
^uf bem -^auptt 311 liegen ; unb bod? ifi bie .^raft noc^ lefcenbig.
O, reir anbeten bürfen unö reo^I mit jenen oergleid^en, 235
I)enen in ernfier @tunb' erfc^ien im feurigen 9Bufcf5e
@ott ber Ǥerr; and) ung crfc^ien er in SBoIfcn unb Jeuer."
5tlä nun ber ^Jfarrer barauf noc^ rceiter ju fprec^en geneigt xtat
Unb bag (Sc^icffal beä 2f?ann§ unb ber ©einen ^u l^ören »erlangte,
Sagte Be^enb ber ©efd^rtc mit ^eimlic^en QBorten ins D^r
i^m : 240
„ <Bpxt6^t mit bem Olic^tcr nur fort unb Bringt baö ©efprdc^ ouf
bag aßäbc^en!
5l6er i^ gel^e ^erum, fle aufjufuc^en, unb fomme
5Biober, fobatp id) fte ftnbe." (5g nicfte ber *4>farrer bagegen,
Unt) burd} bie ^^ecfen unb ©arten unb S^eunen fuc^te ber <S)?äf;er.
VI. mio
©a§ Zeitalter
5Uö nun ber geifilic^e «§err ben frcmben JRi^ter Befragte,
SBag bie ©emeine gelitten, rcie lang' jte »on «§aufe oertrieben,
Sagte ber SKann barauf : „ i)lic^t f urj flnb unfere J^eibeu ;
!l)enn rcir ^a6en bag 35ittre ber fämtlid^en Sa^re getrunfen,
@(^re(fUc^er, weil auc^ ung bie fcfeonjie Hoffnung jerfiört rcarb. 5
2)enn a^er leugnet eg rco^I, ba^ l^oct) ftc^ bag -^erj i^m erhoben,
Sl^m bie freiere SBruft mit reineren il3ulfen gefdjiagen,
%l^ ftc^ ber erfie ©lanj ber neuen «Sonne fceran^ob,
-Kiä man :^örte ijom 0tect;te ber aiienfcl^en, tag aüen gemein [ei,
33on ber begeifternben B'rei^eit unb öon ber löblichen ©lei^^eit ! 10
2)amalg l^offte jeber ftc^ felbft jn leben; eg festen flc^
^ufjulöfen bag 23anb, bag öiele £änber umfiricfte,
2)ag ber 3Kiifiggang unb ber ©igennu| in ber <§anb l^ielt.
©Rauten nic^t aüt 3SiJlfer in jenen brängenben J^agen
i)kc^ ber ^auptfiabt ber 5BeIt, bie eg fc^on fo lange gen^efen 15
Unb ie^t mel^r alg je ben ^errlic^en 0tamen öerbiente?
9Baren nic^t jener 3Känner, ber erften SSerfünber ber 33ot[c^aft,
5)^amen ben ^oc^jten gleic^, bie unter bie Sterne gefe|t flnb?
SBuc^g nic^t jeglichem 2)?enf^en ber 3Kut unb ber @eijt unb Die
©^racfee ?
„Unb reir waren juerft alg CRac^barn leB^aft entjünbet. 20
I)rauf begann ber Ärieg, unb bie 3üge bewaffneter «^raufen
dtücften nä^er ; allein fle fc^ienen nur ^reunbf^aft ju bringen.
Unb bie brachten ftc auc^; benn i^nen er^ö^t war bie Seele
44 ^ermann unb ^Dorctftea
bitten ; ffe ^flan^ten mit iJufl bie munteren 3?äume fcer ^reil^eit,
Sebem baö ©eine öer[;irect)cnb unb jebeni bie eigne IJHegierung. 25
'^0^ erfreute fld) ba bie 3ugenb, ftcf) freute bag -Jllter,
Unb ber muntere Janj begann um bie neue (Stanbarte.
@o geitannen fle 6alb, bie ükninegenben Jranfen,
@rfi ber Scanner ©eifl mit feurigem, muntrem "beginnen, ,d&^
2)ann bie «^erjen ber 2ßei6er mit untciberftet)Iicl)er -Jinmut. 30
Seid^t felbjl fd^ien ung ber 3)rucf beg öiel6ebi'irfenben Jtriegeö ;
^enn bie ^ofnung umfc^ivebte öor unfern Qtugen bie gerne,
Sorfte bie SÖlicEe i)inaug in neueröffnete SÖa^nen.
„D, »rie fro^ ift bie 3fit, wenn mit ber 5Braut ftrt; ber
SSräut'gam
@d^n}inget im 3'an^e, ben Jag ber genjiinfd^teti 33er6inbung er*
loartenb ! 35
5lBer l^errlic^er ivar bie 3fit, i» ber unö bag >&öc^Re,
2Baö ber SUZenfd) jld; benft, alö nat) unb erreid?6ar fld^ Jicigte.
'S)a nat jebem bie 3iin^^<^ ä^'^ft ; fö f^jrad^en bie ©reife,
üßänncr unb Sünglinge laut voü ^oi^tn @inng unb ©cfü^IeS.
„QtSer ber Fimmel triittc fid) 6alb. Um ben 'Vorteil ber
»Öerrfc^aft 40
©tritt ein öerberbteö ©ef^Iec^t, un«?ürbig, baS ®ute ju fc^affen.
©ie ermorbeten fld) unb unterbrücften bie neuen
iTlac^barn unb iBrüber unb fanbten bie cigennii^ige 3ßengc.
Unb eS praßten bei unö bie D6ern unb raubten im gropen,
Unb eg raubten unb prapten biä ^u bem Jtleinftcn bie Jtleinen ; 45
Seber fc^ien nur beforgt, eö bleibe »vag übrig für morgen.
'Jlfljugrop war bie iUot, unb täglidj njudjg bie 33c?rüdung ;
9iiemanb oerna'^m bag ©ef^rei, fle traren bie Ferren beg
Jageg.
2)a fiel «fummer unb 2But auc^ felbfl ein gelaff'neg ©eniüt an ;
3eber fann nur unb fd^antr bie 3?eleibigimg a(tc ju rdd^en 50
Unb ben bittern ^iJerluft ber boppclt betiügcncn «Hoffnung.
VI. fflio 45
Unb eä wcnbete fld& i»a§ ®Iücf auf bie Seite ber 2)eut[c^en,
Unb ber S'ranfe ffof) mit eiligen 9J?är[c^en jurücEc.
Qld^, ba fül^lten wir erjl bal traurivje O^icffal bee ^riegeg !
2)entt ber Sieger ifi groB u"b gut ; jum trenigften fc^eint cr'g, 55
Unt> er fc^onet beu a)?aim, ben kftegten, aU icär' er ber [eine,
9Bcnn er i^m tägit* nüöt unb mit ben ©ütern i'^m bienet.
%iex ber f^Iücötige fennt fein ®efe|; benn er nre^rt nur ben
ilob ab
Unb öerje^ret nur f^nett unb o^ne Oiücffid&t bie ®üter.
2)ann iji [ein ©ernüt aucft er^i^t, unb e§ feBrt bie 93erjnjei^ung 60
Qtug bem >§er5en l^ersjor ba» freüel^afte SBeginnen.
9ti(^tä i|l ^eiUg i^m me^r; er rau6t eg. 2)ie »übe aScgierbe
2)ringt mit @erca(t auf baS 5Bei6 unb mac^t bie !^ufl jum ent=
[e|en.
ÜBeraH flef^t er ben Xo^ unb genieft bie legten SKinuten
©raufam, freut ftc6 be0 ^lutg unb freut ftc^ be§ ^eulenben
Sammerä. 65
„ ©rimmig er^ob ftd^ borauf in unfern Scannern bie 2But nun,
2)ag 33erIorne ju rächen unb ju öerteib'geu bie 3Refle.
Qlßeg ergrif bie SSafen, gelocft von ber 6ile bcö glüc^tUngä
Unb Oom klaffen ®e[I^t unb fd^eu unftd^eren 93Ucfe.
0la[tlo§ nun erflang bag ®etijn ber ftürmenben ®Iocfe, 70
Unb bie fünft'ge ®efa^r ^ielt nic^t bie grimmige 5But auf.
Seinen üencanbelte ftcb bei j^-elbSaug frieblic^e jHüjiung
dlun in Sße^re; ba trof oon 2ßlute ®a6el unb Senfe.
Di^ne ^egnabigung fiel ber 5einb unb o6ne 33erfc()onung ;
ÜSeratt rafte bie 5ßut unb bie feige, tücfifcfce Scbn:äd^c. 75
SKöc^t' ic^ ben SWenfcfcen bo^ nie in biefer fc^nöben 93crirrung
5Bieberfe:^n ! 2)a§ n^ütenbe ilier iji ein befferer Qtnbticf.
S^jrecb' er boc^ nie t>on 5rei|eit, aU fönn' er ftc& feI6er regieren !
Solgehmben erfc^eint, foSalb bie Scbranfen l^inrceg [tnb,
5ltleö aßö[e, M^ tief ia^ ®efe§ in bie 2ßinfel jurücftrieb." 80
46 ^ermann unb 2)orotf)ea
„ 5;ref lieber 3)?ann ! " öerfe^te bavauf ber *^farrer mit 9^a(f)bru(f,
„5GBenn 3^r ben SDfenfc^en oerfcnnt, fo fann ic^ @ucf> barum
nidtt [ekelten ;
<^aU 3!^r bod^ SßöfeS genug erlitten öom »üfien ^Beginnen!
QBotttet 3^r a6er jurücE bie traurigen 3!age burcbfd^auen,
SBiirbet 3^r felScr gefielen, »rie oft 3^r auc^ @uteg erblicftet, 85
3}?anc^eg 3:!ref lic^e, ba8 öeriorgen tleibt in beut «öerjen,
9tegt bie ®efai)x c8 nic^t auf, unb brängt bie 0iot ni^t ben
SKenfc^en,
2)a§ er all Gngel flc^ geig', erfc^eine ben anbern ein (Sc^u^gott."
Ää^elnb öerfe^te barauf ber alte, njiirbige 0tic6ter :
„ 3|r erinnert niic^ fing, reie oft nad; bem 33ranbe beS ^aufeS 90
9)ian ben betrübten 9Befl|er an @oIb unb (Silber erinnert,
I)aö gefc^moljen im (S^utt nun überblieben gerftreut liegt.
2Benig i|l e8 fürrcal^r, bocb au* baä rcenige föftli^,
Unb ber QSerarmte grabet i^ni nacfe unb freut fldi be§ ^nnbeg.
Unb fo fei)r' ic^ aud) gern bie Reitern ®ebanten ju Jenen 95
SBenigen guten 3:^aten, bie aufbereal^rt baö ©ebäc^tniS.
Sa, ic^ tviü eg nid)t leugnen, iri; fa:^ flc^ 5'einbe ocrfö^nen.
Um bie (£tabt üom Übel gu retten ; id^ [a^ aud? ber Jreunbc,
<Saf) ber (Sltern iJieb' unb ber itinber ' Unmijglic^eö ivagen,
®afe, n?ie ber Süngting auf einmal gum SRann warb, fa^, icie
ber ®reig ftc^ 100
Sßieber oerjüngte, bag .^inb fic^ felbft alg 3üngling ent^üUte.
5a, unb baö fd)itad)e ©ef^lec^t, fo »tic eg geirö^nlid) genannt wirb,
3eigte jldj ta^jfer unb mächtig unb gegcmvärtigen ©eifteg.
Unb fo laft mic^ cor allen ber fc^önen ;J^at nod? ertnä^nen,
5)ie ^odi^erjig ein a)iäb(!^en ooUbrac^te, bie treffliche Sungfrau, 105
2)ic auf bem großen ©el^ijft allein mit ben üJiäbc^en jurücf blieb;
2)enn cö waren bie Scanner a\iö;) gegen bie Jremben gebogen.
I)a überfiel ben «^of ein ;$ru).^V^ oerlaufnen ©eftnbelg
^liinbernf, unb brängte foglcidi fid; in bie 3i""»fr ber tfrauen.
VI. 5?lio 47
®ie crblicften bag 95ilb ber fc^ön eriracl^fenen Sungfrou uo
Unb bie IicHi*en STOäbd^cn, no^ e^er Äinber ju :^eipen.
2)a ergrif fie irilbe Sßegier; |!c jlürmten gefü^lbö
5luf bie jitternbc @c^ar unb aufg l^oc^l^erjige SKäbc^en.
5t6er fle ri^ bem einen fogleic^ oon ber (Seite ben «Säfeel,
^ieB il^n nieber gercaltig; er fiürjt' i^r Blutenb ju ^i'i^en. 115
SDann mit ntännli^en (Streidf>en Befreite fie tapfer bie SKdbc^en,
3;raf noc^ öiere ber 3fläufeer ; boc^ bie entflogen bem 5!obe.
2)ann oerf^Io^ fle ben -§of unb l^arrte ber ^ilfe, fceicafnet."
QltS ber ©eiftlic^e nun bag S06 beg «Kabd^eng öernommen,
<5tieg bie J^offhung foglei^ für feinen t^reunb im ©ernüt auf, 120
Unb er njar im Sßegriff gu fragen, irof)in fle geraten,
06 auf ber traurigen S^Iuc^t fle nun mit bem 93oIf ftd^ 6efinbe.
5l6er ba trat :§erBei ber %pofi)dtv Be^^enbe,
3upfte ben geifilic^en >§errn unb fagte bie reif^ernben aBorte:
„^aB' ic^ boc^ enblic^ bag SDJäbc^en aug öielen ^unbert gefunben 125
9]a^ ber Sßefc^reiSung ! ®o fommt unb fet)et fle felSer mit Qtugeii!
Sfle^met ben 3Ri(^ter mit dud), bamit wir bag QSeitere ^ören ! "
Unb fte fe^^rten flc^ um, unb reeg rcar gerufen ber 3ftici;ter
a3on ben ©einen, bie i^n, fcebiirfttg beg 0lateg, »erlangten.
2)oc^ eg folgte fogiei^ bem Qi^ot^efer ber ^farr^err 130
Qln bie Öiicfe beg 3^u"ö. "i^^ i^^^^ beutete liftig:
„ (Se^t 5^r," fagt' er, „ bag «ÖZäb^en ? @ie ^at bie ^i\p)i>i gereicfelt,
Unb ic^ erfenne genau ben alten Kattun unb ben Blauen
ÄiffenöBerjug rcol^I, ben i^r ^ermann im Sßiinbel geSradfit l^at.
«Sie üernjenbetc fc^nett fürica^r unb gut bie ©efcfjenfe. 135
2)iefe flnb beutU^e 3«^en, eg treffen bie iiBrigen atte;
5)enn ber rote Sa| erl^eBt ben genjöIBeten SSufen,
(Sc^ön gefc^nürt, unb eg liegt bag fc^roarje ajjieber i^r fna^:p an ;
@ouber ifi ber @aum beg Ǥembeg jur Traufe gefaltet
Unb umgieSt i:^r bag ^inn, bag runbe, mit reinlid^er 5lnmut ; 140
5rei unb Reiter jeigt ftc^ beg ^opfeg jierlic^eg ^irunb
48 .^ermann unb 2)orotf)ea
Unb btc jiarfen SöVfe unt fllfcerne Si^abeln geivicfelt;
(öi^t fte gleich, fo fe^en nix boc^ bie trejflicfce ®röfc
Unb ben blauen Otocf, ber oielgcfaltet oom *3u[en
9flcic^lid^ l^eruntertraüt jum reo^Igebtlbeten Änöciicl. 145
Di^ne 3'üeifet, fle ifl'8. 2)rum fommct, bamit irir t>ernet)men/
Ob fie gut unb tugenbl^aft fei, ein l^äuälid^eö SÄäbdjen."
2)a oerfe^te ber Pfarrer, mit SSIicEen bie <3i|enbe ^?rüfenb:
„2)a^ fle ben Süngling ent^ajücft, fürirat)r, eS ift mir fein SCBunber ;
^enn jle ^ält üor bem 33Ii(f beö erfahrenen SKanneö bie $robe. 150
©litrfUd^, irem bo^ SWutter 9^atur bie rechte ©eflalt gab!
Denn jle en^jfie^Iet il^n fletg, unb nirgenbö ifi er ein Jrembling.
Seber nal^et flc^ gern unb jeber möchte oeriteilen,
SGBenn bie ©efättigfeit nur flc^ ju ber ©efialt noc^ gefettet.
3c^ ßerflc^r' @ud^, eä ift bem 3üngUng ein üßäbc^en gefunben, 155
2)ag ii)m bie fünftigen S^age beS !2ebenö ticrrlic^ erweitert,
Jlreu mit iveiblid^er .^roft burc^ alle Seiten i^m beifle^t.
(So ein öottfommener Äör^er gewifj öennafirt auc^ bie ®eele
adein, unb bie rüftige Sugenb oerfpric^t ein gliicflic^eg ^tlter."
Unb eg fagte barauf ber Q()3otf)cfer bebenflic^ : 160
„ XxüQü ioä) öfter ber @ci)ein ! 3d) mag bem *Jluf ern nic^t trauen ;
2)enn id) 'i^aU bal Spric^reort fo oft erprobet gefunben :
e^' bu ben (Scheffel @alj mit bem neuen Sßefannten oerje^ret,
2)arffl bu nic^t leid^tlic^ i^m trauen; bic^ mac^t bie 3ftt nur
geunffer,
9Bie bu eä ^abefl mit i^m, unb n:ie bie ^reunbf^aft befiele. 165
Raffet unö alfo juerfi bei guten iJeuten unö umt^un,
5)enen bag QWäbdjen befannt ift, unb bie unö oon il^r nun erjä^Ien."
„Qturf) id) lobe bie a>orfld;t/' öerfe^te ber ©eifUic^e folgenb;
„5rei'n rcir bod^ nic^t für unö! 5ür anbere frei'n ift bebentlicb,"
Unb fle gingen barauf bem wacfern Olid^ter entgegen, 170
S)er in feinen @efd)äften bie Strafe reieber ^erauffam.
Unb ju il}m fpraci} fogleid} ber finge Pfarrer mit 33orfl(^t:
VI. i?(io 49
„(Sagt, irir f^abm ein SKäbc^en gcfe^n, bag im ©arten ^undc^ft
l^ier
Unter beni Q(vf«^f"iuni |t^t unb Äinbern Kleiber verfertigt
■2(u8 getragnem Äattun, ber i^r öermutlicf^ gefc^enft irarp. 175
Uns gefiel bie ©ejlalt; fte fc^eint ber QBacferen eine.
(Saget ung, wag 3^r ivi^tl SBir fragen ani Iö6Iic6er ':Jl6f{c^t."
5110 in ben ©arten ju blicfen ber jKic^ter fogUic^ nun i)er=
guttat,
(Sagt' er: „2)iefc fcnnet 3^r fc^on ; benn rcenn ic6 er^ä^Ite
9Son ber ^errlici^en 3;^at, bie jene Sungfrau verrietet, 180
%U fle baä (S(!^wcrt ergriff unb jtef) unb bie S^ren befd^üfete —
3)iefc ttjor'ä ! 3§r fe^t eg i^r an, fle ijl riifiig geSoren,
■2t6er fo gut wie jtarf; benn i:^ren alten 33errcanbten
*43flegte jte big jum iJobc, ta i^n ber Sammer bai^inri^
Ü6cr beg ©täbtd^eng Otot unb feiner 2öejl|ung ©efa^ren. 185
-2(u(^ mit fiittem ©emüt :^at fle bie S^merjen ertragen
Über beg $8rautigamg Xo't), ber, ein ebler Süngling, im erjten
Steuer beg ^o^en ©ebanfeng, noc^ ebler S^rei^eit gu fireben,
(öelbfl l^inging nac^ *4?arig unb balb ben fc^recfUc^en -Jet» fanb;
5)enn trie ^u >§aufe fo bort befiritt er S3>iÜfiir unb Oidnfe." 190
%l\o fagte ber 9Ri(^ter. 5)ic bcibcn fci^icbcn unb banften,
Unb ber ©eifilict^e jog ein ©olbjtücf (bag ®ilbcr beg 33eutelg
^ 5Bar öor einigen (Stnnben öon i§m fc^on mitte Jjerfpenfet,
i%U er bie Flüchtlinge fal^ in traurigen «Raufen öorbeijie^n)
Unb er reicht' eg bem (Sd^uljen unb fagte : „ 3!eilet ben il^fennig 195
Unter bie 2>ürftigen aug, unb ©Ott öerme^re bie ©abe!"
2)0^ eg weigerte ftc^ ber Mann unb fagte: „5Bir ^aUn
3J2an^en 3:^afer gerettet unb manche J^Ieibcr unb ^ad^eii,
Unb ict) ^ofe, wir fe^ren juriicf, no(i^ e:^' eg öerje^rt ifi."
®a üerfe^te ber Pfarrer unb brücft' i^m bag ©elb in bie '
^anb ein: 200
„»JliemauD fdumc ju geben in biefen ;lagen, unb niemanb
K
50 ^ermann unb 2)orotf)ea
Sßetgre f!d) an^une^men, rcaö il^m bie 3JiiIbe geboten!
Sliemanb irei§, ivie lang' er eö t)at, lüaö er ruliig 6efl|ct ;
91temanb, wie lang' er noc^ in freniben iCanben um^er^iel^t
Unb beg QlcferS entkt;rt unb beS ©artenö, ber i^n ernäi^ret." 205
„@i boc^!" fagte barauf ber Ql^^otl^efer gefd^ciftig,
„SGBäre mir je^t nur ®elb in ber 3;a[ct)e, fo foütet 3^r'ö i)abei\,
@ro^ iric flein; benn öiele geivif ber (Suren bcbürfen'ö.
Unfcefc^enft boc^ laff i^ @uc^ nic^t, bantit 3t)r ben 9Bit(en
(geltet, njoferne bie Zi^at auc^ i^inter bem 3BiUen jurü(f6Ieibt." 210
Qdfo f^rad? er unb jog ben geftirftcn lebernen Sßeutel
%n ben Stiemen l^eröor, njorin ber Zobat ii)m üern^al^rt war,
Öffnete gierlic^ unb teilte; ba fanben flc^ einige ^^feifen.
„Jllein ifi bie ®at»e/' [e^f er baju. I)a fagte ber ©cbult^eip :
„@uter Zohat ift bocJ) bem 0ieifenben immer tt?iUfommen." 215
Unb eS lofcte barauf ber Ql)3otl^efcr ben Jlnafter.
Ql6er ber ItJfarrtjerr 30g i!^n t)iniveg, unb fle frf)ieben 00m JRic^ter.
„@ilen lüir!" f^radj ber öerfianbige 2)iann; „eg wartet ber
3üngling
^einlic^. ^r ^öre fo fc^nett aU möglief) bie frö^Iidje SBotfc^aft ! "
Unb fle eilten unb famen unb fanben ben Jüngling ge(el;net 220
5(n ben QBagen unter ben Äinbcn. 2)ie $ferbc jerfiam^^ften
Söilb ben 3flafen ; er l^ielt fle im 3«inn unb ftanb in ©ebanfen,
3?Iicfte fiitt t>or ftc^ l)in unb fali bie Brfnnbe nid^t el^er,
3Biö fic fommenb i:^n riefen unb frötiüc^e 3eid;en il^m gaben.
@c^on Don ferne begann ber Qi^ot^efer ^u f^jrec^en; 225
2)oct) fle traten nät;er ^in^xu 2)a fafjte ber ^4-^farr^err
«Seine ^anb unb f^n-ad; unb nat)m bem ©efäl^rten bag QBort njeg :
„<§eil bir, junger aiJanu! 2)ein treueö -iluge, bcin treueS
-^erj l;at ridjtig geiüa^It! @Iücf bir unb bem SBeibe ber 3ugenb!
Seiner ifi ftc icert ; brum foiiim unb ivcnbe ben ilöagen, 230
2)ap anr fa^renb fogleid; bie (Srfc bcö SDorfeö erreichen,
Um ftc iverben unb balb nad) ^aufe filieren bie Öute I "
VI. Silio 51
5t6er bcr Süngling jianb, unb o§ne 3«<^fn i'fi' Jreube
^ört' er bic ©orte bcö Sßoten, bie :^immlifc^ waxtn unb ttöfilicfc,
(Seufjetc tief unb ipxad^ : „2Bir famen mit eilendem 5ui)rircrf, 235
Unb mx jie^en oietleic^t 6efct|ämt unb langfam nac^ '^au\i ;
SDenn l^ier i)at mic^, feitbem ic^ rcarte, bic 6orge Befallen,
*itrgreo!^n unb ^nti^d unb attcö, n?ag nur ein liefcenbeä «^er^
frdnft.
©laufet i^r, irenn mx nur fommen, fo reerbe baä ä)?äbc^en ung
folgen,
9BciI irir reici^ jtnb, aber fte arm unb öertrieSen ein^erjief^t ? 240
5(rmut [elbft mac^t fiolj, bie unöertiente. ©enügfam
•Scheint ta^ SKdDd^en unb t^dtig, unb fo gehört i^r bie ®elt an.
®Iau6t i:^r, ee fei ein 2ßei6 oon folcber 6<^ön:^eit unb Sitte
Qtufgewadjfen, um nie ben guten 3itng(ing ju reiben?
©laufet if)r, fte l^afee feil ie|t il^r «i^erj serfc^toffen ber Siefee ? 245
5a^ret nicfet raf^ feig l^inan ! 2Bir mijcfeten 5U unfrer 3Bef^dmung
(Sackte bie *^ferbe l^erum nac^ v§aufe lenfeu. 3c^ fürchte,
3rgenb ein 3üngling feeftet bie§ «§erj, unb bie tracEerc >§anb ^at
Singefc^Iagen unb fc^on bcm ©lücEIicfeen ireue öerfpro^en.
-2((^! ba fte§' ic^ cor i^r mit meinem Eintrag feefdjdmet." 250
3^n ju trijfien, ijffnete brauf ber Pfarrer ben 5Kunb fc^on ;
Ziod) esi fiel ber ©cfd^rte mit feiner gefprdd^igen Q(rt ein :
„5-reiIid^, fo n:dren rcir ni^t cor ^dtm «verlegen geirefen,
'^a ein jebes ©efc^dft nac^ feiner Üöeife öoflferac^t rcarb!
Ratten bie ©Item bie 3Braut für il^ren So^n fic^ erfe^en, 255
3Barb juöijrberfi ein Jreunb 5?om «§aufe öertrauticf) gerufen ;
5)iefen fanbte man bann alä Sreiersmann ju ben (Sltern
2)er erforenen ^Sraut, ber bann in ftattlii^em $u|e
«Sonntags etn;a nac^ ;5;ifc^e Xim iriirbigen 'Bürger feefuc^te,
^reunbli^e äßorte mit i^m im aügemeinen juoörberft 260
SScd^felnb unb flug baö ®efprd(^ ju lenfen unb rcenben oerfte^enb.
©nblic^ nac^ langem Umfc^ireif luarb auc^ ter ^oc^ter crud^nct
s 2
52 ^ermann unb !t)orotf)ea
0lüt)mlid^ unb rü^mlirt; beö SKannö unb beg <§aufeg, tion bcm
man gefanbt war.
Jtlugc Seute mcrften bic 5lt)fl(^t ; bcr fluge ©cfanbte
SKerfte ben 3Biüen gar balb unb fonntc fl^ ireiter erflärcn. 365
Sel^nte ben Eintrag man ah, [0 wax auc^ ein Jtovb nid^t oer=
brie^Uc^ ;
5l6er gelang el benn and), fo itar ber t^reierömann immer
3n bem «öaufe ber erfle 6ei jebem l^äuölicljen ?yejlc ;
5)enn eS erinnerte fld^ burd^g ganje üJeben bag ß^'^jaar,
Daf bie gefc^icfte >§anb ben erften Änoten gefc^Iungen. 270
Se^t ifi afcer bag aßeö mit anbern guten ®e6räuc^en
%u& ber SKobe gekommen, unb jeber freit für fldj felber.
S^e^me benn j;eglicf]er auct^ ben ^orfc mit eigenen «^dnben,
5)er i:^m etrca Sef^ert iji, unb fte^e feefd^ämt öor bem aßdbc^en ! "
„@ei eg, trie i^m and) fei!" öerfe|te ber Süngling, ber faum
auf 275
Qlüe bie Sorte get)ört unb fd^on flc^ im fiitlen entfc^Ioffen ;
„(gelber get)' i^ unb »ritt mein ©c^icffal feifcer erfahren
5tuö bem aßunbe beg äßdb^eng, ju bem ic^ baS größte 93ertrauen
^ege, bag irgenb ein 3)2enfc^ nur je ju bem SBeibe gehegt §at,
2Bag fle fagt, bag ifl gut, eg iji öerniinftig, bag icei^ ic^. 280
(Soü iä) fte auc^ ^um legten 3KaI fe^n, fo wiU id) nod^ einmal
5)iefem offenen aSIicf beg fc^rcarjen Qiugeg begegnen;
!I)riicE' \d) fle nie an bag «&erj, fo voiU id) bie 3&rufi unb bic
(Schultern
Einmal nod) fe^n, bie mein ^^rm fo fe^r ju umfc^Iie^en begel^ret,
SBitt ben 2)?unb no^ fe^en, ijon bem ein Jtu^ unb bag 3a mi^ 285
®lMlid) mad}t auf ewig, bag SReiu mid^ auf cang jerftöret.
%btx (aft mid? aüein! 3^r foüt nidjt Jcarten. 'begebet
@ud) ^u 2Sater unb SKutter jurücf, bamit fie erfahren,
I)a§ [id) bcr <5of)n nic^t geirrt, unb baf eg reert ifl bag aJ?äbd^en.
Unb fo la^t mic^ attein! I)en Ju^weg über ben «&ügel 290
VI. Älio 53
5ln ben 93irn^aum f)in unb unfern 2Bein6erg ^^inunter
@e^' i^ naiver nacfc <§aufe jurücE. O, ba^ id^ bie Zvautt
Jreubig unb fcfcneK ^eimfü^rte ! SSieöeic^t aud^ f^Iei^' i(^ atteine
Sene ^Jfabe nacb <§aug unb betrete fro^ fle nic6t reieber."
QUfo i>ra(^ er unb gab bem geiftlici^en «§errn t>ie Bügel, 295
5)cr oerjlänbig fle fa^tc, bie fc&äumenben Otofl'e bc^err[c6enb,
<Sc^neß ben 3Bagen fieftieg unb ben (gi^ be§ 5ü|rer§ befelte,
Qlber bu jaubertejt noc^, sjorft^tiger iJ^ac^fear, unb fagteji :
„@erne bertrau' ic6, mein ^reunb, Sud» ©eel' unb @eifi unb
@emüt an ;
Qlber Seifi unb @e6ein ift nicfet junt beften bernja^^ret, 300
SCBenn bie geifiticbe «^anb ber n^eltlic^en ßügel flcf) anmaßt."
2>oc^ bu läc^eltejl brauf, üevilänbiger ^Jfaner, unb fagtefl:
„@i|et nur ein, unb getrofl bertraut mir ben ^eiS wie bie (Seele !
3)cnn gefcfcicft ifl bie «^anb fcbon lange ben Bügel 5U fiifcren,
Unb ba§ Qtuge geübt, bie fünfilic^lie SBenbung ju trefen. 305
5)enn njir rearen in ©trapurg geiro^^nt, ben QBagen ju lenfen,
5tlg iä) ben jungen 9Saron ba:^in begleitete; täglid^
ÜioUU ber 3Bagen, geleitet bon mir, ba§ ^atlenbe 3^or burdj,
«Staubige 5Bege l^inaug big fern ju ben Qluen unb !^inben
SWitten burc!^ ©cbaren beg ^olU, baS mit ®:bfl5i«'^fn ^fn J'ag
lebt." 310
«§alb getröjiet befiieg barauf ber 9la^bar ben 2Bagen,
(Sa^ wie einer, ber fl^ jum rceiglicben (Sprunge bereitet,
Unb bie «^engfte rannten nacb «§aufe, begierig beä ©tatteg.
5Iber bie 2BoIfe beg (Staubg quofi unter ben md^tigen >§ufen.
Sänge nocb ftanb ber Süngling unb fa^ ben (staub f!c^ ergeben, 315
(Sa^ ben ©taub jic^ §erftreu'n ; fo ftanb er ot)ne ©ebanfen.
VII. lErato
T)ovot\)ca
2Bie bcr ivanbcrnt'e üVann, ber vor bem (Sinfen ber ^onne
(Sie nod? einmal inä Qluge, bie fd^tieüöerfc^reinbcnbe, fafte,
3)ann im bunfeln ®eftü[d) unb an bcr Seite be« JVcIfenö
(Sd^iüeben flel^et i^r ^5ilb; wol^in er bie ©tiefe nur rcenbet,
Gilet eö cor unb glänjt unb fd^n^nnft in l^errlic^en garten : 5
(So dewegte öor «^ermann bie lietlici^e 93ilbung be§ 9Äcibd)enö
Sanft fidj öorki unb [cbien bem ^fab insi betreibe ju folgen.
%btx er ful^r auö bem ftaunenben Jraum auf, njcnbete langfam
9lad) bem 2)orfe ftcii ;5u unb ftaunte n:ieber ; benn nneber
Äam it)m bie t)ol}e ©eftalt be§ :^errlic^en SKäbctienö entgegen. 10
5eft 6etract)tet' er fte ; eg irar fein Scfeeintnib, fte n?ar eS
Selber, ^en grijperen Ärug unb einen fleinern am J^enfel
^^ragenb in jeglictjer J^anb, fo fctiritt fte gefdniftig jum "Brunnen.
Unb er ging il)r freubig entgegen. (58 gab i^m if)r 5(nblicf
Wlut unb ,^raft ; er f^rad) ju [einer QSerunmberten alfo : 15
„5inb' id) iid), reacfereS SDfdb^en, fo Oalb aufö neue befd^iftigt,
«§ilfreid) anbern ju fein unb gern ^u erguicfen bie ü)icnfd)en?
Sag', tvarum fommjl bu aHein jum Duell, ber bod^ [0 entfernt
liegt,
2)a fid) anbere bod? mit bem Äniffcr beS Dorfes begnügen?
Sreilid; ift bieg öon bcfonberer Äraft unb lieblid) ju foften. 20
3ener Traufen bringt! bu e8 n:oM, bie bu treutid^ gerettet?"
Sreunblic^ begrüpte fogleid; Da^s gute iUfäbd^en ben 5üng=
ling.
VII. (Srato 55
<Spxaä} : „ <So ifi f^on t)ter ber Qißevj mir jum SBnmnen 6eIo|nct,
25a ic6 finbe ben @uten, ber ung fo oicteö gereid^t f^at ;
2)cnn ber Q(n6Ii(f beä ®e6erä ifi iric bie ®aUn erfreulief». 25
Äommt imb feilet boc^ feI6er, irer @ure 9ÄiIbe genojfen,
Unb em^3fanget ben rul^igen 2)anf öon atten ©rquicftcn!
SJaß 3:^r oter fogleic^ s?erne:^met, irarum idj gekommen,
J^ier ju fc^öpfen, iro rein unb unafctäffig ber Oxitü fliegt,
(Sag' ic^ ^uä) biel : 6ö ^a6en bie unt>orft(^tigeu SRenfc^en 30
5(C[eg SCBaffer getrübt im 2)orfe, mit ^ferben unb Oc^fen
®Ieid^ burcfjiratenb beii Cueft, ber QBaffer bringt ben Sße«
rcoi^ncrn.
Unb fo l^aBcn fle auc^ mit SBafd^en unb Oieinigen aUe
5^röge beg 5)orfcg 6efc^mu|t unb atte 33runnen befubett;
2)enn ein jeglicher benft nur ftc^ felbfl unb ia^ näc^fte *^e=
bürfnig 35
Sc^nett ju befrieb'gen unb ra[c^, unb nic^t beä g^olgcnben benft er."
*2lIfo f^jrac^ fte unb rcar bie breiten (Stufen l^inunter
5ßit bem Begleiter gelangt, unb auf bag SÖMuerd^en festen
*3eibe fic^ nieber beg OueUg, (Sie beugte fiel? über, ju fc^öpfen,
Unb er fafte ben anberen Ärug unb beugte ftc^ über. 40
Unb fie fallen gef^jiegclt ii^r ^3ilb in ber Söläue beg «^imnielg
Sdjroanfen unb nirften ftc^ ju unb grüßten flcb freunblic^ im
S^3iegel.
„Saf mid^ trinfen," fagte barauf ber l^eitere Süngling;
Unb fte reic&t' i|m ben .^rug. S)ann ruhten fte beibe, vertraulich
*^(uf bie (Sefdpe gelernt ; fte aber fagte jum S'reunbe : 45
„Sage, xtit finb' id? bic^ l^ier unb oi)ne Sagen unb ^^ferbe,
^erne öom Drt,iro ic& erfi bid^ gefe^en? 2Bie bifi bu gefommen?"
3)enfenb fc^aute «^ermann jur 6rbe ; bann :^ob er bie ®licfe
9flu:^ig gegen fte auf unb fa^ i^r freunblic^ ing Qtuge,
^ü^iu jtc^ |iitt unb getroji. 3eboc^ i^r oon JiJiebe ju f^jrec^en, 50
Sär' il^m unmöglich geivefen ; i^r '2tuge blicfte nic^t iJiebe,
56 ^ermann unb 2)orotf)ea
5l6fr ließen a3erftanb, xinb gebot, »erfiänbig ju reben.
Unb er faf te f!* f(^netl unb [agte traulid^ jum SKäbdbeii :
„5üa§ mid^ reben, mein ^inb, unb beine fragen eriribern!
©einettregen fam id) ^ier^erl QBaS [oU id^'8 berbergen? 55
2)enn i^ leSe kglüdft mit beiben liebenben (SItern,
3)enen i* treuli^ baö ^aug iinb bie (5)iiter l^elfe berrealten
*21IS ber einjjige @o^n, unb unfre ©efd^äfte flnb bielfad^,
QWe i^elber beforg' icfe ; ber 5?ater n:altet im ^aufe
Jlei^ig ; bie t^ätige 2)?utter belebt im ganjen bie SBirtfd^aft. 60
Qlber bu ^aft genn^ auäj erfahren, wie fetir ia^ ©eftnbe
^alb biird) SJei^tftnn unb bnlb bur* Untreu' ^.ilaget bie J&augfrau,
3mmer jle nötigt ju reed^feln unb Segler um ^el^ler ju taufc^en.
^anQt jrünfcbte bie SKutter ba^er fld^ ein Süiäbc^en im «§aufe,
Dag mit ber <§anb nid^t allein, bog and) mit bem «^erjen i^r
t)ülfe 65
Qln ber 3^od^ter «Statt, ber leiber friU;e i-»erIornen.
9^un, aU ic^ ^eut am SBagen bid) fa^ in froher ©eiranbt^eit,
©at? bie @tärfe be§ Qtrmö unb bie boüe ®e[unb^eit ber ©lieber,
%U ic^ bie SBorte üerna^m, bie oerftcinbigen, »rar id) betroffen,
Unb i^ eilte nac^ Ǥau[e, ben (SItern unb Jreunben bie Jrembe 70
3ftü^menb nac^ i^rem ^erbienfi. 9lun fomm' ic^ bir aber ju
fagen,
9Baö fte rcünfd^en reie ic^. — Q3erjei^ mir bie ftotternbe 0lebe I "
„Sdieuet (Suc^ nid)t," fo fagte fle brauf, „ baS SBeitre ju fprec^en ;
3f)r beleibigt mid; nid^t, ic^ i)ab' eg banfbar em^funben.
@agt eä nur grob' ^erauSl SKidi fann bag SBort nid;t er«
\(i)xtätn : 75
Dingen möchtet 3^r mic^ al8 SOJagb für 93ater unb SWntter,
3u berfe^en baä >öau8, baS reo^Ier^alten (Juc^ bafie^t ;
Unb 3^r glaubet an mir ein tüd)tigeg SWäbc^en ju finben,
3n ber -Jlrbeit gef^icft unb ni*t bon robem (^Jemüte.
euer Eintrag Jcar furj ; fo fott bie Qlntirort auc^ furj fein : 80
VII. (Bxato 57
3a, ic^ ge^e mit ©ud^ unb folge bem 3tufe beg @rf)icEfal8.
aJJeine ^fti^t ift erfüKt ; ic^ ^abe bie SBöc^nerin reieber
3u beti 3^ren gebracht, fle freuen flc^ atle ber Otettung;
®c^on |!nb bie meifteu Beifammen, bie übrigen werben jtc^ finben.
5lüe benfen gewi^ in furzen ^^agen jur -§eimat 85
SCBieberjufel^ren ■ fo pflegt fld^ fietg ber 93ertrie6ne ju f^meic^eln.
Qlber idi täufd^e mid^ nic^t mit leichter -§ofnung in biefen
3!vaurigcn 2!agen, bie ung noc^ traurige 3^age öerf^red^en;
2)enn gelöft flnb bie Söanbe ber SGBelt; von fnü^fet fte wieber
Qllö otlein nur bie 0^ot, bie l^öc^fte, bie un8 Bet)orftel)t ? 90
.^ann id^ im -^aufe be§ iriirbigen SlJannS mi^ bienenb ernäl^ren
Unter ben Qlugen ber treffUdjen ^xan, [0 t^u' ic^ eg gerne;
2)enn ein reanbernbeS SJiäbcfien ijt immer öon f^njanfenbem 3ftufe.
3a, id^ ge^e mit 6uc^, fobalb id^ bie Ärüge ben ^reunben
Sßiebergebrad^t unb nod^ mir ben ©egen ber @uten erbeten. 95
Äommt! 3^r muffet fle feigen unb mid^ üon il^ncn em^^fangen."
dxö^iä} t^ötU ber 3iingUng beS billigen aßäbd^enS @nts
fc^Iiefung,
ßnjeifetnb, ob er i^r nun bie 9Bal§r!^eit foHte gejlel^en.
Qlber eS fd^ien i^m baä ^3efte ju fein, in bem SBat)n fle ju laffen,
3n fein •^auSi fte ju füi^ren, .^ju werben um Siiebe nur bort erfi. 100
Qtd^ ! unb ben golbenen 9fling erblicf t' er am Singer beg SKäb^eng !
Unb fo lief er fte fprecben unb ^orcbte fleißig ben SEorten.
„ia^t ung," fu^r fte nun fort, „jurücfe feieren! 5)ie ajfäbd)en
©erben immer getabelt, bie lange beim SBrunnen öerweilen ;
Unb bod^ ij^ e0 am rinnenben iZiuett fo lieblid^ ju fd^wä^en." 105
Qllfo fianben fle auf unb fd^auten beibe nod^ einmal
3n ben aBrunnen jurüdE, unb füfeg 93erlangen ergrif fle.
(©d^weigenb nal^m fte barauf bie beiben Ärüge beim «§enfel,
(Stieg bie Stufen !^inan, unb <§ermann folgte ber I^ieben.
©inen Ärug öerlangt' er öon i:^r, bie SSürbe ju teilen. no
„fiaft i^n," f^rad^ fle; „eä trägt {Ic^ beffer bie gleichere ^aft fo,
58 ^ermann imb !Dorotf)ea
Uni) ber ^err, ber fünftig befiehlt, er fott mir nic^t bicncn.
@e^t mid; [o ernft nid;t an, alä ir>äre mein ©d^irffal BebenfHc^!
5)ienen lerne fcei^^eiten baS SBeib naä) i^rer 3Befiimmunc} !
$Denn bur^ 5)ienen attein gelangt fle enblic^ jum <§err[(^en, 115
3n ber üerbienten ®e>ralt, bic boc^ i^r im «§aufe iie^öret.
2)ienet bie ©c^wefler bem 33ruber boc^ frü^, fie bienet ben
eitern,
Unb i^r J^eben ifl immer ein einigcg ®et)en iinb .kommen,
Ober ein ^eben unb 3:ragen, ^Bereiten unb @d;afen fiir anbre;
SBo^I i^r, reenn fle barau jlrt? getrö^nt, ba§ fein 2ßeg i^r 311
fauer 120
SBirb, unb bie ©tunben ber dlaä^t iljv finb «lie bie «Stunben
beä SageS,
2)a§ i^r nicmalö bie QlrScit ,^u ficin unb bie Ülabel ju fein bünft,
3)af fle flcii gan;5 ocrgift unb (eben mag nur in anbern.
5)enn aU SDhttter fiinval^r bebarf fle ber iliugenben alle,
aOBenn ber ©dugling bie Äranfenbe weät unb iJ^atirung begetjrct 125
^on ber ©c^reac^en, unb fo ju @(l)mer,5cn «Sorgen ftd; t)äufen.
Sinanjig 9)iänner öerbunben ertriigen nid^t biefe -Bcfciiirerbe,
Unb fle fotten eg ni*t ; boct) foÜen fie banfbar t& einfe^n."
Qtifo fprac^ fle unb irar mit il^rem flißen 'Begleiter
2)urc^ ben ©arten gefommen biet an bie ienne ber (Scheune, 130
5Bo bie 2BiJdmerin lag, bie fie fro^ mit ben ^Jijd^tcru oerlaffen^
Senen geretteten SWäbcöen, ben fc^ijnen "Silbern ber Unfdmib.
2?cibe traten ^inein ; unb üon ber anberen Seite
3;rat, ein Äinb an iegUd)cr >&anb, ber ötic^ter ,^uglcid) ein.
2)iefe waren bigl^er ber jammernben 2)hitter tierloren ; 135
Qlber gefunben tiatte ftc nun im ®cicimmel ber %lu.
Unb fie f^jrangen mit ^u\t, bic liebe aJJutter 3U grüben,
@ic^ beö Sruberö ju freu'n, beö unbefannten ©ef^^ielen ;
Q(uf 2)orott)een f^jrangen fle bann unb griif ten fte freunblic^,
3Srot üerlangenb unb Obft, üor aüem aber 3U trinicn. 140
VII. @rato 59
Unb fte reid^te bag 2Baffer l^erum. 2)a tranfen bie Jtinber,
Unb bie 5Böd^nerin tranf mit ben löd^tern; fo tranf auc^ ber
Olic^tcr.
2inc roaren gelebt unb lofcten ba§ l^errlicfce ©affer;
©äiierli^ irar'S unb erquicflic^, gefunt» ju trinfen ben 5t)Jenfc^en.
2)a t)erfe|te ba8 SJ^äbci^eu mit ernfien Sßlicfen unb fagte : 145
„ 5reunbe, biefeg ift woi)l bag le^te Wlal, ba§ ic^ ben .^rug euc^
%üi)xt 5um SKunbe, ia^ itb bie iippixi mit SBaffer euc^ nefee;
5{ber n:>enn euc!^ fortan am l^ei^en 5!age ber Xrunf labt,
9Benn i§r im ©cijatten ber Ütuf) unb ber reinen Ouettcn genietet,
5)ann gebenfet aucb mein unb meincg freunblic^en 2)ienfieg, 150
5)en ic6 aug !&ie6e mel^r alg aug QSerreanbtfcbaft geleifiet!
9Bag i^r mir @uteg erjeigt, erfenn' icft bur^g fiinftigc SeSen.
Ungern laff' icfc euc^ S^ar ; bocii jeber ifi biegmat bem anbern
Wlif)x jur Sajl alg jum ^rofi, unb atte mi'iffen reir enblid)
Ung int fremben Sanbe jerjlreu'n, reenn bie Otücffei^r öerfagt ifi. 155
@e:^t, ^ier fte&t ber 3üngling, bem njir bie ®aUn üerbanfen,
2)iefe ^üUe beg .Sintg unb jene iriUfommene @^)eife.
5)iefer fommt unb mxht, in feinem >§aug mid^ ju feigen,
5)a^ i^ biene bafelSft fen reichen, trefflichen ©Item;
Unb ic^ f^Iag' eg nic^t ab ; benn üfceratt bienet bag SKäbcfeen, 160
Unb i^r rcäre jur ^aft, feebient im ^aufe ^u ru^^en.
-iilfo folg' ic^ i^m gern, er fc^eint ein »erjlcinbiger Süngling,
Unb fo werben bie Altern eg fein, wie ölcid^en gej^iemet.
5)arum letet nun vooU, getiefcte ?5^reunbin, unb freuet
(iu(b beg lebenDigen (Säuglingg, ber f^on fo gefunb (Sud^ an*
Hicft ! 165
'I)rücfet 3§r i^n an bie 9Srufl in biefen farbigen SSicfeln,
O, fo gebenfet beg Sünglingg, beg guten, ber fle ung reifte,
Unb ber fünftig ou^ micfe, bie @ure, näl^ret unb fleibet I
Unb 36r, trefflicfcer 2)?ann," fo fi^rac^ fle gen^enbet ;;um Öiic&ter,
„J&akt 2)anf, tiaf 3tir Q3ater mir u^art in mancherlei bäöen I " 170
•60 ^ermann unb 3!)orot^ca
Unb fle fttiete barauf jur guten 9Böd^nerin niebcr,
Allste bic njeinenbf Jrou unb oerna^m beg ©egenö @elif:pel.
Qiber bu fagtcjl inbcS, e^rwürbiger 0ttd^ter, ju ^ermann :
„33illig feib 3^r, o S'reunb, ju ben guten ffiirten ju jö^Ien,
3)ie mit tüchtigen 9)?enfd^en ben «öouöl^alt ^u führen bebacbt
flnb. 175
2)enn ic^ l^afce tt?o!^I oft gefe^n, baf man 9ltnber unb ^ferbe
@o wie ®df?afe genau Bei 3^aufc& unb <§anbel fcetracbtet;
%kx ben SWenfcöen, ber aüeg erhält, wenn er tüchtig unb gut ifi,
Unb ber aßeS jerfheut unb gerjlört burc^ falfd^eö ^Beginnen,
5)iefen nimmt man nur fo auf &\\xd unb 3ufaCl inö >§auö ein 180
Unb bereuet ju f:pät ein übereiltet (Sntfc^liepen.
5t6er eS fcöeint, 3^r Sjerfie^t'8; benn 3^r l^afct ein SKäbc^en
erreäl^Iet,
@ud^ ju bienen im >§ouö unb Suren Sttern, baö Brat) ifi.
J^altet fle iro^I! 3^r irerbet, fo lang' fic ber 9Birtfd;aft fi(^
annimmt,
SRic^t bie ©c^reefler öermiffen, nod^ dure (Altern bie S'oci^ter." 185
93iele famen inbeS, ber SBöd^nerin nat)e OScricaubtc,
2D?anc^eö Bringenb unb i^r bie Beffere 5Bot)nung t>erfünbenb.
5ltle oerna^men beä SKäbcbeng Gntfd)lu§ unb fegneten ^ermann
Wlit Bebeutenben Sßlirfen unb mit Befonbern ©cbanfen.
2)enn fo fagte ko^I eine jur anbern tliid;tig anö O^r ^in : 190
„2ßenn auä bem <§errn ein SBrautigam rcirb, fo ift fle geBorgen."
«^ermann fapte barauf fte Bei ber «§anb an unb fagte :
„^a^ ung ge^en! (5ö neigt fld) ber ^^ag, unb fern ift tai
(Stäbtcben."
SeBl^aft gef))roc^ig umarmten barauf ©orot^een bie 9BeiBer.
•^ermann jog fie i^inrceg; nod^ üiele @rüpe Befahl fle. 195
^Ber bo fielen bie Äinber mit @c^rei'n unb entfe^lic^em Sßeinen
3^r in bie Äleiber unb »rollten bie ^reeite a)?utter nid^t laffen.
5tBer ein' unb bie anbre ber QBeiBer fagte geBietenb :
VII. @rato 61
„ (Sttüc, Ätnber ! <Sie Qt^t in bic ®tabt unb Bringt euc^ beö guten
Sucferbroteö genug, bag eud^ bei ^ßruber fcejieüte, 200
^lU ber (atorc^ i^n fiingfl fceim ßnäixbädn öorSeitrug,
Unb i^x feilet fle 6alb mit ben fcf)ön üergotbeten 2)euten."
Unb [0 liefen bie .S^inber jle log, unb ^^ermann entriß fle
91o^ ben Umarmungen faum unb ben ferne winfenben SÜic^ern.
VIII. JHtlpnmtnt .rc/ii^
ipetiitanit uitb ©orotljca
5nfo gingen bic ^reci entgegen ber ftnfenben (Sonne,
2)ic in SBoIfen f!c^ tief, gcn?itterbro^enb, oer^üüte,
5(uS bem ©dVIeier fealb ^ier balb bort mit glül^enben ^Blirfen
(£tral^Ienb über baö 5elb bie a^nunggöotte 23eleuci)tung.
„SKöge bag broi)enbe 2Better," fo fagte J^ermann, „nidjt etwa 5
(Sc^Iofen ung bringen unb l^eftigen ®u^! benn fc^ön ifl bic
(5rnte."
Unb |Ic freuten flc^ Beibe beS l^o^en, ivanfenben Äorne^,
2)ag bie 2)urc^fc^reitenben fafi, bie ^o^en ©ej^alten, erreidjte.
Unb eg fagte barauf bag 2RäbclKn jum leitcnben Sreunbe :
„®uter, bem id^ junäci^fi ein freunblid; ©c^icffal üerbanfe, 10
2)a(l^ unb 5ad?, »renn im freien fo mand^em 93ertrie6nen bcr
<Sturm braut !
(saget mir je|t üor aßeni unb leljret bie (Altern mic6 fennen,
3)enen ic^ fünftig ju bienen oon ganzer (Seele geneigt bin ;
3)cnn fennt jemanb ben <§errn, fo fann er i^m leichter genug
tt)un,
QBenn er bic 2)inge bebcntt, bie jenem bie rei^tigfien fdjeincn, 15
Unb auf bie er ben (Sinn, ben fejlbeftimmtcn, gefegt !^at.
5)arum faget mir borf) : reie gereinn' idj 33atcr unb SKuttcr ? "
Unb c8 öcrfe^tc bagcgen ber gute, öerflänbige Süngling :
„O, lüie geb' ic^ bir re*t, bu gute6, trefflic^eg aJ?äbd;en,-
2)a§ bu juOorberfl bid) na^ bem Sinne ber ©Itern befrageft ! 20
5)enn fo ftrebt' ic^ biöl^cr »ergebene', bem !i3ater ju Dienen,
VIII. ^3J?e(pomene 63
SBcnn ic^ ber Qßirtfc^aft midj «lö ane ber meinigen annal^m,
5rü^ ben 5tcfer unb f)5ät unb fo feeforijenb ben 2Bcinf>erg.
aJZeine 2Rutter Befriebigt' i* njol^I, fle ivu^t' e§ ju f^ä^en;
Unb fo rcirji bu i!^r ancf) bag trefflid^fte 2)2äbd^en erfc^einen, 25
üBenn bu bag ^auö fccfürgjl, alä irenn bu bag beine bebäc^tejl.
%Ux bcm Sßater nic^t fo; bcnn bicfer lieBet ben «Schein au^.
©uteö aJMb^en, i)alte mirf) nic^t für fait unb gcfü^^IIog,
Sßenn ic^ ben 3Sater bir fogleic^, ber g'remben, enti^üüe.
3a, i^ fc^reör' eö, bag erjie 9KaI ifl'S, baf frei mir ein foIci)eg 30
9Bort bie ^una,t öerlä^t, bie ni^t ^u fcfeicafeen gen)of)nt ijt;
QlBer bu locfji mir t)eröor aug ber 3Bruft ein jebeg 3Sertrauen.
(Einige 3ierbe »erlangt ber gute 93ater im Se6en,
SBünfc^et äußere 2d(bm ber ÖieBe fo wie ber SSerel^rung,
Unb er «liirbe öieHeic^t üom fd}(e^teren 2)iener fcefriebigt, 35
'Der bieg rcüfte ju nu^en, unb mürbe bem fcefferen gram fein."
8^veubig fagte fte brauf, jugleid) bie fcfcnetteren (Schritte
Surc^ "hin bun!clnben ^^fab oerboVI^elnb mit leichter 33eroegung :
„Sßeibe ^ufammen l^off' ic^ fürn^ai^r jufrieben ju fictten;
2)enn ber 2)?utter 6inn ifi wie mein eigeneg 9Befen, 40
Unb tter äußeren Bifrbe bin ic^ con 3ugenb nic^t frembe.
Unfere iUac^fearn, bie ^ranfen, in t^ren früheren 3«iten
Riehen auf '^öflicttfeit üiel ; fte trar bem Sblen unb SBürger
2Bie ben -dauern gemein, unb jeber em^fa^I fte ben «Seinen.
Unb fo Srad^ten Bei ung au^ teutfc^er @eite gejuö^nlicft 45
5lucf) bie .Sinber beg SRorgeng mit ^änbefüffen unb Antreten
©egengwünfd^e ben ©Itern unb l^ielten fittlic^ ben XaQ aug.
5tüeg, vca§ ic^ gelernt unb itag id) öon jung auf gen:ol)nt Bin,
3ßag oon ^erjen mir get)t — i^ mU eg bem QUten erzeigen.
%Ut wer fagt mir nunmel^r : icie fott ic^ bir feI6er Begegnen, 50
2)ir, bem einjigen <So^n unb fünftig meinem ©ebieter?"
Qllfo fpvac^ fte, unb eBen gelangten fte unter ben 95irnBaum.
^errlic^ glänzte ber 3Ronb, ber »oüe, öom Fimmel l^erunter;
64 ^ermann unb 2)orotf)ea
üladit njar'ö, ööttig bebedt baö Ie|tc (Schimmern ber ®onne.
Unb fo lagen tor i^nen in SWaffen gegeneinanber 55
iidjtet, ^eü itie bcr XaQ, unb ©Ratten bunfeler 9läc^te.
Unb eS ^örte bic 5ragc, bie freunblidje, gern in bem «Schatten
^ermann beö t)err(ic^en 3Baum0 am Orte, ber i^m fo Iie6 ivar,
2)er noc^ l^eutc bie ^^rdnen um [eine 33eitrie6ne gefe^en.
Unb inbcm fle fld^ nieber ein wenig ju rul^en gefe^et, 60
(Sagte ber lieBenbc 3üngling, bie «^anb beg SWäbd^enö ergreifenb :
„ Sa§ bein «§erj bir eä [agen unb folg' t^m frei nur in atlem I "
-2Iber er njagte fein »reitereä 3Bort, fo fe^r auc^ bie «Stunbc
(Sünjiig rear; er fürdjtete nur ein -iJlein ju ereilen.
%(i), unb er fü^^Ite ben JHing am J^inger, taä fc^merjlictjc
3ei(!^en. 65
^Ifo fafen fic ftid unb fd^njeigenb ne6en einanber ;
^6er bag SKdbd^en Begann unb fagte : „ 2Bie finb' ic^ beg SWonbeg
'Öcrrlic^en (g^ein fo fit^ ! Sr ift ber Älarl^eit beö Jagö gleic^.
Se^' ic^ bocf) bort in ber ©tabt bie v^äufer beutlid; unb «ööfe^
^n bem ©ieSel ein ^enfier; mici^ beud^t, id) jä^le bie @c^ei6en."
„9Bag bu fle:^|l," oerfe^te barauf ber gehaltene 3i'tng(ing, 71
„^aS ifl unfere 5Bo:^nung, in bic i^ nieber bic^ fü^re,
Unb bieg Jenfier bort ifl meineg 3itnmerö im 2)ac^e,
2)ag »ießeidjt bag beine nun rcirb; itir öeränbern im <§aufe.
iDiefe Selber flnb unfer, fte reifen jur morgenben (5rnte. 75
^ier im Sdjatten woUtn vcix ru^n unb beg Wlai)U§ genießen!
Q(6er laf ung nunmehr l^inab burc^ 9Bein6erg unb ©arten
Steigen; benn fle^, eg rüdt bag fc^irere ©euntter ^erüBer,
ffietterleuci^tenb unb 6alb öerfd^Iingenb ben liefclid^en ißoümonb."
Unb fo jtanben fte auf unb iranbelten nieber bag Selb ^in 80
Durcf) bag mäd^tige Äorn, ber nächtlichen Älarl^eit fid; freuenb;
Unb fle Itaren jum ilBeinSerg gelangt unb traten ing !E)unfeI.
Unb fo leitet' er fle bie öielen platten tjinunter,
5^ie, unkfjauen gelegt, alg «Stufen dienten im 2au6gang.
VIII. «melpomene 65
Äangfam fc^ritt fle l^iunb, auf feinen «S^ultern bie ^änbe, 85
Unb mit fdjwanfenben !2t^tern burd^ä 2anh überblicfte ber
«Konb fle,
©1/ er, öon ^ßetterreolfen um|)üttt, im ©unfein ba§ ^^aax lie^.
@orgtid^ jtü^te ber ©tarfe bag Wläiä^m, baä üfcer i^n l^er ^ing ;
5I6er jle, unfunbig beS (steigö unb ber roheren ©tufen,
iJe^Ite tretenb; eg fnarfte ber %n^, jle bro^te ju fallen. 90
@tlig flre(fte gewanbt ber finnige 3üngling ben QIrm auS,
•§iclt em)3or bie ©elieSte; fte fanf i:^m leiö auf bie (Sc&ulter,
Sßrufi n?ar gefenft an 33ru|i unb S33ang' an 2Bange. (So fianb er,
@tarr «ie ein SKarmorbilb, com ernjien 2Bitlen gefcänbigt,
2)rü(fte nic^t fefier fie an, er jiemmte flc^ gegen bie (Sd^rcere. 95
Unb fo fü^It' er bie ^errlic^e l^afi, bie SBärme beö «öer^eng
Unb ben Sßalfam beS 5ttemä, an feinen gi))t>en oer^aud^et,
Zxuq mit SD^anneSgefü^l bie «§elbengröpe beS 2!Bei6eg.
Do^ fte oer^el^Ite ben @^merj unb fagte bie fd^er^enben
aßorte :
„ 5)aß Gebeutet Sßerbruf , fo fagen bebenflic^e Äeute, 100
Sffienn 6eim Eintritt inS •^anS ni^t fern t>on ber ©d^reetle ber
5u^ fnacEt.
^ätt' icf) mir boc^ fürn?ai)r ein fceffereS ^ti<i^tn gercünfc^et!
8ap uns ein irenig J^erroeilen, bamit bic^ bie (SItern nic^t tabeln
5Begen ber i^infenben 2Jiagb, unb ein fcblec^ter 5Birt bu erfcbeineil."
IX Urania
ülfufen, bic i^^r fo gern bie |crjli^e ^itU begünfligt,
5(uf bem Sege tiS^er ben trefflicfien Süngling geleitet,
%n bie 9Svufl i^m baö SWäbc^en noc^ öor ber SJertobung gebrürft
^a6t:
^elfe^ au* ferner ben SBunb be§ lieSIicfien ^aareS öottenben,
teilet bie 5Botfen fogleic^, bie über i^r ®Iü(f ftc^ ^eraufjie^n I
Qtber faget üor aUtm, ir»a3 je^t im >§aufe gef^ie^et ! 6
Ungebult»ig Betrat bie 2)hitter ^um brüten 2)kl icieber
(Sc^on ba§ 3inimer ber 9)?änner, baö forglid^ evft fie öerlaffen,
@)3re^enb öom naiven ®en?itter, t'om [dnieüen 3SerbunfeIn be«!
SWonbeS,
Sann öom Qiu^enbleiben beä (SobnS unc ber O^äd^te ®efa|ren -, lo
5!abeltc leB^nft bie B'reunbe, baf, o^ne bag SKdb^en ju fpredien,
Ol^ne ju werben fiir i^n, fle fo 6oIb ftcb sjom 3üngling getrennet,
„ ülJac^e nic^t fc^Ummer bag Übel ! " serfe^t' unmutig ber
aSater ;
„ 2)enn bu fle^ft, irir ^arren ja felbft unb njartcn beg Qtuggangö."
Qlber gelaffen begann ber 0^act)bar ft^enb ju fprecfcen : 15
„Smmer üerbanf i* eg bod^ in fol^ unruhiger Stunde
3D?einem feiigen 33ater, ber mir als Knaben bie QBurjel
5(Uer Ungebutb augrif, ba^ au^ fein 5ä8c^en jurücfblieb,
Unb i^ entarten lernte fogleic^ roie feiner ber Seifen."
„ Sagt," Jjerfefete ber i^fnrrer, „ iveicfc ^unftftiicf brauchte ber
"iUte ? " 20
IX. Urania 67
„2)a8 erjagt' ict) nidj gern, feim jeDev tann eö ftd^ mevfeii,"
®ogtc ber 0tac&6ar barauf. „ 5tl8 Änabe jlanb ic^ am «Sonntag
Ungebulbig einmal, bie Äutfc^e Begierig errcartenb,
5)ic unö fottte l^inauö ,^um 33runnen führen ber I^inben. 24
2)o^ fle fam nic^t ; ic^ lief »nie ein 2Bie[el ba^in unb bortl^in,
3:re)):|3en f)inauf unb :^ina6 unb öon bem S^enjler jur 5!t)iire.
aJicine «öänbe :prirfelten mir; i^ fragte bic 3;ifc^c,
3!ra:j)^3elte fiam^jfenb l^erum, unb na^e «ar mir bag QBeinen.
^Itleö idi) ber gelaffene 3Rann ; bocf) aU id) eS enblicf»
®ar ju t!^öricf)t Betrieb, ergriff er mic^ ru^ig Beim ^trme, 30
g^ü^rte jum ^enjler mic^ l^in unb f^jrac^ bie Beuenftic^en
OBorte :
Sie^ft bu beg ;lif(^lerö ba briiBen für ^eute gefc^loffene SBerfs
ftatt?
»borgen eröffnet er jte ; tia rii^ret ftc^ ^oBel unb @äge,
Unb [0 ge^t eö öon frit^e bi^ *ilBenb bie fleißigen @tunben.
"JlBer Bebenfe bir bieg : ber 3i)^orgen ivirb fi'tnftig erf^einen, 35
£)a ber ä'Zeifter fld? regt mit aUen feinen ©efeflen,
5)ir ben <Sarg ju Bereiten unb fcbnett unb gefct)i(ft ju öoUenben,
Unb fle tragen bag Bretterue '^aug gef^dftig ^erüBer,
2)aä ben @ebu(b'gen jule^t unb ben Ungebulbigen oufnimmt
Unb gar Balb ein briicfenbeei 2)ac^ ju tragen Beftimmt ift. 40
Qttteg fa^ ic^ fogteic^ im ©eifie lüirflic^ gefc^el^en,
(Sa^ bie Söretter gefügt unb bie fc^roarje S^arBe Bereitet,
@a^ gebulbig nunmehr unb l^arrete ruf)ig ber .^utf^e.
Dlennen anbere nun in jreeifel^after ©nnartung
UngcBärbig ^erum, ba mu§ id^ beg Sargeg gebenden," 45
iiJac^elnb fagte ber ^Pfarrer : „ 5)e§ 3:obeg rü^renbeS aSilb jie:^t
iJtic^t aU (Sc^recfen bem ©eifen unb nic^t aU 6nbe bem
frommen.
Senen brängt e8 inö geben §urü«f unb lehret i^n ^anbeln;
5)iefem ftdrft eS ju fünftigem ^eit im SirüBfal bie «Hoffnung;
F 2
68 ^ermann unb 1)orotf)ea
Reiben trirb jum ?e6cn ber ^ob. 5>er 93ater mit Unrecfat 50
jQat bem emt)ftnbUcben ÄnaScn fcn 5!ob im lotic cjeiricfen.
Beige man bodj bem ^niuiiUng beS ecel reifenben -}lUn§
SBert unb bem Qtiter bie Sugenb, ba§ Beibe bcg ewigen Äreifeö
<Sirt) erfreuen unb fo flc^ SeBen im 5Je6en oottenbe ! "
5(6er bie X^ür ging auf. @3 .^eigte bag t)errlicfje ^aar fld^, 5?
Unb eS erflaunten bie Jreunbe, bie liebenben Altern erjlaunten
Über bie Sßitbung ber 33raut, beg Söräutigamg aSilbung öer*
gleicfibar ;
5a, eä fc^ien bie Xi)üxt ju flein, bie ^o^en ©ejialten
(Sinjulaffen, bie nun jjufammen betraten bie (Scbrt'eße.
^ermann fteflte ben (Altern fte öor mit fliegenben ÖBorten: 60
„'^m ift," fagt' er, „ein «Diäbc^en, fo wie i^r im ^aufe fte
anmfd^et.
Sieber QSater, empfanget f!e gut! fle öerbient t§. Unb, liebe
^Kutter, befragt fle [ogleid) nacf) bem ganjen Umfang ber QBtrt»
[c^aft,
^a^ 3^r fet}t, ivie fetir fte öerbient (5ud^ näl^er ju werben ! "
eilig filiert' er barauf ben treffUd^en ^>farrer beifeite, 65
•Sagte: „^Büvbiger «§err, nun ^elft mir an^i biefcr ?Bcforgnig
©cf^netl unb lofet ben Änoten, öor beffcn ^ntwicflung idi
fc^aubre !
©enn id; tiaU baS ü)?äbd)en a(g meine 33vaut nidu geworben,
Sondern fle glaubt alö a)Jagb in baS >^aug ju ge^n, unb ic^
fürd)te,
2)a^ unwiÜig fle fliegt, fobalb wir gebenfen ber ^eirot. 70
Qtber entfd^ieben fei eö fogteid)! Si^ic^t länger im Srrtum
@ott fle bleiben, wie id^ nic^t langer ben Suunfel ertrage,
eilet unb geiget aud; ^ier bie QBeig^eit, bie wir tiere^ren ! "
Unb eä wenbete fld? ber ®eiftlid)e gleich ,^ur ©efettfc^aft.
5tber UiDer getritbt war burc^ bie Jlebe beg Q3aterg 75
6c^on bie Seele beg 'i'iäbdjeng; er l^atte bie munteren 9Borte
IX. Urania '69
Tlit {lel^aglici^er 5trt im ijuten Sinne gefproc^en:
„ 3a, ba^ gefäflt mir, mein Äinb. 2)fit 5'reutien erfahr' tc!^, ter
iSol^n bat
5Iu^ irie ber 93ater ©efcfimarf, ber feiner Seit (^ geiinefen, 79
Smmer t)ie «Sc^önlie ^um Xan^c gefül;rt unb enbli^ bie Scbönjte
3n fein JQau§ a(ä 5'rau ftcf) ge:^oIt ; bag 2)iiitterc^en irar e8.
2)cnn an ber 33raut, bie ber Wlann ftc^ crreäi)It, Iä§t gleich
f!c^ erfennen,
SBcIc^eS ©eifiel er ift, nnb 06 er ficfe eigenen 3Bert fit:^It.
QiBer Sl^r Brauchtet irobl au* nur n:enig ^iit ^ur ©ntf^Iiefnng?
2)enn mi<^ bitnfet fürrcai^r, it)m ift fo fcfiiver nic^t ju folgen." 85
^ermann ^örtc bie aBorte nur flüchtig; il^m bebten bie
©lieber
5nnen, unb fiitte rear ber gan^e Äreie nun auf einmal.
5lber bag treflic^c 2D?äbc^en, »on folc^en f)?öttifc^en SBorten,
9Bie fte iBr fcfciencn, t:>erlet3t unt) tief in ?er Seele getroffen,
Stanb, mit fliegenber Otöte fie 3Bangc bi§ gegen ben Dlarfen 90
ilbergoffen ; bod) l^ielt fte ftcfc an unb na£)m flc^ jufamnien,
©praci; ju bem QKten barauf, nidit 'oöllig bie Scfemer^en öer=
bergenb :
„ 3;raun ! ju folc^em Empfang 'i)at mic^ ber @ol^n nid^t bereitet,
2:er mir beg Q3aterg -5lrt gefdnibert, i>iv trefflicfcen SBürgerg;
Unö ic^ rcei^, id) ftefie yor @uc^, bem gebilbeten 2)Janne, 95
2)er |tc£> flug mit jetiem beträgt unb gemäf ben ^erfonen.
'iJtber fo fcfceint eg, S^r fi't^lt nicbt SDiitleib genug mit ber 5(rmen,
2)ie nun bie ScfcireUe betritt unb bie (iud) ju bienen bereit ifi;
2)enn fonft irürbet %)t nirtjt mit bitterem Spotte mir jeigen,
SSic entfernt mein ©efcfcicf üon @urem So&n unb i^on @ud; fei.
5'reilic^ tret' ic^ nur arm mit fleinem -^ünbel ins Jpaug ein, loi
2)ag mit atlem üerfe^n Jie frot)en ^^eiro^ner geirip mad?t ;
Qtber i(6 fennc mid? iro^I unb fü^Ie bag ganje a3er^ältnig.
3fi ee ebel, mic^ gleich mit folc^em Spotte ju treffen,
70* .f)crmanii itnb T)orotf)ea
S)er auf ber ©d^iretle fceinal^ mic^ fc^on aug i>em «§aufc jurüd=
treifct ? " 105
^ang fceiregte flc^ -^ermann unb irinftc bem geijilic^en
g'reunbc,
S)a^ er ing 2)?tttel flc^ [erlüge, fogleid^ ju öerfc^cud^en beit
Srrtum.
©itig trat ber Äluge |eran unt» fct)aute beg 3)?cii?tf)cu0
©tttlcn Q3erbru§ unb gehaltenen (Sd^merj unti S^^rdnen im ^ituge.
^a kfa^l i^m fein ®eift, nirf^t gleict? bic 33errcirrung ju
löfen, HO
@onbern fielme^r bag 6eivegtc ©cmiit ju ^jriifen bee SKäbrbeng.
Unb er fagte barauf p it)x mit üerfudienben QBorten:
„(Sidjcr, bu überlegtefl nid^t wo^l, 0 2)iäb*en beg Qluglanbe,
SCBcnn bu fiei ^remben ju bienen biet» atl^u eilig entfd^loffefi,
ÜBaS eS ^eifc, bag •^an^ beg gebietcnben ^errn j;u betreten ; 115
£)enn ber <§anbfclV(ag teftimmt bae ganje (Sdncffal beg Sa^reg,
Unb gar öieteg ^u bulben oertnnbet ein einziges Satrort.
<Sinb bod) nidit bag (Sdnrerfte beg 2>icnftg bie ermübcnben SBege,
91id^t ber fcittere Sdimei^ ber eirig trängentien *}lrt»eit;
2)enn mit bem Äncdne ^ugleid) bemüljt ftdi ber tt)ätige Jreie, 120
5t6er ju bulben bic Saune beg ^^errn, ivenn er ungcrec&t tabelt
Ober biefeg unb jeneg Beget)rt, mit fld^ felkr in 3^^'it'fP«I^
Unb bie ^cftigfeit nod) ber 5'rauen, bie letdn ftd) erjürnet,
fKit ber Äinbcr rol^er unb übermütiger Unart:
2)ag ift fd)n:er ju ertragen unb bodi bie ^i^flidn ju erfüllen 125
Ungeföumt unb raf*, unb feI6ft nidu mürrifd? 5U fiocfen.
^oc^ bu fd^einft mir ba^u nidjt gefd)i(!t, ba bie (©c^erje beg
SSaterg
@d)on bic^ treffen fo tief, unb bodj nidjtg geirö^nli(^er öorfommt,
%U ein a)Mb*cn ju :plagen, baf ivo^I il^r ein 3üngliug gefatte."
5tIfo f^jrad) er. ($g füllte bie treffenbe jRebe bag a)fäbcben, 130
Unb fle t'ielt ft* nidjt mel^r : es jeivgtcn fld^ i^re @efüt)Ic
IX. Urania 71
SKäcbtig, eö !^o6 ftd? bic 9Brufi, an^ ber ein 6eufjer ^eröorbrang,
Unb fte fagte fogleid? mit ^ü^ öcrgoffenen Jl^ränen:
„D, nie tceif cer üerftönbige 3)?ann, ber im 6d)mer5 unö ju
raten
I)enft, «ie irenig fein ©ort, baö falte, ble JBrufi ^u Befreien 135
5e t»on bem Seiben öermag, baä ein ^o^t^ Sdiicffal uns auffegt.
5^r feib gli'irf(ict) unb fro^ ; n?ie foKt' ein <Sc^er^ euc^ öerantnben !
■I)oc^ ber ^ranfenbe füi^It aurf) fc^merjli* bie leife ^Berü^rung.
ülein, eg ^itlfe mir nic^tö, wenn felSfl mir a3erftefüing getcingc.
3eige \i(b gleid), njaö f^^ater nur tiefere Sd^merjen öerme^rte 140
Unb midi brdngte öieUeicfct in jiitt öer^el^renbeg (Slenb.
Sapt midi trieber fiinireg ! 5c^ barf im -§aufe nid^t Bleiben ;
3d? trill fort unb ge^e, bie armen ^Keinen ju fud;en,
5)ic i* im Unglücf »erlief, für mic^ nur cag aSeffere rcci^Ient.
S)ieg ifi mein fejler ©ntfci^Iuf, unb ic^ barf eud) barum nun
befennen, 145
9Ba0 im «^er^en ftc^ fonfl nobl 3a^re !^ätte öerSorgen.
3a, bcg 33ater0 «S^ott l^at tief mi^ getroffen, nid)t, iceit ic^
Stolj unb em^finblic^ Bin, reie ee icoi)! fer 'JKagb nic^t geziemet,
(Sonbern reeil mir fürrea^r im v^er^en bie 31eigung fic^ regte 149
®egen ben 5üngling, ber ^eute mir aU ein Erretter erfd;ienen.
^enn al§ er erft auf ber Strafe mic^ lief, fo trar er mir immer
3n ©eDanfen geb(ie6en; i&i tadite bes glitcflid^cn »DJäDc^ens,
2)ag er uieCleic^t fcfjon aU 33raut im ^er;5en möd)te Berea^ren.
Unb aU id? lieber am Srunnen itjn fanb, ba freut' idi mid)
feines 154
'JlnBIicfg fo fe^r, aU aar' mir ber >§immlifc^en einer crfd;ienen;
Unb ic^ folgt' i^m fo gern, aU nun er jur SKagb midi geirorBen.
2)od) mir fd^meic^elte freilid^ bas ^erj (ic^ icifl eä gefielen)
■}ln^ bem 2Bege tjier^er, alö fijunt' i(^ oießeic^t i^n öerbieneii,
3©enn ic^ würbe bes ^§aufe3 bereinft unentBe^rlic^e >Stü§e.
"JlBer, ad)I nun fe^' idi ^uerft üe Oicfaljren, in bie idi 160
72 ^ermann imb T)orotf)ca
3Rid> fcegab, fo nai) bem fiitt ©eliefetcn ju iwo^nen.
S'lun erjl fü^l' ic^, irte »reit ein armeS aSäbc^cu entfernt tfi
i?on bem reicheren Süngling, unb wenn jie bie JÜicfctigfic iräre.
QlUeg baS ^a6' ic^ gefagt, bamit i^r baä J&etj nicfct oerfcnnet,
2)aS ein 3ufaü Seleibigt, beiu ic^ bie 93eftnnung üerbanfe, 165
2)enn baö niu§t' id^ enrartcn, bie ftiüen SBünfd^e oerfcergenb,
^af er fld? Brächte junäc^fi bie SBraut gum «§aufe gefü^rct ;
Unb n?ic l^ätt' ic^ alöbann bie ^eimlic^en «Sc^mer^en ertragen!
©liicfli^ bin ic^ gewarnt, unb glücfUc^ löft bag ©e^eimnig
33on bem 3Bufen fl^ I08, je|t, ba noc^ ba8 Üfcel ijt ^cil6ar. 170
'bitter bag [ei nun gefagt. Unb nun foü im >§aufe mic^ länger
«^ier nid^tS galten, reo i^ Befc^ämt unb ängftli^ nur flel^e,
I 5rei bie iHeigung fcefennenb unb jene t^öric^te <§offnung.
3iid)t bie SRac^t, bie breit fl^ bebecft mit ftnfenben SBolfen,
.; 5)^id)t ber roUenbe 2)onner (id) l}i3r' itin) foß mid? öertiinbcrn, 175
i ü^ic^t beö Otegeng @u^, ber trauten gerealtfam t)erabfd;Iagt,
1 i)lod^ ber faufenbe @turm. 2)aö t)ab' iäj alleö ertragen
•Jtuf ber traurigen '^Uidjt unb nat; am oerfolgenben 5'einbc.
Unb ic^ ge^e nun reieber binaug, wie ic^ lange gereoi^nt bin,
53on bem Strubel ber Seit ergriffen, oon altem ju fc^eibcn. 180
Sebet wobV. 3d) bleibe nid)t länger; eö ifl nun gefc^e^en."
QUfo fprad) fie, ftd) rafdi jurücf nad? ber 3^iire bewegenb,
Unter bem ^(rm baS aBiinbeId)en nocb, taS fte brad?tc, berea^renf.
5tber bie iDiutter ergriff mit beiben -ilrmen baä SPMbc^en,
Um ben i?eib fte faffenb, unb rief oennunbert unb ftaunenb : 185
„ «sag', reag bebeutet mir bieg unb biefe oergeblidien 3^^räncn ?
9Mn, td} laffe bidi nic^t! Du bifi mir bcg (Sotmcg SSerlobte."
Qlber ber 33ater ftanb mit ffiicerunWen bagegen,
Qluf bie QBeinenbe fd)auenb, unb f)?rac6 bie oerbriepiid^en QBorte :
„ ^(Ifo bag ift mir jule^t fi'ir bie bod^fte Olad^ftdJt geworben, 190
2)a^ mir bag Unangenel^mfie gefd)ie!^t nodi ^um @djluffe beg
3:agcg :
IX. Urania 73
2)enn mir ifi unletblicber ni^tg all fl^ränen ber SBeifeer,
Öcibcnfcftaftlic^ @efc6rei, baS ^eftig öcrworren Beginnet,
2Bag mit ein ivenig ^Beinunft ftd^ liepe gemäc^Iirf}er fcfetid^ten.
Wlix i^ läjiig, noc£) länger bieg munberli^e beginnen 195
-Sn^dmuen. SGiottenbet eg feI6jt! i* gete 3U Sßette."
Unb er iranbte ftd) [dinefl unb eiftc jur «Kammer ju geilen,
9Bo il^m baä @^6ett ftanb unb ko er ju rul^en gewohnt n:ar.
%Ux if)n l^ielt ber <Bo^n unb [agte bie fle^enben Sßorte :
„ 33atcr, eilet nur nic^t unb jürnt nidn über baä a)?äbc^en ! 200
3d) nur l^ofcc bie «Sdiulb oon aüer 33erunrrung ju tragen,
I)ie unenvartet ber j^reunb nod) burd? ^-ßerfteKung oerme^^rt l^at.
Oteb^t, wiirbiger ^err! benn (Eudi i^ertraut' id) bie @ad)e.
häufet nid5t Qtngft unb QSerbrup, ooücnbet lieter tci^ ©anjel
!£)enn id) niijc^te fo f)0(i} (Sxiäj nidit in 3"f"nft üere^rcn, 205
QBenn 3l§r «Sd^abenfreube nur übt ftatt tierrU^er $Beiei^ieit."
i?cid)clnb*öerfe§te barauf ber irürbige ^^favrer unb fagte :
„ QBeldie ^Iugf)eit Mtte benn rcot)! baö fdiijne SBefenntni^
2)iefer ©uten entlorft unb un§ entt)üUt i£)r ©enutte? 209
3|i nid?t bie (Sorge fog(eidi bir ^ur 2Bonn' unb ^reube geivorben?
3lcbe barum nur felbfi! ®aä bebarf eg frember (Jrflärung?"
9lun trat ^ermann {)er»or unb f^radi bie freunblicfeen SCBorte:
„ l^a§ bidi bie 3;§ranen ntd)t reu'n, nod) biefe f(üd)tigen ©dinierten ;
2)enn jte üoöenben mein ©lücf unb, ivie id) irünfdie, )>aä beine.
0lic^t bag trcfflidie aWäbd^en alg 2)fagb, bie ^rembe, ju bingen, 215
.Kam ic^ jum ^Brunnen ; id) fam, um beine Siebe ju «erben.
Qlber, ad?! mein fd^üditerner 5B(icf, er fonnte bie Jleigung
Deineö «^erjeng nidjt febn ; nur g^reunblicfefeit ^ai) er im 5luge,
Qllg aug bem @^?iegel bu i^n beg ruliigen SBrunneng begrü^tefi.
5)ic^ ing «!&aug nur ju fiit)ren, cg n?ar fc^on bie <§älfte beg
©lücfeg ; 220
QIBer nun üoKenbefl bu mir'g ! O, fei mir gefegnet ! " —
Unb eg [d^aute bag 2)?abc^en mit tiefer 3Rüt)rung jum 3üng(ing
74 ^ermann unb l)orot^ea
Unb öcrmieb nicfet Umarmung unb Auf, bcn ©ipfel ber Sreubc,
ffienn fte ben Sie6enben fmb bie lang' erfcf)nte 33erjtcf)rung
künftigen ©lücfs im iieben, baß nun ein unenblicl^eä fc^einet.
Unb ben übrigen l^atte ber ^farr^err aütä erflörct. 236
'}lbtt baö aDtäbriicn fam, »or bem 3Sater ftd^ t^er^Iicli mit 5lnmut
i)ieigcnb unb fo i§m bie <§anb, bie jurücfgejogene, füffenb,
@:pradi : „ 3t)r werbet gerecht ber Ü6erra[c^ten oerjeit)cn,
($rft bie .ii}ränen beei iSdmier^^eö unb nun bie ii)ranen ber Sreube.
D, »ergebt mir jcneg (^Jefiit)!, »ergebt mir anAj biefeS 231
Unb laf t nur mic^ in§ &IM, bag neu mir gegönnte, mici^ finben !
3a, ber erfte '^erbru^, an bem ic^ 33erworrene fd}ulb wat,
Sei ber lefete jugleid) ! SJBoju bie SJhigb ftd^ »ervfüc^tet, 234
3:reu ju liebenbem 2)tenfl, bcn [ott bie Xoäjttt @u(^ leiflen ! "
Unb ber 33ater umarmte fte g(eid), bie 3;f)ränen öerbergcnb.
3!raulicf) fam bie 9)?utter t)erbei unb füpte fle ber^üc^,
Sc^iitteltc «§anb in <§anb; eö [rf^reiegen bie rceinenben grauen.
(?ilig faf te barauf ber gute, oerftänbige ^^farr^err 239
©rft tesi i^ater« <§anb unb 50g it)m nom ?^inger ben irauring,
(0tid)t fo (eic(}t; er war öom runblicben Wliebe gehalten)
'Jia^m ben JHing ber 2)?utter barauf unb oerlobte bie Jlinber ;
8^radi : „ 9Iocf) einmal fei ber golbenen JReifen 3Peftimmung,
(^eft ein 5Banb ju fnü^fen, baei oötlig gleid^e bem alten.
2)iefer 3üugling ifi tief »on ber ßiebe ^um SJJäbd^en Dur*-
brungen, 245
Unb baß SDiäbc^en gefte^^t, ia^ audj i^r ber Süngling enrünft^t
ifi.
5lIfo oerlob' id; eu* l^ier unb fegn' ni(t} fünftigen 3«iten
ÜKit bem 3Bi((en ber (fitem unb mit bem Beugnis beö «yreunbe^."
Unb eß neigte ftd) gleid^ mit @egeuönninfdien ber 0lad)bar.
■iUber als ber geiftlidje <!&err ben golbenen iReif uun 250
©tecft' an bie ^^ant» beö ^llMtic^eng, erblicft' er ten anberen
ftaunenf,
IX. Uvatti(t 75
2)en f(f)on «Hermann jucor am 93runnen forgltcf) Bctrad^tet.
Unb er fagte barauf mit freunblic^ fc^erjenben SBorten :
„ QBie ? 5)u öerlobefi bic^ f^on jum jireiten a)ZoI ? JJap ni^t
ber erfic
SBräittigam Bei bem Elitär fic^ jeige mit iiinbernbem (Sinfpru^ ! "
Qtber fte fagte barauf: „ D, Ia§t mid? biefer ©rinnrung 'T56
©inen 5tugenBIi(f weü^en! ^tnn no^ öerbient fte ber ®ute,
5^cr mir i:^n frfieibenb gab unb nidit jur Heimat jurücffam.
■}lüt§ fa^ er oorau§, aU rafcb bie SieBe ber Srei^eit,
5lls! ii^n bie Sufl, im neuen, öeränberten SBefen ju wirfen, 260
S^rieB na* $ari§ ju gefjn, bal^in, reo er Werfer unb 3!ob fanb.
^eBe glücEIi^, fagt' er. 5cb ge^e ; benn aUeS Bereegt ficb
3e8t auf (Srben einmal, e8 f^eint ftc^ aße§ ju trennen,
©runbgefefee löfen fic^ auf ber fefieften «Staaten,
Unb eg löji ber Sßeftfe ftc^ log öom alten 3Beft|er, 365
Sreunb ftcB los 'öon 5'«un^ ; fo löft ft* _SieBe oon SieBe.
3(^ öerlane biet) f)ier ; unb, reo icb jemals bi* reieber
5inbe — rcer reei^ es? 93ieC(eic^t fmb biefe ®ef|3räcBe bie le&ten.
Sllut ein g^rembling, fagt man mit OlecBt, i|i ber 5D?enf* Biev
auf (ärben.
SKetir ein Brcmbling als jemals ift nun ein jeber geworben. 270
Uns gel^ört ber Soben nicl)t me^r; e§ reanbern bie 6c^ö§e; .
@olb unb SilBer fc^mil^t aus ten alten, Beiligen formen ;
Qltleg regt ft^, aU ivoüte bie SBelt, bie gejtaltete, rücfrcärts
Söfen in (ä^aoä unt^ ilcarfn ftcB auf unb neu ftcb geftalten. 274
2)u Berca^rfi mir bein <§erj; unb finben bereinjl rcir uns niiebcr
ÜBer ben Krümmern ber 2Belt, fo ftnb n?ir erneute ©efcBopfe,
UmgeBilbct unb frei unb unaB:^ängig öom Sc^icffal.
5)enn reag feffelte ben, ber folc^e iage burc^leBt ^at!
-3lBer foü eg ni(^t fein, ia^ je njir, auö biefen ©efaBren 279
©lücflid? entronnen, ung einft mit Jreuben njieber umfangen,
O, fo erBalte mein fc^ivcBenbeS 3Bilb J^or beinen ©ebanfen.
76 ^ermann unt '^oxotf^ta
2)af bu mit gleicbem SKute ^u ©lücE unb Ungtücf Bereit feij!!,
Socfet neue 3So!^nung bid? an unb neue 3?erfeinbung,
@o geniefe mit 2)anf, ivaei bann bir bag ©c^icffal bereitet!
JJieSe bie Siebenben rein unb t*atte bem ®uten bic^ fanfbar I
Qlber bann auc^ fe|e nur lei^t ben kn:eglicl?en i^u§ auf! 2S6
2)cnn eg lauert ber bo^^eite @cbmerj beg neuen 93erlu|leg.
«heilig fei fir ber 3;ag, boct^ fd^dge bag SeSen nidn I^ötjer
QIIö ein anberel ®ut, unb alle ©itter ftnb triiglidi,
Qllfo f^raci^ er ; unb nie erfdjien ber (Sfle mir wicber. 290
^(öeö oerlor id^ inbeg unb taufenfmal bndn' id? ber SCÖornung.
iJlun aud) benf ic^ beg QBcrtg, ba fdiön mir rie l^iebe ia& ®lücE
l&ier
iJleu bereitet unb mir bie l^errlid)flen «Hoffnungen auffd?lie§t.
O, »er^ei^, mein trefflidjer 5'reunb, baf id), felbft an bem -llvm
bic^
«^nitenb, bebe ! <Bo fdnnnt bem enbUd) gclanbetett Sdnffer 205
5ludj ber ftd^erfte ®runb bce feftcften 3?oben§ ju fd^iuanfen."
-illfo f^rac^ fte unb jlccfte bie iRinge neben einanber.
Qlber ber ^Bräutigam fprad^ mit ebler, männüdjer Oliilirung:
„'5)eftD fefter fei bei ber allgemeinen ©rfdiüttrung,
2)orot!^ea, ber 35unb! 2Bir icotten galten unb bauern, 300
5efl unö l^atten unb feft ber fd^önen ®üter 'iBeftßtum.
2)enn ber 9)ienfd^, ber gur fc^iranfenben 3fit aud^ fd^ivanfenb
geftnnt iji,
2)er oerme^ret ba0 Übel unb breitet eg iveiter unb ivcitev ;
•Jlber recr fefi auf bem Sinne beftarrt, ber bilbet bie 3BeIt ftc^.
dVid^t bem 2)eutf^en gejiemt e«, bie fi'trc^terlidje tBeircgung 305
JVortjuIeiten unb audi ;(u n^anfen !^iert)in unb bortbin.
!£'ieg ift unfer ! fo Ia]ß ung fagen unb fo eg behaupten !
3)enn e8 werben noc^ jletg bie entfdjioffenen 3SöIfer gepriefen,
2:ie für ®ott unb ®efe|i, für CItcrn, ©cibcr unb .tinber
«Stritten unb gegen ben Jeinb ^ufammenfteljcnb erlagen. 310
IX. Urania n
»
5)u Bifi man; unb nun ifl fcaö SRetne meiner alg jemals.
Sfli^t mit Kummer wiü id^'ö beicai^ren unb [orgenb gcnicfen,
(Sonberu mit Wlut unb .Jlraft. Unb bro^en bieSmal bie 5einbe
ODer fiinftig, fo rüjie mic^ felbji unb reiche bie SBaffen!
2Bei$ ic^ burd^ bic^ nur üerforgt baS «§au0 unb bie üefcenben
Altern, 315
O, fo iießt flc^ bie Srufi bem Seinbe flc^er entgegen.
Unb gebadete jeber reie iä), [0 ftünbe bie 3Jlaä}t auf
©egen bie SKad^t, unb icir erfreuten un§ aUe beg Sriebenö."
NOTES
Plegie
The Elegy was written towards the end of 1796, when a portion
of the präsent Epic was already finished. It was intended, not
only to serve as a proemium to the poem, but more particularly
to answer the attacks upon Schiller and the poet himself, con-
sequent upon the publication of their Xenien, a Joint composition
directed against the votaries of bad taste.
Goethe sent the Elegy to Schiller on December 7, 1796, ex-
pressing a hope that the latter would publish it in the next
number of his periodical ' Die Hören,' damit die Menschen sehen,
dass man auf alle Weise fest steht und auf alle Fälle gerüstet ist.
Schiller, whilst declaring in his reply : Die Elegie macht einen
tiefen, rührenden Eindruck, der keines Lesers Herz, •wenn er eins hat,
•verfehlen kann, advised that its publication should be postponed,
as a strong prejudice still existed against the authors of the
Xenien. Goethe vielded and did not publish the poem until the
year 1800, when his Hermann und Dorothea had aroused the admira-
tion of his countrymen,
Lines 1-8. In these lines Goethe enumerates the principal
censures directed against him by his literary detractors.
1. ^^oias,&c.,this then should be. Goethe's critics reproached
him in particular with having written his Römische Elegien, inspired,
as he acknowledges, by the elegiac poet Aurelius Propertius
(Properz) born about 49 B. c.
2. 2)af ÜJiartiat, &c., that Martial joined me.
In his Fenetianische Epigramme, and even more in his Xenien,
Goethe took for his model the bold epigrammatic poet M. Falerius
Martialis (b. A.D. 43), who named the thirteenth book of his
Epigi-animata Xenia, \. e. presents to giiests.
80 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [II. 3-1 1
!. 3. 3)a§ xi), &c., that I did not confine the ancients to the sehool-
room, i. e. that he chose his modeis from the classical poets.
The expression die Schule hüten, lit. ' to keep to the schoolroom,'
is used in analogy of : baö !öett ^ütcn, baö 3immer Ritten.
4. SDap fic, &c., that they follo'wed me gladly into active life to
Latium, i. e. Italy.
It was chiefly in Italy that the spirit of the ancients was revealed
to Goethe : there they became, as it were, ali-ve to htm.
5, 6. 3)af ic^, &c. Goethe at all times earnestly (treuti^) en-
deavoured to study both nature and art independently. He
was not overawed by any great name ^, or hampered in his views
by any dogma, but always followed his own conviction.
7. !Da§ miji, See, i.e. that external circumstances have not
changed his individual character.
9-22. The poet asserts that it is the Muse herseif who
diligently cultirates in him the very ' faults' of which the vulgär
accuse him ; it is only at the Muse's dictation that he writes.
It is the Muse alone who renews the youth within him, and
promises that he shall retain that youth to the end. He
invokes her to redouble her sacred care now, for youth is no
longer his portion. If the Muse intends bestowlng on him
a sprig of laurel, she ought rather to leave it to flourish on the
brauch, so that she may give it one day to some worthier man.
He implores the Muse, however, to join abundant roses, the
Symbol of joy, to his domestic garland, for soon the silver
lock— the emblem of old age — will entwine itself there like a
white lily.
IG. ^öbel nur, &c., i.e. they consider the poet as vulgär
only.
II. 3a, fogar, &c. According to Düntzer the poet refers in
speaking of men of a better sort (bcv ^icffcre) to Herder, Jakobi,
and other distinguished men, who, though good-natured and
honest, did not approve of his Venetianische Epigramme, his
Xenien, &c.
' Düntzer and some other commentators Interpret the expression
Dtante (1. 6) as referring to Newton, from whose theory of colours the
poet had the courage to differ widely.
11. 13-36] jVOT£S. ELEGIE 81
11. 13, 14. 2)ienc(^, &c. It was with reference to these lines that
Schiller wrote in the letter mentioned above : Möge die Muse
mit ihren schönsten Gaben bei Ihnen sein und ihrem herrlichen Freunde
seine Jugend recht lange bewahren.
16. !Die Scheitel, &c., the locks no longer ivai^e abundantly round
my head.
The noun 3c^eitel, ' crown ' or 'parting of the hair,' is now
generally used in the masculine gender,
18. Ärciitjte bo(f>, &c., i.e. even Caesar himself wore a laurel
wreath on his head from necessity only.
Suetonius relates {Vitae XII Ccssarum, cap. 45) that Julius
Caesar esteemed the Senate's permission to wear a laurel wreath
most highly because it served to conceal his baldness,
34. Julius August Walter, the son of Goethe, was seven years
of age when these lines were written.
25-30, After having introduced us to his happy home, the
poet invites his friends to a Symposium. He first drinks to the
health of him who had boldly freed the world from the over-
awing name of Homer, by showing that he was not the sole
author of the works attributed to him, and so had encouraged
later poets to vie with the numerous authors of those great
epics. This refers to the celebrated classical scholar Friedr. Aug,
Wolf (b. 1759, d. 1824), who in his Prolegomena ad Homerum
originated the theory that the Iliad and the Odyssey were not
the work of one poet but of several ' Rhapsodes ' or ' Sons of
Homer.' That Goethe rejected this theory later on is well
known.
31-46. The poet refers now more directly to his nenvest poem
and invites his friends to raise their glasses once more. He will
introduce them to the quiet home-life of Germans, who have
been brought up in a natural, unsophisticated manner. He will
also bring before their eyes the sad scenes of the French Revolu-
tion, and he ends his elegy with a patriotic admonition.
32. (Su^ bejie(i)e . . . taig D^r, may fa'vourablv incline your ear.
35, 36. These lines contain a literary homage to J. H. Voss,
the authoi of the Idyl I^uise, which suggested the composition
82 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 39-45
of this Epic. In that Idyl the heroine is unexpectedly and
promptly married by her father to her trusty Jriend. {Luise,
Idylle III.)
11. 39, 40. S^aV icl), &c. There are several touching scenes in
Goethe's Epic, scenes which drew tears even from the eyes of
the poet himself, on reading them in his old age. ' If therefore
he should bring tears into their eyes and instil delight into their
souls by his song, they should warmly thank him.'
41, 42. The admonition : ®eifc benii, &c., let there theji be a <wise
discourse, seems to refer to 1. 37, &c. The Century teaches
vvisdom at its end by its momentous events, for everyone has been
proved by fate.
43, 44. Surfet Ijcitevcr, &c., i.e. his friends should look back
rather cheerfuUy on the painful events which are past, if a joyful
mind has shown (erfUärt) them that they could do without many
things which they had lost.
45, &c. SRcnfcbeti kvnteu, &c. The eventfui times of the Revolu-
tion have taught him and his friends to learn to know men and
nations, and now they should rejoice to learn to know their own
heart.
I. fialliovc
6c^icf[al unb S(ntei(
The Landlord of the ' (Jolden Lion ' and his wife are convers-
ing in the archway of that inn. They blame the curiosity with
which their townsfolk throng to gaze on the poor exiles, and dis-
cuss the charitable gifts which the wife has bestowed on them
[11. 1-60].
The Pastor and the Apothecary join them after having seen
the train of fugitives which the latter describes [11. 61-150].
The Landlord invites his friends to partake of some wine, and,
while they refresh themselves, expresses his firm trust in the
beneficence of Providence [11. 151-184].
He is proceeding to express his regret that his son Hermann,
who has gone to succour the fugitives, shows an aversion to
Society and a disinclination to wcdlock, when Hermann is heard
driving up to the gateway [11. 185-213].
II. I-I5] NOTES. /. KALLIOPE 83
The first Canto contains a description of the Fate of the
fugitives and the Sympathy of the townsfolk ; hence the title
©^irffal utib 9lntei(.
Line i. 2)cc^ may here be rendered truly or indeed, and in the
next line and in 1. 8 surely.
2. The expression itiie gefeiert is used to denote that a place is
deserted as if it had been swept clean with a broom. It is also
found elsewhere in Goethe's writings.
2Ble aiig^eftcrben, i. e. desolate as if all the inhabitants had died out.
The spelling funfjig is sanctioned by modern orthography.
3. Scuc&t mir, seems to me ; Itbink. The verb beuchten or bäumten
is a coUateral form of bünfen and has arisen from the imperfect
bau(!^te, modified bäud^te. Like the modern bünft it was followed
either by the dative or the accusative. Cp. Schiller's Wilhelm Teil
(C.P.S., 1. 1752) and Skeat's Concise Etymol. Biet., sttb -voce 'think.'
4. iRemit unb tauft, say races and runs.
The verbs reuneu and laufeu are synonyms ; the former denoting
greater speed.
6. S^ammireg, lit. ' dam ' or ' dyke way,' corresponds to the
English high'way, the lit. equivalent of which is also used in
German, viz. §£»ct|Uieg. Cp. I, 1. 137.
Render here jie^u, take, and ift'ö intmev, Ws at least.
8. The expression (Sknb, misery, is here appropriately used, as
it originally denotes ' exile ' or ' living in foreign lands.' Cp. the
Latin exsiliuni.
10. 2)a(5 überrBeiuifdie, &c., i.e. the country on the left bank of
the Rhine, from which the German inhabitants fled in consequence
of the French Invasion.
13. Render tveffUcf), right nvell, and nnlbe, cbaritably (or
gener ously).
14. The Low German form (iuneu was originally used for the
High German adjective leineu, and later it was employed as a Sub-
stantive like the literal English equivalent linen.
15. ©^jcnben, to give (charitably), T'enu geku, See, for togiveis
the diiiy oj.
G 2
84 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 16-57
(SV^ni'fti is derived from the ecciesiastical Low Latin term
* spendere,' which denotes ' to distribute charitable gifts among
the poor.' The English * to spend,' having the same derivation,
has assumed a different meaning.
1. 16. 9Bae bei", &c., hoiv ivell the boy armes.
1 7. @ef)V gut nimmt . . . \\^ oM, very handsomc looks.
18. ffiocf, here : coach-box ; box-seat.
A seat without any back is called in German a'SJorf.
21. 3um gctbeiicn, &c. In German the preposition jit is used
before the names of inns, hoteis, &c.
It has been pointed out that there was an inn bearing the name
of ' Der goldene Löwe ' at Ilmenau near Weimar, where Goethe
used to reside.
22. The characteristics of Hcrmann's mother are prudence
and good sense.
24. (Sic ift, &c., it may seri>e many purfoses.
26. SJJand^cö bcffcrc @tücf, Sic, many better articles ofbed-lineti, &c.
27. The more usual form for the adjective nacfcnb is now narft.
29. The term ttibianifc!^ is, like Snbiancv, now generally applied
to the Indians of America only, but here it is used for inbifd^ or
ofiinbifd^.
34. The expression e^t cftinbifd^en ©toffö is hcre a genitive of
quality.
The verb fliegen in the sense of erlangen, befommen, to get, is by
no means a vulgarism, but is often employed colloquially.
35-6. ©oll imntev, &c., i. e. he must always walk abroad in an
overcoat and show himsclf in a brn'ided coat.
The foreign terms employed in this passage werc formerly
often used in Germany. The word Pekesche is said to be derived
from the name of a Hungarian officer called Bekes (pron.
Bekesch). It is a short tight-fitting jacket, more commonly worn
in Hungary and Poland, and also in some parts of Germany.
37. SWü^e is supposed to denote here the hcad-covering called
3ij3felmü^e, pointed night-cap. The Germans in smaller places
were in the habit of going about ev deshabille, wearing dressing-
gown, Slippers, and night-cap.
11. 38-62] NOTES. I. KALLIOPE 85
1. 38. Sßieber is here used in the sense of juiurt.
39. Render mit, also, and boc^ »olit fc^on, I presume.
41. iyü^ii, here uses.
42. Cp. for bod^ above, 1. i n, remark on 11. 2 and 8. The conj.
aud^ refers here to nid)t, the Speaker expressing her opinion that
she would not, like the others, run so far and suffer.
The present passage is a repetition of the Landlord's sentiments
expressed above in 1. 8, &c.
43. 2lm (Srjäf)lten, i. e. in the recital of the misery she has heard.
44. The Landlord, not wishing to hear the account of the
pitiful sight again, Interrupts his wife emphatically (mit S^ac^bvucf)
with a common-place remark about the prospects of the harvest.
46. Unb Jtir, &c., and ive shall gather in the com.
The Word ^xn^t is, like its English literal equivalent, applied
to all the edible products of the earth, such as com, &c.
48. ÜRorgen denotes East when referring to the point of the
compass.
49. Sejiäubigeö with reference to weather denotes settled.
56. Goethe seems to assume that the landaus derive their name
from having been first constructed at the town of Landau in the
Bavarian Palatinate. Düntzer and other commentators are of
opinion that the coach in question was so called because in 1702,
when King of the Romans, the Emperor Joseph I (i 705-11)
drove in such a vehicle to the siege of Landau.
57. The word ©äffe is now generally applied to short and
narrow streets, whilst the name of ©tta^c is given to broad and
long thoroughfares, to high-roads (ganbftvafc), &c.
58. SKand^er gabrifcn, &c., i.e. they worked in many a factory
and plied many trades there.
It may serve as an additional proof, if required, that the
expression ftd^ einer %aiix\i beflcifen is perfectly legitimate, that both
Grimm and Sanders quote the present line sub voce jid) befieipen.
59. XrauUc^e, aßectionate.
60. XVoa bae!, &c.. i.e. thcy amused themselves with remarks on
the passers-by.
62. 3)et Ütac^bav, &c., our neighbqur, the afothecary.
86 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 64-99
1. 64. 3Ba3 ju, &c., i.e. what it does not gladden the heart to
look at. Note here the difFerence of meaning between fet|eu and
fc^auen.
67. ©i^ mit bem %\xi^t (i.e. !Iafd^entU(J|e) 8uft jufäcbeln, to /an
oneself tvith one's handkerchief.
71. The vowel e in befä((et, although grammatically superfluous,
is not infrequently inserted by Goethe in verbs for the sake of
the metre.
73. 2)cv pcinlid), &c., fwho is led to death (as a punishment).
The Word ^jeinlic^ is an old law-term relating to torture and
death. Cp. the English ' penal,' the Lat. ' poena,' and the Greek
TTOIVT].
74. The verb fpajievt is here used to denote that they ivalk out
for personal gratification.
76. 5luc^, »ie((eidjt, &c., i.e. may happen to him, too, shortly er
at some future time.
77. S)ccb liegt, &c., iut it is innate in man.
The Apothecary apparently forgets that he had gone to look
at the pitiful sight himself.
81. 3öar »om, &c. Many passages in Goethe's writings show
what a high value he set upon the study of the Bible, and in
Book IV of his Autobiography he has devoted a considerable
portion to a narrative from Genesis, in order to show the
beneficial infiuence which the study of the Bible had exercised
on his intellectual development ^.
84, &c. 3Baö immer . . . für, •whate'ver.
I 88, &c. Sorfte bie, &c., i.e. if man's curiosity did not draw him
on with powerfui allurement he would never learn the harmonious
connexion between the things of this world.
90-99. The Pastor here delineates the origin and progress of
civilisation. At first man is impelled by curiosity, then he seeks
the useful with unwearying industry, and finally the good also,
which raises and ennobles him. Lightheartedness, he asserts, is
naturally youth's joyous companion, which conceals danger, and
' Cp. Dichtung tind IVahrheil {C..V.S.),'P'p. 156-169.
11. I03-I25] NOTES. I. KALLIOPE 87
which with welcome speed (dcilfam ^efc^lrinfcc) obliterates the
traces of painful evil as soon as it has passed ; but, of course,
that man is happy whose lightheartedness has in later years
developed into settled reason. Goethe is thought to have
depicted some traits of his own character in the Pastor's
Speech.
1. 103. The adj. a[(cö is often used after rel. and inter. pronouns
in Order to express emphatically a collective number.
106, &c. S)ev 3ug, &c., i.e. the procession had already passed
in immense numbers (unabfc(}tid)) from hill to hill, and one could
distinguish (erfcnncn) little.
Unab[et)Ud^ has, like una5fc()bar, no single equivalent in English.
Both terms denote such a large number of persons or things
that they cannot be taken in at a glance.
109. äßav ©cbräitg, &c., i.e., although the procession proper had
already passed, the Glamour and the crowd of the Wanderers and
Waggons was still great.
110. The partitive genitive genug bcv Jlvnteu [poor people enough)
is in higher diction quite appropriate.
111. .Äounten einzeln, &c., i.e. they could learn from each
individual.
113-118. Note the construction of this passage with the
interpolated lines (11. 11 3-1 16), which indicate the excitement
of the Speaker. He found it sad to see the manifold goods and
chatteis, ivhich are only stoived aivay in a lüell-furnished house
. . . to see all this, having been hastily rescued and throvvn pell-
mell together.
Sßerbivgt in 1. 114, instead of birgt, for the sake of the metre.
The verb jüü^tcn (1. 118) is here used transitively in the sense
oi to sa've.
121, &c. (Sg nimmt . . . bem SWcnfc^en, i.e. robs man of all
reflection.
123. 5<ift, seizes ; ba6 ileuvc, that ivhich is precious.
124. The expression mit unbefonnencr ©orgfatt is cited as a fine
example of what is calied in Rhetoric an ' Oxymoron.'
125. ©c^Iec^t, here luorthless.
88 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 128-159
1. 128. Render the adv. expression feincei ®cbraucbc3, useless, em-
ploying it as an attribute.
129, 35aei (e^te, &c., the nieanest of bis possessions.
130. 3og . . . fort, mo'ved o)u
132. (Smfig, here br'ukly.
135. SSet)lant denotes rather a ' faint lament,' say moaning, or
ivail.
136. Übcrgc^iacften, overloaded. The form übev3C).\irft instead of
übci^Hicft is perfectly correct. Cp. Sanders sub 'voce übevfacfcn.
2cf)roaufeu, here to sway to andfro.
137. 9luei beut, &LC.,forced out of the track.
139. Ulib Uicit()iii, &c., andfar aiuay were the people hurled hy the
jerk.
140. ©lürflid^, safely, i.e. in so far as they did not lose their
lives.
141-43. «Raftcu is here not used as a synonym of Äiftcn, äox«
(1. 143); it denotes a ehest of dranvers. 5cbvauf, here ivardrobe,
press,
1 46. Scbcufcilb, here considering.
148-49. Render here fcficu, even\ baucvnbet^ Seiben, /ingering
nilment ; and trüc^en, could bear.
1 50. a3evtnaimt, here scorched.
The graphic description of the sad plight of the fugitives
(11. II 3-1 50) isbased on the poet's reminiscences, related by him
in his historical sketch, Die Campagne in Frankreich.
152. SKöcjc boc^, say Oh may.
The conj. borfi here intensifies the wish.
155. (SKenb is the more dignified form for eiligft.
2d;evflciii, mite., is a diminutive of Scfcevf, denoting the smallest
coin, and liguratively a small charitable gift.
2^a^ iiuv, that at hast.
156. Hub fct}iencu, &c., i.e. he and his wife appeared to feel an
inner satisfaction at having done their duty.
159. 3)ie iiief)r, &c. : arrange bic mit inet)r, &c.
The sentiment here expressed was a characteristic trait of
the (Joethe family, more especially of his mother.
U. 160-177] NOTES. I. KALLIOPR 89
1. 160. The Landlord, as the proprietor of the inn, invites the
guests, as it were, from the interior of the house, and therefore
uses the form I)erein and not f)inein.
iSaum, lit. ' space,' may here be rendered room., and ©äl^en,
apartment.
161. Dlie fd)eint, &c. The def. article is often omitted in
German colloquial speech and in poetry. Hence Senne for bie
©onne,
162-63. There is no exact English equivalent for the en-
dearing diminutive üKüttcvc^cn, lit. ' little mother,' which in the
present instance might be rendered mother.
@in ©lageren, &c., say a glass qf the eighty-three -vintage.
The vintage of 1783 produced an excellent wine, and was
therefore fresh in the memory of the people at the time of
the action. ©liKen, say nvhims. Cp. for ©lüödien and ©rifUu
Lessing's Minna -von Barnhelm (C.P.S.), p. 6, 1. 26 n., and p, 80,
1. 18 n.
166. 2)cei Haren, &c. The partitive genitive is still used in
German poetry instead of the accusative, or the dative with sum.
167. (Sine gefc^liffcne Slcifc^e denotes ' a bottle of cut glass,' say
decanter. Otunbe, lit. round ; say tray.
168. Rhineivine or 'Hock' is generally drunk in greenish
glasses, called Oicmev (cp. the old English ' rummers '), which word,
denoting ' a cut, convex, greenish wine-giass,' and occurring in all
Teutonic languages, is derived by some from the Low Latin
' vitrum romarium,' a material from which drinking-vessels were
first made, whilst others derive it from the circumstance that
these glasses were used in former times in the Römersaal at
Frankfurt, when the Emperor's health was drunk. Cp. Skeat's
Engl. Etym. Dictionary.
171. Reiter Hangen. It is the custom in Germany to touch
glasses (hob-nob) on beginning to drink.
172. Scnfenb, i.e. nad^benfenb, thoughtfully, reflecti'vely.
174. %x\\^, Sivcx SJiac^bav, &c., take your glass, neighbour, and
drink.
177. 2)a is here used in the sense of ivhen.
90 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 181-198
1. 181. 3)cnn man, &c., i.e. for it is just in time of danger that
one sees, &c.
182. Render here b(iil)enbe, ^oKr/j^/n^, and crjt, as in the pre-
ceding line,y«j^
• 183. The Insertion of the pers. pron. jtc, which is really super-
fluous, renders the assertion more emphatic. Goethe has often
made use of this construction instead of repeating the rel. pron.,
and the same expedient has also been employed by Luther and
other great writers.
184. The obsolete form je^o is still used in poetry.
186. .galtet am, &c., cka'vefast to th'is faitb.
187. 2)eun ne, &c., i. e. trust in God keeps us wise in good and
safe in evil fortune.
189. &c. The Landlord goes on to confirm the Pastor's asser-
tion that trust in God inspires (belebt, 1. 188) hope in the midst of
misfortune.
190. 9Rit ©tauncn, here ivith ivondering astonishment, nvitfo ad-
miration.
191. 9Benn ic^, &c., travelling abroad on bus'mess.
It is conjectured that the expression reifen nadb einem ©cfcfcaft has
been coined by Goethe in analogy of the phrase : feinem ©ef^äft
nac!^3ef)cn.
192. Smmev fc^ien, &c., i. e. the aspect of the Rhine always gave
the Landlord, though he was so familiär with it, an Impression of
grandeur and exalted his mind and feelings.
194. Um abjunieljrcn, &C., to serve as a check to the French.
The verb abwel^icn may be used either with the dative or with
the accusative.
The name of granfe for granscfe, still often used in poetry, was
currently employed in Germany during the great Revolution.
195. Unb fein, &C., and its ivide-jpreadh?g beä become an impass-
able moat.
The emphatic expression a((vcvl)infcernber has been coined by
Goethe.
198. SKübe fc^cn, &c. : this Statement must refer to the treaties
of peace concluded with the French Republic in 1796 by several
II. 203-213] NOTES. //. 7ERPSICH0RE 91
individual German States, since the Preliminary Peace of Leoben
in Styria between Napoleon and Austria, to which this line is
generally referred by the commentators, was not concluded tili
April 18, 1797, when the present poem was already in the press.
i. 203. (Sntfc^toffei:, resolutely, i.e. his choice having finally been
made after long hesitation and indecision.
204. 3n allen, &c., i. e. celebrated in all the States of Germany.
205. Sa^rötag, per syncope for Sa^reötag, anniversary of domestic
rejoicing.
206. &c. Ungern, here ivith dispkasure.
S)ei- immer, &c., i. e. who always shows himself so active in my
own house.
5lad^ au^cn, abroad.
211-13. These lines are deservedly admired as an exquisite
Tonmalerei, and they make the deeper impression on the reader,
because the description of Hermann's impetuous return forms
a striking contrast with his character as given by his father.
II. %txp\\^t>tt
«^ermann
Hermann enters the room where his father is sitting with
his friends, and relates how he has parted with all his mother's
gifts to a maiden whom he met in the rear of the exiles, who
had begged him to give her some linen for the new-born
Infant of a woman who lay in the waggon she was driving
[11. 1-8 1].
The Apothecary dilates on the good fortune of that man who,
in these evil days, has no wife or child to provide for, but Hermann
replies that, at such a time, a maiden requires the protection of
a husband, and a man the companionship of a wife ; and that
indeed he now feels inclined to marry — a sentiment of which his
father approves [11. 82-106].
Hermann's mother adds her own approval, relating how her
husband had courted her in a season of public calamity [11. 107-
157]-
The Landlord adds an expression of his own opinion, that
a wife should be well-dowered, and of his hope that Hermann
92 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [II. 1-23
will choose one of the three daughters of his rieh neighbour.
Hermann owns that such had been his intention, but he had been
laughed at in the rieh neighbour's house and had resolved never
to revisit it, [11. 158-237.]
Hermann's mother puts in a word for Minehen, the youngest of
the three girls, but Hermann replies that his humiliation has been
too bitter to be forgotten. The Landlord reproves him for laek
of ambition and wams him not to think of bringing a common
girl into the house as his wife. When his father has finished his
tirade, Hermann quietly leaves the room. [11. 238-273.]
Hermann gives the second title to the Canto, as he is the
principal personage in it.
Line i. SBofjlgebitbet, ivell-formed or (weil-maät.
2. 3^m . . . entgegen, toiuarJs him.
6. Gp. for bod> I, 1. I, n.
7. ÜKnnter, here animated.
1 3. The verb framen, originally denoting ' to arrange wares for
sale,' is used in the sense of to rummage.
15. Note the use of the singular imit, because it refers to one
general notion, viz. refreshing beverages.
16. aScrö %\)iix, i.e. outside the town-gate. Most old German
towns were walled.
19. @ic^ fd^neHer brau (bavan) Iniltcn, io make greater haste.
©cfenell and bcfjcnbe are Synonyms. The former denotes quick,
while the latter (derived from the M.H.G. be hemle, i.e. hei der
Hand) includes the further notion of nimbleness or dexterity.
21. Vllö ii, &e., i. e. now when he drove up.
The adverbial genitive, nteincß 3Bcgeö, is a German Idiom. For
the neue @tvapc see I, 1. 6.
22. The phrase, etft'a«^ fällt ntiv in bic *Jlugen, is used for: jome-
thing Catches w/j eye.
5l5on tü^tigen, &c., made of strotig timber.
23. 2)e6 Slueitanbei, say from abroad or ofjoreign hreed.
The expression 9lneilanb, which was first used in the i8th
Century, in the sense of ' foreign parts/ did not always specially
signify 'a country outside Germany,' but any territory under
a difTerent ruler. Here it refers to a district beyond the Rhine.
n. 26-58] NOTES. IT. 7ERPSTCH0RE i93
1. 26. 2!rieb fte, &c. The maiden urged on the oxen and restrained
them according to the exigencies of the moment and guided
them skilfully.
28. 9ii(i»t immev, &c., i. e. they were not always in such a wretched
condition as that in which Hermann now finds them.
29. 9llei C^^v, &c. The use of ate instead of wie was formerly
frequent, and is still to be met with in modern writings.
30. Jpcif^en is here used in the sense of to demand {urgently).
33. 2)ic ei^i, &c., the rieh landoivner's ivife, luho has just beett
conftned.
34. JDic 1(6, &c., i. e. as she was ill, Dorothea had difficulty
in saving her.
The present incident is also based on one of Goethe's ex-
periences during the Campagne in Frankreich,
35. Spät nur, &c. : they follow the crowd of the fugitives far in
the rear, and the woman barely escaped with her life.
37. Sic Unfern, cur people. i. e. the other emigrants.
40. ÜBiu' (Sucl\ &c. The meaningofthisrather unusually worded
sentence is, * in case Hermann had any linen to spare.'
41. Cp. for fpcnben 1, 1. 15.
43. iDaoie^cn fagcn, to reply.
44. iyiil'tt?aBr fpricfet, &c., a hea'uenly spirit ofteyi inspires.
48, &c. @ab if)V . . . hlftin, handed o'ver to her.
56. &c. The contradiction which has been pointed out be-
tween these lines and 11. 38, 39 is more apparent than real. The
maiden was at first apprehensive that she would not be able to
reach the village at all during the night, but, now her courage is
raised, and hoping to reach it before nightfall, she determines not
to loiter by the way.
57. Unfcve ©emctne, i. e. the members of their Community,
©emcinc, which is a collateral form of ©emcinbc, was formerly
used in the sense of the ' population of a place.'
58. 2)crt fefprc^' id^, &c., i. e. there she will attend to all the baby
clothes.
The somewhat pleonastic expression allee mir iccci- denotes
emphatically e-verytHng.
94 HERMA\'N UXD DOROTHEA [II. 61-103
1. 61. X'cnn 3ivie|>alt, &c., for there (was a contest in my heart.
Commentators refer here to //. I. 189, and to other passages in
Homer.
63. ©pcnbcn is here used in the sense of »erteilen ; hence the use
of the accusative unter tae 93o(f, &c.
67. Stüeiuc is the older form of allein, and is here used for the
sake of the metre.
70. Unb eö, &c., and I have enough of it.
73. 2Rit (Sinn, lüithjudgment.
75. 2)ev J)ürftige, &c., i. e. the needy fugitives shall enjoy
them.
80. 2)rauf per syncope for barauf, vvhich evidently Stands here
for l^ierauf, i. e. hereupon.
82, &c. !Daö 2Bovt net)men, to begin to speak.
Cp. the French ' prendre la parole.' ^cr gefprdd&ifle ^kd^bar is of
course the Apothecary.
85. SDem ni(^t, &C., to ^wbom neither nuije nor child anxiously
cltngs.
86. Um »ieteö nic^t, not for the nvorld, not for a great deal.
88. 35ad^t' i^, &c,, / too ha-ve often imaginedßight.
89. !Da0 alte, &c., i. e. the old coins and gold chains.
91. Sticht gefci^afft n?irb, cannot so easily be procured. ©efd^afft
Stands here for angcfdbafft.
94. ^Bleibt bcr, &c. The Apothecary is of opinion that if the
dispenser remains behind he can leave his housc calmly, as he has
neither wife nor child to consider.
The word ^rcüifor (fr. Latin ' providere ') denotes the principal
assistant in a chemist's shop, i. c, dispenser.
98. The pron. ic^ is to be understood before table, and there
seems to be no necessity for actually inserting it, as Wilhelm von
Humboldt suggested.
loi. Unb nid}t, &c., i. e. whose heart does not move him to
share his joys and sorrows with others.
103, &c. Note the antithesis in these lines: many a good
maiden requires a man to protect her, and the man, when misfor-
tune is in störe, requires a wife to theer him.
11. 106-136] NOTES. TL TERPSICHORE 95
1. 106. The pron. mir is here the ethical dative and so need not
be translated.
III, &c. !Denn iQ,<\^ti üov^er, &c. This is the great conflagration
to vvhich allusion has been made before. Cp. I, 1. 121.
116. 3n bcn, &c. In Germany the larger mills in the country
formerly served as places of entertainment on Sundays, the usual
time on the Continent for public amusements.
118. (Srjeugciib ftcE*, &c., i.e. the moving flames created a draught
for themselves.
119. S)ic i£c^eunen, &c., that is, the barns filled with the abun-
dant har'vest which had been garnered.
120. Unb c^, &c. The expedient of making an assertion more
emphatic by repeating the verb has frequently been resorted to
by Goethe in this poem.
The word war is here perfectly correct, because the house
had already been consumed, whilst ttarb (which has been sug-
gested by some) would denote that the action of being consumed
by fire was still going on.
121. 3uglcic^ mit, at the same time.
122. Cp. for fliüd^ten I, 1. ii8 n.
123. Singer (say snuard or pasture) is the green around or near
villages, somewhat corresponding to the English common.
125. a5or bcr, &c., descends (from the upper atmosphere) hefore
the sunrise.
126. ^ffc, lit. forge, furnace, here chtmney.
128. 5(6^tc mir, &c., inspired my heart ivith courage.
129. The impersonal phrase eö trict mid) denotes / ^uas im-
pelled,
132. 2)a^cr l^ic^, cllmbed o'ver.
134. Äamft bit, &c. These words are addressed by Hermann's
mother to her husband, who came up (f)evauf) to where she was
Standing on the ruins.
135. Sir itjar, &c., i.e. a horse of his was buried under the
ruins of the stable.
136. Unb nid)tö, &c. The fact that nothing was seen of the
animal is emphasized by the position of ^^u fc^en. The reading
96 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 137-166
suggested by W. von Humboldt, viz. : uiit nicfcte n^ar tjon bem Spiere
ju feiert, would weaken the assertion considerably.
1. 137. The adv. expression geilen einaubcr, opposiu- each other, is
now generally written in one word, viz. gcc^eiicinanCer.
Sebcnflic^, here thought/ul, or anxious.
140, 2ieöii)cii is a diminutive of liJicfc, which is in itself an
abbreviated form of dlifabet^.
146. SfJJit frcuufcticfc, &c., luith/rietidly and significatit ivordj.
Two adjectives are often similarly placed side by side in
German, the first being uninflected.
149. 3um Sßater, &c. Note here the Omission of the possessive
adjectives meinem and beiiic »-espectively betöre Später and 9Kutter.
150. Uub fc^ncK, &c. This line cxpresses poetically that the
marriage was speedily concludcd.
151. ©cbälte formed from 93alfcn denotes collectively beams.
153, &c. @0 f^abcn, &c. At the time Hermann was born the
town had not yet been entirely rebuilt.
154, iSen ^3ol)ti, &c. Commentators refer here to the Biblical
saying: gveuc bi(^ bcö Söeibw beiner ^m^nb. (Prov. v. x8.)
155, &c. 2)avum tob' td^, &c. The Speaker praises her son for
intending to follow the example of his parents and to wed in
a season of sorrow.
The verb benfcn (1. 156) is poetically used in a transitive sense.
159. !Die (Mcftnunnci, &c., viz. that a man should wed with con-
fidence in a time of tribulation.
160. The verb begegnen is here used in the sensc of ' to occur.'
161. Slbcr beffcv, &c. The complete form of this proverb, which
is said to come from the Polish, is : @nt ift gnt, aber beffev ift beffev,
which fully explains the saying.
'Öetnfft. The word betreffen is here used in the sensc of an
unpleasant occurrence.
163. Sic^ quälen, here to teil.
165. ^i:\)\^i\\.i\{i,ivell'orctered\ mit (^cbeihen,/'/-oj/>^rottj/y.
166. The saying : 9Utev i'lnfanoi ill fehltet, corresponds to the
English : AU heginnings are hard. Cp. the F"rench : ' Ce nVsl
que Ic prtniicr pat. qui coutc'
11. 167-1S7] NOTES. II. TERPSICHORE 97
1. 167. The Landlord speaks here as a man of business, and as
one who is fond both of comfort and outward show, whilst the
Pastor expresses further on (V, 1. 1 3) the opinion of a mind satis-
fied with its lot.
168. 3)a [e^' er, &c., i.e. therefore he should take good care to
acquire more and more money.
171. SBacfercv may here be rendered ivorthy.
172. Unb cä, &c., and it is so gratifying.
©ctttünfd^etm, deslred, for the sake of the metre instead of
geivünfctten.
173. Some commentators point out that the usual alliterative
expression is Jtiftcu imb .ßvxitcn, but these words express the same
notion, whilst ^övbe unb Äaftcii denote different receptacles.
174. &c. SJii^t umfcnil, &c., i.e, it is not without a purpose that
the mother prepares /or her daughter (ber Sioc^ter) a large stock of
linen of fine and coarse web.
176. The verb itercl)icn is here used in the figurative sense of
to present (as a token of esteem or affectionj, and ©itbcvgcväte,
denoting collectively all the Utensils &c. for eating and drinking,
may here be rendered />rfje«^.f of plate.
ITT. ^Sonbcvt int, &c., i.e. lays aside in the desk the rare gold coins.
178. ®üteni unb ©abeii may be rendered j^ooa'.v and chatteis, but
®abcn means here properly the gifts received by the daughter.
180. The expression ein Sffieibc^eu is here used in the sense of
a young luife ; the diminutive form denoting youth.
181. @evät, denoting here again collectively vessels and furni-
ture, may be rendered property.
182. Unb baö, &c., lit. who has covered bed and table herseif,
i.e. supplied bedding and table requisites.
183. 5luv njo^tausgeilattet, only luellfitted out ; only 'weil endoived.
185. ^ä(t jie, &c., treats her as. The second a(ö is to be
rendered like.
It will be seen from the denoument of the poem that by the
irony of fate this is the manner in which Hermann's future wife
enters the Landlord's house. Cf. IX, 1. 101 &c.
187. The noun SUtev denotes by itself old age.
H
98 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [II. 193-218
I. 193, &c. Render bcftimmt, engaged, and finb no6 • • . ju l^abett,
may yet be 'wooed, or are yet free.
195, &c. SBär id^, &c., i.e. if he had been in Hermann's place,
he would have taken one of the daughters with the same energy
and resolution as he had carried off his wife.
The verb gcfjt'lt expresses somewhat crudely the notion that
Hermann need merely * fetch ' one of the girls ; but the latter
uses the more dignified expression UHi^Icn (I. 199).
199. Understand morbcii after evjcgeu.
200. ©viflteu neben, &c. The spaces round the wells in the
middle of the market-places used formerly, especially in smaller
towns, to serve as the children's play-ground.
201. &c. Render here 3BilbI)cit, ronghness ; tcdf) ba^, &c., but
that is long ago \ and IratJ^fenben, gro^ving tip.
203. ^Billig, as is proper (or rlghi).
204. SBo^tgcjogcn does not mean here ircljterjcgfii, n.vell-educated\
but corresponds to fittfam, nuell-mannered.
205. 91c(^ auö, &c., merely for old acquaintance sake.
209. ?lic^t rec^t, &c., not cut and curled in the fashion.
211. ^aubeläbüb^en is an expression of contempt coined by
Goethe for Commis (Fr.), Jpanbcl^geJ^ülfc, &C. ; say : counter-jumper.
212. Unb um, &C., and round ivhom the half-silken shreds are
hanging in summer.
Most commentators refer the word i'ä^ipd^en to the light, short
summer-coat worn in those days.
213. ?lbcv nccf), &c., but soon enough. Demant ^um bcfien ^aben
denotes to make game of anyone.
214. (SmV>|inbli(^, here painful, annoying.
215. 35a^ fo, &c., i.e. that they thus misjudged the kindly
feelings he bore them.
216. Söcfcnberö 9)?inc^cn, i.e. especially towards Minnie,
2)Jiu(^cn is an abbreviation of 3Bil()clminc^en, which is again a
diminutive of aBiltjclntinc.
217. 5ln is here used for ju.
218. !I)fv jc^t, &c., i.e. which only hangs upstairs in the ward-
robc and is no longer worn by liim.
II. 219-245] Ä'OTES. IL TERPSTCHORE 99
1. 219. Unb irav, &c., and bad my hair dressed like the other young
men.
Cp. 011 the verb frificrcu, tofrizz, Lessing's Minna 'von Barnhelm
(C.P.S.), p. 55, I- 2 n.
220. 2)oc^ i^üg, &c., but I did not apply it (i.e. their tittering)
to myself.
222. The word Saune by itself denotes good temper or good
humour.
224. 5lber icf), &c. Pamina and Tamino are two well-known
characters in Mozart's opera Die Zauberß'öte (1791). The airs
from this opera were in those days universally populär.
225. Unb ic^, &c., i.e. he did not want to be a silent listener
either.
226. !Dcm %nii, &c. 9tac^ may here in both instances be
rendered about.
228. (iiltxmt, &!.c.,you only knonu.
The pron. of the third person sing, er (@r) and fie (©ic) was
formerly used as a. pronomen re'verentiale in the sense of you. Cp.
Lessing's Minna von Barnhelm (C.P.S.), p. 5, 1. 17 n.
229, &c. ^te(t ficfi, &c., then no one restrained himself from
laughing.
Note here the repetition of the expression (aut auf ladeten, &c.
330. !Dte .Rnaben, here in contempt : the lads.
@ö f)ie(t, &c., the old man (i.e. the father) held his sides. Cp. the
Fr. ' se tenir le ventre.'
232. (Sc ütel . . . anä), hoivever much.
235. yixäit m(i}t, &c., i.e. not to cross the merchant's threshold
again.
236. Render tücijl, I am sure, and Ueblo^, heartless.
240. @ut is here used in contrast to liebtce!, and may be
rendered good-hearted,
@tWt3itn, fai'orably disposed.
242, &c. Cp. for bebeutlic^ above, 1. 137 n.
@6 i^rägtc, &c., i. e, the annoyance made so deep an impression
on him.
245. 3tuffa^rcu, fig. to start up.
H 2
100 HERMAl^N UND DOROTHEA Ml. 346-270
1. 246. 2Bentg Sveufc', &c., i.e. he derives little pleasure from his
son.
347, §l(g bu, &c. This line, containing a poetical Inversion,
should be arranged for translation as follows : 511^ bu nur ju
*4}fcibcii unb \\vca. Slcfcv Sujl bc^eiijteft.
248. ©^ou corresponds here to a mere.
SBo^lbcgütcrt, well-to-do ; ' prosperous ' denotes a higher degree
of affluence than the simple term bcc^ütcrt.
249, &c. ^ubciTcn map, t&c. The Landlord complains that,
whilst Hermann is doing the menial work, which a mere servant
could perform, he must m'iss (entbehren) the son who would also
show himself (fic^ ^ftfltc) among the Citizens to his father's
honour.
253. S5u immer, &c., i.e. and he always occupied the lowest
place.
254, &c. 3)aö fcmmt, &c. The Landlord is of opinion that the
backwardness of his son as a Citizen and as a scholar comes from
a lack of a setise of honour^ or rather proper ambition.
259. 9lbcr bcr, &c. Hermann's filial reverence is here admirably
depicted by his action.
261. @o gel^e, &c. It would seem that Hermann's silent sub-
missiveness provoked the angry Landlord more than any contra-
diction would have done.
264. 2)ic i£ru((c : say a boorish girl.
A collateral form of Xvullc is S^roflc, which is defined by
Grimm to denote eine rc^c, gemeine, baurifdbe 2i«eibeverfcn. Fidc the
Dictionaries of Grimm, Sanders, and Weigand, and cp. the
English ' trollop ' and ' trull.'
265. Unb tfeif, &C., and knoiu hoav to deal iv'tth (to treat) men.
267. ®efä(lig, &c., honu to pay pleas'tng compl'tments.
268. 5lber fo, &c., i.e. in the same way is a daughter-in-law to
treat him, and reward him for the great trouble he had had.
270. J'ic fd^cnften, here thefinest, moit elegant.
11. 2-6] NOTES, in. THALIA 101
III. S^alia
2){e 33ürger
The Landlord continues his speech, eulogizing social progress
and the experience gained by travel, but concludes with the
prophecy that Hermann will never do any active work in the
World [11. 1-43].
But his wife retorts that parents must take their children
as God sends them and that Hermann will one day do them much
credit, if he is not discouraged by too persistent fault-finding. She
then leaves the room to soothe Hermann's feelings, while the
Landlord, after commenting on the curious ways of women,
remarks on the necessity of progress [11. 44-66].
The Apothecary carries on the discussion, remarking that to
be in the van of progress is laudable but expensive. Taste too is
very changeable and the times are unquiet, two potent reasons,
which deter him from spending money on his house [11. 67-110].
The second title of the Canto indicates that it contains a
characterization of Citizens in general and of the inhabitants of
the scene of action in particular.
Line 2. ^mi ber, &c. The Landlord continued in the same
violent strain which he employed to his son.
3. ÜBaö im, &c. The Landlord merely expresses the truism
that no man can do actions for which his nature is not adapted.
Düntzer here quotes the proverb : aBo nici^tö innen ift, ba ge^ct
4, &c. SSirb nttd^, &c. It is the natural wish of all sensible
fathers that their sons should excel them.
Commentators refer here to Hector's prayer that it might be
Said of his son Astyanax : ' This youth surpasses far his father '
(//. vi. 479). Cp. also Goethe's own saying: Es ist ein frommer
Wunsch aller Väter, das, nvas ihnen selbst abgegangen, an den
Söhnen realisiert zu sehen, &c. {Dichtimg und Wahrheit, Book I,
p. 31, 1. 28, &c. (C.P.S.).)
6, &c. aBcnu nii^t, &c., i. e, if every one did not always en-
thusiastically strive to preserve and improve what exists.
102 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [II. 8-26
1. 8. Cp. for Üluölanb II, 1. 23 n.
9. The verb ciUlvac^fen is here used in the sense of to spring
front.
12, &c. ©icl^t man, &c., i. e. we can judge the character of the
owner by the appearance of the house.
The abbrev. form »eei for ircffen is chiefly used in higher
diction.
The diminutive ©täbtc^en is probably preferred to -Stabt for
metrical reasons.
14. 3)ie Hiumc, &c., i.e. the towers on the wall surrounding
the city.
15. Unrat, say rubbish.
16. &c. 9Bo ber, &c., i.e. where the stones in the pavement
have been dislodged and are not replaced, and the house awaits in
vain the new support (Untcrjiü^ung), that place is ill-governed.
J^aiiö seems here to be used in the sense of OJat^au*, i.e.
town-hall.
20. 3u fc^mu^icjcm, &c., to slo-vejily neglect.
©id) geivc^ncu ya is used in Biblical and poetical language for
fid^ geirc^nen an.
©aumfal is both feminine and neuter. It is given the latter
gender here for the sake of euphony, on account of the repetition
of the er which would occur in the same line.
23. 3um ivcnigi'ten, &c. The towns named were not only near
the supposed locality of the poem, bat were also closely connected
with Goethe himself.
24. The town of Mannheim fully deserves the epithel frcunblid),
pleasant, on account of the cleanliness and regularity of its streets,
which are laid out in quadrangular blocks, intersecting at right
angles ; hence the expression baö Reiter nnb %\t\6> gebaut ift, i. e.
which is agreeably and evenly built.
25. &c. >J?uI)t nidbt . . . JU verjieven, does not rest until he has
embellished.
26. There is no exact equivalent in English, nor in most other
languages, for the expressive term »Baterftabt, which must be
reudered nati-ve to^jjn.
II. 28-4?] NOTES. III. THALIA 103
1. 28. The expression beu v^eweiptcu %^xxm, the luhite-iuashed tonver,
refers to the tower of the church.
29, &c. Sie ivaiJcvreic^en, i.e. the conduits amply filled with
water, which are covered and ivell-distributed, serving both for
use and security, so that fire may be checked at its first out-
break.
33. 58au^evr, say building-inspector, or Superintendent of buildings.
The ©au^crr in Germany corresponds somewhat to the adile
(or ' edile ') in ancient Rome, his function being to superintend
the proper construction of buildings.
35, &c. 9Baei ic^, &c., i. e. what he planned, he executed
with diligence, and also carried out the undertakings (9lnfta(t) of
worthy men who had left (i^evlicf eu) them unfinished.
37. <So fam, &c., that is the passion (2uft) for activity filled the
heart of, &c.
38. ®ic^ bejlveben, here to exert oneself.
2)er neue, &c., the construction of the neau highiuay.
The first term of the hybrid expression (S()auffcebau is derived
from the Middle Lat. ' (via) calciata,' that is a road made with
lime. Cf. Brachet's Etymol. Dict. of the French Language
(Kitchin's edition, Clarendon Press), sub voce ' Chaussee.'
39. 3)er unö, &c., luhich is to connect us nvith the great high-road.
The Speaker uses the present tense instead of the future,
because the new highway has already been finally decided
upon.
The grofe «Stva^c is the same as the 3)ainmtt>eg mentioned 1, 1. 6.
41. !Die einen, &c., some are only intent on pleasure and ornament.
2)en!en an denotes in general ' to think of,' whilst 'benfen auf*
signifies 'to have the mind bent on a certain object.'
42. Slnberc ^ocfen, &c., others skulk at home and brood by the
ßreside.
The verb fjotfen denotes properly ' to cower stupidiy in one
place,' and the expression * behind the stove ' refers of course to
the old-fashioned German stoves in the middle of the rooni.
46. <I)ein 2Bunf(^, &c., i.e. your wish for his welfare.
47. The expression formen, to form, to fashion, is here quite
104 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 48-70
appropriate in the mouth of the Speaker, whilst bitten would sound
too high-flown and affected.
1. 48. The verb haben is here used in the primary meaning of
halten, to hold, to keep.
49. Unb jcglidien, &c., and alloiv every one to go bis otvn ivay.
The educational maxim contained in this line is simply this :
We must educate our children as best we can and then let them
pursue their own course, but not compel them to act in-vitä
natura.
52. ^icft taffe, &c., I ^uon^t alloiu my Hermami to he abused.
Similarly Goethe uses in his Egmont the phrase : C^(^ (äffe miv
ÜJiargavetcn nic^t [fetten (C.P.S., p. 9, i. 17).
56, &c. l'lber tägUd^, &c., i. e. with his daily chiding and fault-
finding, the Landlord checks all spirit in the breast of their
poor son.
58, &c. Sem ©of)n, &c. The reason why the Speaker hastens
after her son is simply that she is anxious to find him soon in
Order to comfort him, as is distinclly stated in the next lines,
but it is absurd to assume, as some commentators do, that she
hurriedly left because she was afraid of continuing the argument
with her husband.
62. iBolf may here be rendered race, and \i:> wie, as -luell as.
63. iebeö lebet, &c., i.e. women and children like so much to
live according to their own fancy.
65. The cxpression (Sinmal füv aflental, once for all, is more
expressive than ein \\\x allemal.
@ilt denotes here holds good, and trv l'llten of our forefatbers.
66. 9Bev nic^t, &c. M. Chuquet quotes here the saying : Qiil
n^a'vance pas recule.
The expression fo bleibt eö corresponds somewhat to the
English saying : that^s afact.
67. iöebä^tig, here thoughtfully.
70, &c, %hix l)ilft, &c. The Apothecary, in answ-er to the
Landlord's indirect reproach, asks : Is it indeed of any avail to be
active and stirring, to improve (beüevn) the inside and outside of
houses, &c., if one has not plenty of money (bie tfüUe beö ®elbeö) ?
11. 72-94] iVOTES. in. THALIA 105
1. 72. 5Jlur ju, &c., i. e. the means of the burgher are only too
limited.
73. 3Benn, eveii if.
77, &c. The verbs ladete and glänzten are used in the conditional,
viz. <would hü've smiled, <would hwve glittered^.
3m mobifd^en Äleibd^en, in a fashionabk garb.
78. 2)urd)auö mit, &c., i. e. throughout the house with large panes.
Small round Windows were formerly common in Germany, more
especially at Frankfort. Large panes were only gradually intro-
duced. Cf. Goethe's Dichtung und Wahrheit (C.P.S., p. 28, 1. 30 n).
79. 2ßev tf)ut, &c., i. e. who can vie with the merchant, who,
besides being endowed with a fortune, &c.
80, 9luf »e(c^en, &c., by nvhich the best can he procured,
82. getb (in architecture), panel ; bie ©turfatur, &c., the stucco of
the luhite scroll-<ivork.
©tiufatur (It.) is, according to Diez, derived from the O.H.G.
stucchi, Mod. H. G. ©tücf. ©c^ncvfel denotes in architecture an
Ornament in the form of Spiral or curved lines.
83. ®vop ftnb, &c. In Order to vary the expression the poet
uses here Siafeln and ©d^eiben ; the former might be rendered
Squares qf plate glass, and the latter ?,\m^\y panes.
@).negeln denotes ' to reflect,' ' to glitter like a mirror.'
84. !Da^ »erbimfelt, &c., so that o . are throivn into the shade.
86. 2)ie ^\);)oii)d(, &c., i, e. the Apothecary's shop at the sign of
the Angel.
88. Scber Üteifenbc, &c., say e'very stranger (lit. traveller) lingered,
&c.
The noun ©tafctc, railing, like the Fr. ' estacade,' is immediately
derived from the It. ' steccata,' which is itself derived from the
German Stafcn. Cf. the English 'stake.'
89-94. 9la(^ ben, &c. Stone figures of beggars, coloured dwarfs,
&c., were at one time frequently placed in gardens instead of
antique statues. Other common garden-ornaments were shells
' Some commentators assume that lachte and glältjtett are here im-
perfects, denoting that the house smiled and the Windows glittered in
his imagination.
106 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 90-107
(1. 93) and pieces oi galena or kad-glance (©Uiglan;^). The garden
here described was quite in the ' Baroque style * prevailing in the
second half of the last Century.
1. 90. Translate (SJrcttetnrcvf, grotto, and reid^te, presented.
©rottenlrerf denotes properly an artificial grotto ; which word
has been borrowed from the It. ' grotta,' derived from the Gr.
KpiuTTTj, Lat. crypta.
92. 2)cr evfvcute, &c., i.e. he was highly gratified by the brilliant
colours of the glittering light.
94. @(!^aute bcr, &c., i.e. even the connoisseurs experienced in
these matters looked at, &c.
95. 3n bcm ©aale, &c. It is generally assumed that the
Speaker refers to the ©artcnfaal, summer-house, or pavilion, erected
in his garden. The painting here mentioned is of course in the
afTected style once fashionable.
96. ©e^U^ten, here gaily dreued.
97. Unb mit, &c., i.e. ivith tapering fingen the flowers are
presented (by the gentlemen) and held (by the ladies).
98. &c. 3ii, trcv, &c., aye, ivha ivould no-w even look at such
a thingl
3c^ gef)c, &c. In accordance with the custom formerly pre-
vailing in Germany, the Citizens had their larger gardens outside
the town, the latter having generally been built within very
narrow bounds.
99. ©efc^marfüoll, infine taste.
IOC. 2)ie l'atten, &c., the trellis-ivork and the benches (in the
garden).
102. The expression, baei frcmbe .^clj, evidently refers to the
inahogany wood which was introduced towards the end of the
i8th Century. It was, as the Apothecary said, ^/«m and smooth
(einfach unb glatt).
103. ^\i\ tt>är' ti, &c., I should be pleased.
105. 3u tücfen, i. e. to move or change the least thing.
107. The def. article is omitted before (Sinn for metrical reasons.
The Archangel Michael is the angel alluded to before by the
Speaker. (Cf. 1. 86.) He was chosen as the sign of the Apothe-
III. loS-IV. ii] NOTES. TV. EUTERPE 107
cary's shop, because his defeat of the dragon symbolises the
victory of medicine over sickness,
1. io8. The Word Dffijin (from Lat. 'officina') was formerly
employed for a Workshop or place of business. Now it is chiefly
applied to chemists' shops.
HO. S3erbräunt, say bronvn ; bie gcrbrung per syncope for gorbers
ung, lit. the ' deraand,' i. e. the expense.
IV. @uter^e
aKutter unb ©o^n
Hermann's mother, after some search through garden and vlne-
yard, discovers her son under a large pear-tree on the boundary
of their property, and when he turns to speak to her she dis-
covers tears in his eyes [11. 1-64].
She questions him as to the cause of his emotion, and he
answers that.the distress of his native land moves him to enrol
himself among its defenders [11. 65-110].
Pressed further by his mother, Hermann owns that he has not
given the true reason for his melancholy, and eventually, that he
grieves because he feels the want of a companion to share his
life [11. 111-196].
His mother replies that both she and his father desire his mar-
riage and goes on to tax him with having fallen in love with the
exiled girl whom he has that day met. Hermann admits this,
adding that if he cannot marry her he will abandon his home.
[11. 197-225.]
His mother promises to intercede for him with her husband,
and they return to the house in silence [11. 226-250].
The two characters describ*ed in this Canto are mother and
son, hence the second title.
Line 4. The adverb bafelbft, used also in modern poetry, is both
more emphatic and more poetical than the simple form ba.
5. ^Seforgen, here to tend, to attend to.
8, &c. ©ie bo^jjjctten, &c., i. e. the two courtyards containing re-
spectively the stables and the luell-built (»o^t gcjimmerten) barns,
1 1 . Unb fieute, &c., and rejoiced in all the plants.
108 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 12-36
1, 12. SBclaben, i.e. heavily laden.
13, 14. Translate laftenbe, heavy ; v^em fräftiq, Sac, front the
vigorous crop 0/ cabbages.
i-j. The spelling Öeieblatt instead of the now usual ©eifblatt is
not so incorrect as some coinmentators assert.
19-21. 3tber nur, &c., i. e. the little gate stood just ajar, which an
ancestor of the family, the worthy burgomaster, by special favour
had been allovved to open through the wall of the town from the
arbour. Goethe uses the older fonn iöurflcmcifier instead of the
more usual SBürgenneiflev.
22. Unb fo, &c. The town proper was separated from the vine-
yards by a dry moat, like the one described by Goethe in his
Dichtung und Wahrheit, Book I, pp. 8, 15 (C.P.S.).
24. Vlufi^itg, &c., ascended steeply. The expression jicilaen *ßfabc!
is an adverbial genitive denoting quality.
27, &c. Render Saubgang, or ilaubcngang, shady ivalk ; and von
uubcljaucnen, &c., of unpolished stones. ^Platte Stands here for Stein;
Vlatte.
29. The vine bearing in German the pretty name of ©utebcl is
known in France and England under the name of Chasselas,
a French village from which it is supposed the grapes came
originally.
The muscatel-grapes derive their name from the aroma peculiar
to them.
32. *Jlbcv ben, &c., i.e. but the remaining part of the hill was
covered with vines (Störfc, 'üieiiiüörfc) bearing the smaller kind of
grapes, which yield the best wine.
34-38. Düntzer was the first tp point out that thesc lines coii-
tain a reminiscence from Goethe's boyhood, which he utilized
later in his Dichtung und Wahrheit when describing the autumn
festivities during the vintagc in the neighbourhood of Frankfurt
{Dichtung und Wahrheit (C.P.S.), IV, p. 180, 1. 30 &c.).
36. Xvaubcn liefet, &c. The process here mentioned refers
chiefly to the manufacture of white wines. After the grapes have
been gathered and trodden, the juice, not yet fermented, is called
ÜKüft, must. (Cf. Lat. niustum.)
11. 37-72] NOTES. TV. EUTERPE 109
SSerfammchi, to collect, instead of the simple verb fatnmeln, for
metrical reasons.
I. 37. 33on allen, 8iC.,from everyivhere.
39. 3)cin @o^ne, &c, The use of the dative instead of the
accusative with the verb rufen is of frequent occurrence in higher
diction.
43. @v fai^t cä, &c., ivithout telling her.
The conj. benn is used in Biblical and poetical language in the
sense of except, unless.
53, &c. ^atte ben, &c. Cholevius was the first to point out
the parallel between this passage and the one in the Odyssey
describing Ulysses, seated under a pear-tree, shedding tears of
emotion.
57. Unter i^nt, &c. It is assumed that Goethe had here in his
mind the scene engraved on the shield of Achilles, IL, Book xviii.
58. 55eö 93ic^ö, &c. Arrange : bcö SSie^e! ju harten {to tend) in
feinem ©chatten.
61. Unb f^ien, &c., i. e. Hermann looked longingly towards the
region where Dorothea had disappeared.
63. Translate rü^rt' i^m bic, touches his.
The simple verb rühren was formerly often used in the sense of
bcvü^vcn.
65. betroffen, say startled.
66. @blcn ©efül^Ieö, i. e. endowed with noble feelings. Goethe
and other poets often express quality in higher diction by means
of the genitive case.
67. The repetition of the expression betreffen is here very
efFective.
68. S)aran, &c. I da not recog7ti7,e you like this.
The notion of evfcnnen or uncberfennen is sometimes expressed
by the simple verb tennen.
72. S)cm ift, &c., he has no heart in his callous bosom.
The verb fein is sometimes used with the dative to denote
possession, as is the case with the verb 'esse' in Latin. An
analogy has been pointed out to the expression ein eliemcr 33nfen
lit. * a brazen heart,' in the Homeric xakKtov rjTop
110 HERMANN UND DOROTltEA [11. 73-107
The form je^c for jc^t is now used in poetry only.
1. 73. The verb umtrcibcn is also used in the sense of um^ertteiben,
to drive to andjro, to driir about.
74. !Dcm i)!, &c., i. e. he is devoid of common sense.
78. 35ie jt(!^, &c,, i.e. which encircles (lit. 'twines round')
US, &c.
79. (Sa^ bic, &c. The notion that the golden, i. e. yellow, com
(5vud^t) bows by dint of its fulness, and thus invites, as it were,
the reaper to bind it into sheaves, is highly poetical.
85, &c. Unb bie, &c., i. e. and the multitude does not dread death,
for one multitude throngs close after (biingt . . . nad^) the other.
88. 35cm atlcö, &c., the calamity threatening all.
89. ?lm heutigen, &c. J&eutig (from ^cutc) denotes by itself * on
this day,' but the fuUer expression fieutigen lagcö is very commonly
used.
90. <Sticitciibcn {combatants) is here used for the sake of the
metre in the place of ©treitcv.
91. 3c^ bin, &c. Only sons are excused from inilitary service in
Germany.
92. !Die ffiirtfd^aft denotes here the work of the farm. It
should be remembered that Hermann's father also carried on
a trade (@c»t3erbe) in wine, &c.
93. ?lbev tüär' ic^, &c., is far more emphatic and poetical than
the usual construction »är' c^ nidn bcffcv für mic^ \\\ iribcrftt^cn ba
Börne {to offer resistance in the vanguard) would be.
96, 97. !Dcm 35atev(anbe, i.e. for the benefit of one's own country.
This is the so-called dative of advantage.
The present is the only instance, I believe, in this poem where
a rhyme occurs, viz. leben and geben.
98. The expression Jtraft, strength, in this line is Homeric.
Cp. the Gr. (//., ii. 658, 666) /317 'HpaK^rjürj, and the similar use of
U, ibid. xxiii. 720 (from my notes to Goethe's Jphigenie auf
Tauris, C.P.S., 1. 831).
102. liRauben, here to carry off.
105. Tienn tt?er, &c. Cp. V, 1. 59, &c.
107. Übergeben, here to offer.
11. 109-144] NOTES. IV. EÜTERPE 111
1. 109. (Sage ber, &c. Hermann repeats here the very words of
his father. Cp. II, 11. 254, 255.
III. Sebeutcnb, here emphat'ically., iv'tth signißcance. Cp. Grimm's
l^'^örterbuch, sub 'uoce bebeittcnb.
115. ilBaö beinen, &c., i.e. what he really desires.
122. 3u fc^cincn, &c., to make a shonjü in uniform.
The Word ÜJJontur is derived from the Fr. ' monture,' denoting
properly an animal for riding or mounting.
123. ©ü tttücfcr, &c., hoive'ver excellent and brave you are.
The German hxcco here corresponds to the English bra-ve.
124. 3Bo^l 511, &C., to take care of the house and qu'tetly to culti'vate
theßeldy i. e. the din of battle is not for Hermann.
125. %xd is here employed in the sense of candidly.
The verb bringen is here used for the transitive verb brängen,
to urge, to impel.
128. SBeffer int, &c. The commentators refer here to Goethe's
well-known lines :
(So bilbet ein Xalent [i^ in bcr ©tifle,
@ic^ ein ß^avaftet in bem ©tvont bcr 3Bc(t. {Tasso, i. 2.)
129. (Sc^toantcnben, lit. 'oscillating,' say unsettled.
132. !Die n)e(t(ic^en, &c., i.e. he has a thorough knowledge of
practical matters.
134. Sllleö, i.e. he feels that everything he has said with refer-
ence to his fitness for the part of a warrior is true.
137. @efieV i^. &c., let me only confess it.
142, &c. Unb fr, &c., lea-ve me tben (to carry out my resolve).
The sense of this passage is quite clear. Hermann thinks
that, as the wishes of his heart are vain, his life may as well also
pass away fruitlessly.
144, -See. 35er Sinjelne, &c., i. e. the individual only hurts himself
who devotes himself (ftc^ ^ingicbt) to a course in which all are not
striving together.
It is not impossible that Goethe here expressed what he had
feit himself. He would certainly have taken an active part in
the defence of Germany if all the Germans had arisen as one
man.
112 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 14^-167
11, 148-51. 3^ctm tic, &c. The Speaker avers that men are so
violent that they only think of the extreme (boö Sc^te) or final
result, and any obstacle easily turns the violent from the course
they wish to pursue (au^ bcm ffif^c), but a woman is adroit at
contriving means, and she even takes a roundabout way in order
to attain her object skilfully '.
149. The neun ^intcrniö is now generally used in the neuter
gender.
153. S)iv »raUt, &c., is boiling in your "veins.
154. Arrange: mbev älUdcn fcie !E(}väiu fic^ bringt, &c., i.e. against
your will the tear Starts to your eye.
The verb fid) blanden is now more usual than fid^ blitzen ; but
the latter has here been preterred, probably in order to avoid the
repetition of the vowel-sound ä in this line '.
159. SRein Siebficö, my greatest happiness.
160. %\.i bic, &c. : say than my parents.
The verb cv^ciujcu in the sense of the Lat. * generare ' is a very
usual expression in German.
Properly it should be ale bic, bie mic^ cv^ciujtcn, but the second
bie, being here a rel. pron., may be omitted.
161. Unb mir . . . o/AoUw, and directed me ^,visely.
The poet calls the time of childhood bunfcl, hazy, indistinct,
because the intellectual faculties are not yet developed at that
stage. Cp. the well-known line in Faust :
(Sin guter ÜJJenfd) in feinem buntlcn 2)range.
164. ©crod^en: the obsolete past participle of väcfeeu is still
occasionally used in poetry.
166. ÜJJit »rürbig, &c., i.e. with dignified, mcasured steps.
167. Va(f)tcn ftc, &c., if they laughed.
It was formeriy the fashion in Germany to wear caps adorned
with a coloured ribbon, mo$tly red. For bic Blumen, &c., cp.
I, 1. 29.
' I givea füll paraphrase of the above passage, because it is variously
interpreted ; thus some commentators assume that the expression bag
fiepte denotes ' that which has happened last.'
■^ Some editors refer the pron. |i(^ to cntjiürjen.
II. 16S-191] NOTES. IV. EUTERPE 113
11. 168-70. So ftattüc^, &c., i.e. in so stately a manner. 5ürc^terli(^
ballte, &c., i.e. then his fist was clenched in a terrible manner,
and with furious rage, &c. ÜRit bUnbent, &c. : say luith blind fury.
The noun ^Beginnen is frequently used in the sense of action,
deed, doing.
174. The expression mit ©orten fierumne^men denotes to reprove.
175. Sei OJat, in the Council. Cp. the expression bei %\\ä^t,
178. ©tetö in, &c. : arrange ftttö in ©ebanfen (:^abent>) bie ju
ef)vcnbc aBo:^{t^at ber (Sltem.
EUiptical phrases like jletö in ®eban!en, in which the present
participle is understood, often occur in German poetry.
179. !l)ie ^OiV unb, &c. : say our fossessions.
The usual expression is ^ab' unb ®ut.
180. 2)en Äinbcni is here the dative of advantage, i.e. for the
children.
181. Render [pät kereafter.
182. 183. ($ö mad^t, &c., i.e. heap upon heap (of coins) does not
constitute happiness, nor field joined to field, however beautifuUy
the estate may round itself oflF.
184, 185. The two lines contain the reason why the mere
accumulation of wealth and possessions does not constitute
happiness,
The sons grow old as the father does, but vjithout enjoying the
present (of)ne bie jj^ube bcö ilageö), because the possessions do not
belong to them, and so they are harassed by care for the future.
186, 187. 2Bie f)err(i(^, &c., honv Jair lie the rieh broad lands
there.
The noun ©ebieite, which has been several times used by Goethe,
denotes an ' extensive field.'
£iegen . . . nic^t ba. The negative adv. ni(!^t used in German
affirmative exclamations is also occasionally so employed in
English.
189, &c. ffio an, &c. It has been pointed out that Goethe
slept in such a garret during his boyhood. Cp. Dichtung und
Wahrheit (C.P.S.), Book II, p. 53, 1. 16 n.
191. Senf i(^, &c. The verb benfen is used in poetry only with
I
114 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 192-231
the accusative case and without preposition. Cp. Iphigenie auf
Tauris, 1. 1765 n.
11. 192, 193. The adverb fe^on in this line need not be translated.
3Bemt bev, &c., i.e. when sound sleep for only a few hours quite
satisfied him.
196. 3<^ ciltbc()rc, &c., J/eel the <want of a ivi/e.
198. 2)ic S3raut, &C., to bring your bride to the homestead.
201. Slbcr mir, &c., i.e. she knew very well the truth of the
assertion she was going to make, and now it is confirmed by the
feeling of her own heart.
202-204. SScim bic, &c. Two things are required in order that
a man should make his choice resolutely. The right hour, i.e.
the right disposition, must be there, and the right maiden must
präsent herseif; otherwise the fear of choosing wrongly is para-
mount.
208. Xaö iHiti'iebeiie, the exiled one.
2)ic bu : the gender ad sensum, i.e. the natural gender, sounds
here far better tlian the grammatical gender. The same remark
applies to other instances in the present poem.
309. 3I)r [agt'e, // is as you say. This mode of affirmation is
Biblical.
210. Hub fiil)v' icf\ &c., and if I do not britjg her to niy home as my
bride.
215. @clro()iitc, \\QVQ familiär.
Sft mir. The verb is here used in the singular number becaiise
J^auö unb ©arten express property in general.
217-219. The pronominal adjective jegli^ is chiefly used in
Biblical and poetical diction, and the phrase lägt SJatcr luib
ÜKuttev 5unu"t cvidentiy contains a Biblical reminiscence. Cp.
Gen. ii. 24.
222. Eintreibt, for metrical purposes instead of the simple form
treibt.
228. Unbetvcgt, lit. ' unmoved,' seems here to stand for unbenjecjlic^,
immo'vable.
231. The adj. bvav» denotes with reference to women, according
to Grimm, tüditii}, irarfcr, i.e. deserving, worthy.
11. 232-248] NOTES. IV. EUTERPE 115
1. 232. .2c cntfdnct'cn, &c., i.e. however decisively he may have
rejected the idea of a poor daughter-in-law. Cp. II, 11. 180-185.
233. (Sr rebet . . . au^. The verb aiunctm denotes by itself to
speak, to utter or to say (cp. Grimm and Sanders), so it does not
seem necessary to assume that auö Stands here for l^erauö.
@av before manc^eö, matiy a thing, is a mere expletive.
234. Saä er, &c., <which after all he does not carry out, and tbus
he euen grants ^vhat he has refused.
The usual rule is to employ »aö after inanc&eö, but Goethe often
uses bat^, more especially when ntanc^eö refers to some definite
object,
237. The adv. wo is often used in German in the sense of wenn,
ivhen. llnb anbever, &c,, i.e. and calls in question the motives of
other people.
238. Sebentenb, of Import ajice. (S-J ic^ct, &c., i.e. wine stirs up all
the energy of his passionate disposition.
239. CBoKen differs widely from 3Bif(en, as it denotes mere
volition without any determined purpose.
Unb lä^t, &c., i.e. and does not allow him to listen to the words
of other people.
240. Unb fü^(t, &c., and is only conscious of himself.
9i[(cinc, the older form of allein, is here used for metrical reasons.
243. The diminutive Otänfc^c^en, denoting a slight degree of
intoxication, may here be freely rendered the excitement of the
lüine.
244. Sebfiaft is explained by Cholevius to mean in [einer ?ebl)afs
tijfeit.
245. QBiv ivagen, &c., i.e. \ve will venture it at once; only what
is boldly ventured prospers. Commentators quote here the pro-
verbial saying : ?5rifc^ gewagt ift fiatb jeteonnen.
247. Render here Ociillid}:, Pastor.
248. Ziij l)eben is used in poetical diction for \ii^ evfickn, and is
here employed for metrical reasons.
1 2
116 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [1. 2
!I)er SBeltbürger
The Pastor takes up a neutral position in the discussion between
the Landlord and his friends (vide Canto 111), and by refusing to
condemn either the adventurer who roves the world in search of
gain, or the husbandman who is content to stay in a sniall country
town, justifies Hermann's prefercnce [11. 1-38].
At this, Hermann enters with his mother, who proceeds to
remind her husband of their former conversation concerning the
marriage of their son, when they agreed to leave him a free choice.
New Hermann has made his choice in the person of a stranger
maiden, and swears he will never marry any one eise ; and her
son endorses her appeal [11. 39-55].
The Pastor remarks that Hermann has always been sensible in
forming wishes and steadfast in adhering to them. The cautious
Apothecary suggests that it would be as well to make enquiries
about the maiden among her former neighbours, and offers to
undertake the task himself. Hermann approvcs the Suggestion,
requesting the Pastor to accompany him, and praising the
maiden [11. 56-107].
The father consents to the plan, and Hermann, promising him
an excellcnt daughter-in-law before evening, hastens away to
harness the horses [11. 108-141].
He drives his friends to the village, whcre the emigrants are
resting, and stays by the horses while they go forth on their quest
after Hermann has described the maiden to them [11. 142-182].
The two friends reach the village just as a quarrel breaks out
among the emigrants. It is speedily quelled by the Judge, with
whom the Pastor enters into conversation, while the Apothecary
goes on to seek for the maiden [11. 183-244].
The sub-title 2)cv Sfficltbüvgcr, The Cosmopolitan, seems to refer to
the Judge appearing towards the end of the Canto, and to be
used in contradistinction to the designation 2)ic ^Bürger in Canto Hl.
Line 2. The expression gciftlidbcr ^cvr, fornied in contradistinc-
tion to iucltlic^er ■§crv, is to be rendered simply Clergynian, or here
Pastor, aöetm ffiivte, i. e. at the housc of the Landlord and in his
Company.
11. 4-43] NOTES. V. POLYHYMNIA 117
1. 4. 3)a3 ötcl, &c., i. e. which treated of the case in all its bearings.
5. äBüvbig gefilmt, nobly minded.
6. 2Btf( i^ @uc^, &c. The pron. @ucf> is generally assumed to
be addressed to the Landlord.
8,9. 3iim irenigilen : Stands here for tvenigftenö. 3!)enn neben, &c.,
i.e. Besides the impulse to strive after higher, or at all events
newer, objects, nature has endowed us with a desire to remain as
we are.
12. !?lf(er 3ufianb, &c. Goethe here qualifies the well-known
saying : * All that is, is good,' by asserting that every condition
that is natural and sensible is good. Cp. the poet's Dichtung und
Wahrheit (C.P.S.), p. 30, 1. 8 n.
15, &c. 9taftloö umgctvieten, restless ly driven about. Cp. for nm^
gctrieBcn IV, 1. 73 n.
17. ^i\iiS)xi, fasses o'ver.
The verb befahren may also be used with reference to streets.
Vide Grimm's Wörterbuch.
21. Sie (Svbe befovgt, culti'vates the land.
The expression bie (S'vbe bcfovgcn Stands here for the sake of the
metre, instead of baö gelb beforgen, which is the usual expression
for culti-vating the soil.
Stunben is here used, hke the primary meaning of the Gr. wpa,
in the sense of the seasons of the year.
22. DHc^t »evdnbext, &c., i. e. his sphere of action does not vary
like that of the explorer of land and sea, since the soil does not
change from year to year.
26. Render immer gleid^cn, unchatigeable, and graben, yMj/.
30. @in fc, &c., a mind thus fashioned (lit. ' attuned ').
31. Jpeil bem, &c., God bless the Citizen.
32. Sänbüd^ ©eitert), &c., i.e. who is farmer and burgher at the
same time.
33. 2)ec -Dvurf, &c., i.e. the bürden of anxiety which hems in
the husbandman.
35. SBenig üermcgcnb, luith limited means.
41. Render untercinanber, together.
43. Äeinf 'Sraut, &c., choosing his bride.
118 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 44-81
The word ''J?iaut still dcnotes in Gerninn, as did primarily its
English equivalent, ' a woman engaged to be married.'
11. 44, 45. Jpin unb, &c., i. e. they made all sorts of conjectures.
9Wit ettcrlid^cm, &c., lit. ' with parental talk,' i. e. as parents are
wont to talk.
46. The form fommeii was formerly used, not only as an Infini-
tive but also as a past participle without the prefix <\$, a practice
still retained in colloqiiial speech and in poetry.
48. (Sr fcfle, &c., that he should choose for himself.
55. !TJcin itnb, &c., i. e, his choice is a safe and pure one.
35ie WÜvbigjlc, &c., a most n.vorthy daughter.
The relative Superlative :s sometimes used in German poetry,
as in other languages, instead of the absolute Superlative.
57. Sag ®cit nehmen denotes to begin to speak. Gp. the French
' prendre la parole.'
58. The unabbreviated form ©ef^icfc is here used for the sake
of the metre.
62. 5ic&ciil)cv \v. befcenfcn, to take into considerat'ion secondary matters.
68. So unc, &c., as you may perchance have cherlshed it.
69. 2)enn bic, &c., i. e. the form in which we express our wishes
conceals their real objects.
71. Sieifeunen is here used in the sense of to misjudge.
There is no English equivalent for the verb vififcniicii, in its
various significations. Cp. the Fr. meconnaitre.
74. S)em bcv (ioblic^ftc, &c., i. e. in whose heart the sweetest desire
does not secretly pine away.
75. "semanb(cm) ctuiaiJ aufeljcu denotes to perceive anything from
someone s looks.
76. !'i^c(l^lbct fiHlleic^, &c., i. c. at once transforms the youth into
a man.
77. öeU^äticf», \iCTe fickle-mhided. SKcifa^jt Tslu", &c., if you refuse
htm th'is <ivish.
80. T!cm f^ou, &c., lit. ' whose speech was for a long time ready
to spring from his lips,' i. e. luho hadfor a long time beert burning to
put in a avord.
81. The expression 3)httcli"tvape, middle course., has its equivalent
11. S2-IIO] NOTES. V. POLYHYMNIA 119
in nearly all languages. Cp. among others the Lat. '/« media
tutisslmm ib'ts^
1. 82. The German saying @ile mit 2Öei(e, say hasten slo^uly^ corre-
sponds to the Lat. maxim ' festina lente ' and the Gk. aTrevSe
ßpaSeas. This phrase is attributed to the Emperor Augustus,
with whom according to Suetonius it was a favourite saying.
The word X'evnfe is the same as the Fr. 'devise ' and the Eng.
'device.' It was first applied to a division of a shield in which
some emblematical figure with an explanatory legend or sentence
was engraved. This motto alone was later on called ' devise.'
Cf. Kitchin's edition of Brachet's Etymol. Dictionaiy, sub voce
' Devise.'
83. <£i^ aufc^icfeu, to he ready to do anything.
86. Sa^t micf), &c., let me then goforth, i. e. where the maiden is.
89. 3Kit gefiüäelten, &c., lit. 'with ivinged ivords.
The expression gefilügeUo 9öovtc, coined after the Gk. enea
mepöema SO frequent in Homer and used in German with
a variety of meanings, seems to have been first employed by
Klopstock in his Messias. Cp. Grimm's Wörterbuch, sub -voce ijefilügelt.
92. Translate the law term uiiycnrerf(i($, unimpeachable.
93) 94- ®if ij^r &c., i.e. the maiden is no vagrant, nor one who
wanders about seeking adventures.
96. 5l((ücrbevHicf)en, all-destroying, destructi've.
98. 5lu0 bent, &c., has uprooted J'roni its foundation.
99, &c. (Streifen ni(^t, &c. In speaking of noble men of high
descent, who wander about in misery, the poet alludes, of course,
to the French emigres after the outbreak in 1789, among whom
there were royal princes and men of aristocratic birth, many of
whom repaired to Germany.
104. @i(^ breiten, in poetical diction instead of ftcfc \?erf)reitcii,
to spread.
108. Unb t(}at, &c., i. e. j/ffl/^/w^ signißcantly. Cp. for bebeutenb
IV, 1. III n.
109, HO. ÜÖic ift, &c., lit. 'how (greatly) is your tongue
loosened,' &c. The adv. f(f)cn refers to lange 3at)ve. <£tc(fen here
to sticky and bürftig rarely.
120 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [II. 111-142
II. III, I T2. ®cbrp^t ift, threatens ; bcn f)eft^eii, i. e. the impetuous
will.
113. 9U(ju gtUnb, too leniently, too indulgently. The expression
*l}artci nehmen is here used somewhat in the sense of to take a
hostile pari.
114. @ij 9el}t übcv jemanb ^ev denotes idiomatically a set is made
against.
115. ii6. 9Baö^ütf*cö? ivhat ivould be the uje ofit? The Land-
lord of course expects defiance (!lro^) from his son, and tears
(ü^ränen) from his wife.
117, &c. ®f()ct imb, &c., i.e. they should go and inquire, and if
the maiden proves worthy they should bring her in God's name
into his house as a daughter; but in case she should turn out
differently let Hermann forget her.
1 20. The verb befeueren originally implied a gift granted by God.
Subsequently it was applied to presents given at Christmas.
Possibly Goethe employed the verb here to denote that Dorothea
was sent thither by a divine will, bcing a ' ®otK^cfauttf.'
121. It)cm ein, &c., ivhose heart is filled ivith jotnid common sense.
125. The simple verb f^ivvcu may be used instead of the Com-
pound aufd^ivrcn.
131. fficicilic^ cvtcä^m, to consider prudently; eine 2a^c befpre(^cn,
to talk o'ver o matter.
1 32-141. The Homeric mode of description adopted in the
present passage has been fully dealt with by German com-
mentators.
134. !Daö Jpfu ^a\m\ is the agricultural expression for moiving
the hay.
140. ',Hb9emtfi'fn fnü)?ftfn, &C., they then by the proper ly measured
traces fixed to the spring tree-bar.
The cross-bar with carriages, See, is gencrally and appropriately
called SBagc, lit. ' balance,' and in some parts of Germany also
aSracfe.
141. X^ic vaf^c, &c., lit. 'the swift strength of the lightly
moving horses.'
J42. rann fn^, &c. The intrans. verb fi^en is often used in
11. 147-167I NOTES. V. POLYHYMNIA 121
German with a transitive meaning for fi(^ fe^en, to seat oneself, to
take ones seat. Cp, for !If)oinjeg I, 1. 20.
1. 147. Seigatt, &c,, i. e. he galloped uphill as he did downhill.
The swiftness of Hermann's proceedings is well emphasized in
the passage from 1. 132 to the present line.
151, 153. Render Jvüibiijm !Dunfe(, sokmn gloom, and mit Otafctt,
&C., a jpacious green common co-vered nvith turf.
154. Similar grass plots shaded by linden-trees, so much favoured
in Germany, are still frequently to be found near villages. They
are used as promenades and also as dancing-grounds on Sundays
and holidays. A similar common is described by Goethe in his
Dichtung und Wahrheit, Book I. (C.P.S.), p. 25, 1. 9 &c.
155. ^\<x^ gegraben, &c., there <was a shalloiv well under the trees.
The expression fiac^ gegraben is variously interpreted. Some
assume that the borders of the well had been dug flat, but other
expressions compounded with jiac^ seem to indicate that the bed
of the well itself was flat, er scooped out to no great depth.
157. Jsic immer, &c., say <ivhich constantly sentforth li'ving ivater,
The expression ' iiving water ' is also to be found in Scriptural
English. Cp. St. John iv. 10.
158, The simple verb faffcn may be used in the sense of einfaffen,
to enclose ; gu fdjc^jfen, &c., convenientfor dranving.
Such wells as Goethe describes here and elsewhere (viz. in
Werther s Leiden, Dichtung und Wahrheit) are still to be found in
some parts of Germany. This particular well is described at
length here, because later on (Canto VII), when it forms the
scene of the narrative, the action would be delayed by a descrip-
tion of the spot.
163. Unb mir, &c., i.e. if they teil him that the maiden is really
worthy of his hand, they will teil him nothing new and stränge.
164. .§ätt' ici^, &c. : i.e. 'if the matter had rested with him alone,
and had not depended on his father's consent,' &c.
166. 33cr allen, &c. : the verb erfcnnen is here used in the sense
of l)eraueifinben, tofind out ; denoting that the friends will recognize
Dorothea, i.e. be able to single her out before all others.
167. The noun 23ilt)ung, now generally used in the sense of
122 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [1!. 169-201
' culture,' was formerly employed for * external appearance,' shape,
form. Hermann wishes to imply that Dorothea was the most
bcautiful of all.
1. 169, &c. T)cr rote, &c., i.e. the red stomacher sets ofF her fine
figure ; fna^l) anüe^cii, tofit closely.
The noun 8a| is generally derived from the Ital. * laccio,' er
the Fr. ' lacet,' both being traced to the Lat. ' laqueus,' string,
Jace; but it seems rather to be derived from the original and
shorter French form ' lacs,' having the same meaning. Cp.
Kitchin's edition of Brachet's Etym. Fr. Dict.
171-173. Translate Sauber bat, &c., the top of her Chemisette is
plaited into a neat frill, and mit rcin(i(^cv Jlumiit, ivith neat grace.
Beigt ftrf) (1. 173), is Seen; jier(ic^ce (5ivunb, the graceful o-val.
174. @tarf fiiib, &c., i.e. her thick plaits are twisted many times
round silver bodkins.
176. Unb umfc^lägt, &.c.,ßapping round her as she ivalks.
The costume here described is that formerly worn in the
South of Germany and Alsace by the wealthier peasant girls.
177. 9Jod) Uliv, &c., / must ask for most particularly. The
Gxpression fi* etwa? cvbitten is more emphatic than um ctiraö bitten.
182. @id'. ctiras? au?bcnfou, to devise anything.
185. 35afitu flanb, j/00^ ö/o«^.
The scene here described is based, like several others in this
poem, on Goethe's reminiscences of the events related by him in
his Campagne in Frankreich.
186. i^evfcvcjcn, to attend to.
190. iDic gcfcnbeten, &c., lit. 'the scouts who had been sent.'
193. (Stävfcv T'anbcu, &c., i.e. the crowd soon became denser.
196. 3u ben, &c., to the ivrangling men.
198. The verb bänbigcn, like its English equivalent to tarne, is
properly used of animals reduced from a wild to a domestic State,
and fig. of passions subdued.
199, 200. Unö uutcrcinaubcv, &c., i.e. how to be tolerant one of
another. 9Bcnu au(^, &c., although not e-veryone measures his oiun
actions, i.e. although it is not everyone who acts with moderation.
201. Unrcvtiaglic^, &c., i.e. the prosperous are haughty and
II. 203-243] NOTES. V. POLYHYMNIA 123
quarrehome (uni.icitiäi3(ic{)) because they do not knovv what suffer-
ings are.
1. 203. ©cuuct cinatlbcv, &c., do not griidge eacb other the Space on
foreign seil.
205. Sßevtvägltcf), in coticord.
208. 3)cp fvembcn, &c. That the Speaker was the stranger judge
of the exiles could be inferred froni his authority over them.
210, 211. 2)af)uilckji is a more emphatic expression than Einleben,
to live on. ®ic llictt, &c., say ivhich opens its treasures far and ivide.
212. Cux 3a^ren, &c., i.e. annually and in certain months.
The noun Ü)Ji.nib is used in higher diction for the current
expression SDIonat, in which sense it is declined weak, vvhilst it is
streng when it applies to the moon, viz. 9)lcubeii, 2)tcubc.
2 1 4, &c. @ie, that is the people ; ift une, &c., is considered like
e'veryone eise.
216, ®cf)t ftiH, &.C., goes quietly on its course.
218. Umiini'^ten, to root up.
219. 35cnt ;lJaumc, &c., lit. ' from the space of the snug dwelling,'
say : Jrom the comfortable divelling-place.
220. (£c^tcpj>t in, &c., drags them into the ivilderness.
224. 2)er 3l^r, &c., luho have immediately calmed.
The personal pronoun is repeated for the sake of grammatical
distinctness.
227. 3)cnf' i^, &c., // seems to me.
230. Semcrft, here records.
The attribute gcmcitic in contradistinction to ^eilige denotes pro-
fane.
232. ©0 btängen, &c., thus the e'vents cro<wd tipon each other.
®efc^icf)teu, here events.
235. According to Grimm the GalHcism \vk aiibevu, ive others,
rather frequently used by Goethe, was introduced during the
eighteenth Century, in imitation of the Fr. ' nous autres.'
240. (Sagte be^enb . . . inö Dfir, nubispered quickly.
241. S^ve^t . . . nuv fort, only continue to speak; iiiib bringt, See,
and turnyour talk on the maiden.
243. dagegen, here in reply.
124 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA \\\. i-io
VI. Älio
2)n6 3«ita(ter
The Judge explains to the Pastor how bitterly he and his
fellow-countrymen had been disappointcd by the results of the
French Revolution [11. 1-80].
The Pastor suggests that great sufferings help to produce
heroism, and the Judge, while partly dissenting, adduces the
instance of an heroic action performed by a maidcn [11. 81-118].
The Apothecary has meanwhile identified the niaiden and
points her out to the Pastor, who is delighted. The Apothecary
recommends further enquiries [11. 1 19-167].
The Pastor questions the Judge about the maiden. The Judge
identifies her as the heroine of whom he spoke, and praises her
still more highly [11. 168-190].
After bestowing gifts on the Judge for the poor emigrants the
two friends return to Hermann, whom they find very despondent.
He resolves to woo the maiden in person, and the Pastor and
the Apothecary return home without him [19 1-3 16].
In this Canto the condition of affairs in Europe is discussed.
Hence the second title.
Line i. 2)cr ^cillUd^c ^cvr, simply the Pastor.
4. The Speaker apparently means that his people have tasted
the bitterness of all the years since the outbreak of the French
Revolution.
5. (Sc^rccflid^ev, &c., the more terrilly, i.e. the Germans feit the
bitterness the more terribly because, like the French, they also
had their hopes destroyed ^
8. V'llci ficf), &c. This line refers, of course, to the beginning of
the French Revolution.
9. Sllö man, &c. : an allusion to the * D^claration des droits de
Thomme, &c.,' decreed in Aug. 1789 at Paris by the Constituent
Assembly. The rights of liberty and equality were subse-
quently proclaimed.
10. '•^ecjeitlevnb, /«j^/W//w^ ; löhlxdi, praheivorthji.
' öome commentators assiimc that SdbrecfUc^cr refers to ^ai)tt, and
others that it relates to tiai Sittrc
11. 11-29] NOTES. VI. KLIO 125
11. 11-13. ©i^ fefbft, &c., to live/or h'tmself. Cp. 1. 25.
®ö fdiien, &c., i. e. it seemed that the bonds, which, drawn tight
by the hands of the idle and the selfish, were oppressing many
lands, were loosened.
14. 3n jenen, &c., in tbose stirring days.
15. Stac^ ber, &c. : Paris, always reckoned the 'Capital of the
World,' now deserved that appellation still more, as the birth-
place of freedom.
17, 18. 9Baven nic^t, &c. The Judge asks whether the names of
the heralds of the gospel of liberty (referring of course to such
men as Lafayette, Mirabeau, &c.) were not equal to the greatest
of those placed among the stars.
20. Unb \x>\x, &c., i. e. and we as neighbours were the first to
catch fire from their blaze.
21. 2)rauf begann, &c. This was in 1792.
^ranfe, poetical for gvan5cfc.
24. @te ^ijianjten, &c. The erection of trees or poles as Symbols
of the sovereignty of the people is traced back to the ancient
custom of holding public assemblies in open Spaces under a tree.
The liberty trees of the French Revolution were surmounted by
a red cap ; hence the epithet munter, gay. A sketch of a ' liberty
tree ' sent by Goethe to Caroline Herder will be found in Herder's
l^achlass.
25. Sebem bas, &c. The Convention had proclaimed theaboli-
tion of all feudal rights throughout Europe, so that the property
of all Citizens was entirely their oivn, and they were also promised
self-go'vernment (bie eigne Ölcgierung).
27. Um bic, &c. The expression ©tanbarte was originally used
for a ' Standard ' or ' flag ' of cavalry, and later on for a ' banner
of liberty ' and a ' church-banner.' ^
28. ®ie übewiegenben, lit. ' outweighing ' ; here prevailing.
29. 91luntrem beginnen, yoj-o«^ actions. The triple repetition of
the attribute 'munter' in the present passage (11. 24, 27, 29)
' Some etymologists derive the word Standarte from the German
(Etanb, and others from the Old French ' estandard/ traced to the Latin
' extendere.'
126 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 31-60
emphatically indicates the trait of gaiety which characterised
the French.
1. 31. 2)eei üielbcbürfcnben, ofthe much-exacting.
32, &c. 3)enn bie, &c.,for hope ho'vered round the future and drew
our glances toiuards nenv paths,
34. 33raut and Stäuti^am may here be rendered by their English
equivalents.
36, &c. 3n bcv, &c., i. e. in which the highest ideals which man
can conceive appeared close at band and attainable.
39. 33oI( f)o^cn (Sinne*,/«// of noble thoughts.
40-43. 9lber bcv, &c. In these lines the poet refers to the
Reign of Terror, when a depraved race, unworthy to create
what is good, was striving for mastery. They murdered each
other (jic cvmcvbetcn fi(^), oppressed those with wliom they had
fraternized, and sent forth a sei fish rabble.
44, 45. llnb cei, &c. The doings of high and low are here
admirably characterized by the position of the same expression.
The superior or great ones revelled and robbed on a large scale,
whilst the small ones robbed and consumed all, down to the niost
insignificant trifles.
49. !Da fiel . . . and) fclbft, &C. : these mastered ei'en temperate minds.
5 1 . 35er boV'pelt \ &c., i. e. doubly disappointed, of both the liberty
and the fratemal friendsliip they had expected,
52, 53. Unb eö, &c. The reference is to the expulsion by the
Prussians, as members of the First Coalition, of the French under
Custine from Mainz (July 23, 1793) after an eight months' occupa-
tion of the town.
56. %\i Uiäv' cv, &c., as if he ivere one of h'ts oivn people.
58. 2)enn er, &c., i.e. his only object is to escape death,
60. Unb eei, &c., i. e. despcration calls forth all the evil passions
from his innermost heart.
' The expression doppelt is variously interpreted. Some commen-
tators consider that it denotes ' in a high degree,' whilst others assume
the meaning to be that ' not only was the hope of better things dis-
appointed, but a worse State of affairs ensued.' The explanation given
above seems to me the simplest and most correct.
11. 69-108] NOTES. VI. KLIO 127
1. 69. Unb f($eu, &c., andfearhss and restless glances.
70. Oiaftloö nun, &c., ' unceasingly now resounded the clang of
the tocsin.'
©tünnenbe ©tocfe Stands here for ©turtnglorfe.
71. Itnb bie, &c. The future danger consisted in the possibility
of the retreating army returning as assailants,
72. griebtic^e Sfiüfiung : say peaceful implements.
The Word ÖJütlung not only denotes ' armament ' and ' armour,'
but also all requisites for the equipment of anything.
73. 3n 2öcl)rc, into nveapons. SBel^re denotes both de/ence and
lueapon.
The word ®QAti alone may be used for the Compound Jpcugabet,
75. Überaü rajlc, &c. This descrlption is historically accurate,
but Goethe may have been thinking at the same time of the
Dutch pursuit of the defeated French after the battle of Grave-
lines. Cp. Egmnnt (C.P.E.), p. 9, 1. 7 &c., and also note to
p. 8, 1. 26.
76, &c, 9Ki3(^t' ic!^, &c. This is an optative clause denoting :
* May I never see man again so vilely lad astray by bis passions ! '
79, &c. fioögebunben evfc^cint, &c., i. e. when restraint is removed
all the vileness that had been driven to hide in crannies comes
forth and meets with no check.
83. Render here Ööfcei, e'vil, and iicin Ivüflcn beginnen, /row the
lanvless doings.
92. The form überblieben for übergeblieben is Biblical and is
occasionally found even in modern prose.
94. Ovdbet i^m nac^, digs for it. The obsolete form grabet for
gräbt is here used for the sake of the metre.
103. äßäd^tig unb, &c., strong and endoived ivith presence of
mind.
Most commentators follow Cholevius in quoting Goethe's
epigram :
Siel' giettungömittel bietefi bu ! SBag l^eipt'ö?
S)te bejie O^ettung, @egenh)art beS ©eijiö !
105. Jpcdifterjig, here luith high courage.
108. (Sin itrupp, &c., i. e. a band of marauders.
128 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 1 10-163
1. 110. $)a6 99i(b, &c., i. e. the form of the handsome grown-up
maiden.
1 17. ürof no^, &c., smote four more of the robbers, but these, &c.
The obsolete form »icre for vier is here employed for the sake
of the metre.
120. 3m ®etnüt, in bis mind. The Pastor, thinking that Her-
mann's description of Dorothea fits the heroine of the Judge's
Story, is about to ask what has become of her.
124. Suvfc". to pull (by the sleeve).
The verb trifpern is allied to the English ivhisper.
127. iDaö SBeitcre, 1. e. further particulars about the maiden.
132. The word ?ßuppe (borrovved from Lat. ' pupa '), i.e.
* doli,' * puppet,' * figure,' is also used in German as an endearing
expression for a ' child ' and may here be rendered habe or
baby.
2Bi(fehi, here to sivaddle.
1 36. 2)iefe finb, &c., i. e. the presents he had noticed were
distinct proofs of identity, and in all other respects the girl's
appearance agreed with Hermann's description.
137-145. Cp. V, 11. 169-176 n.
143. <B\%\ üe, &c., i. e. although she is seated, one can never-
theless see her fine stature.
145. 9lei^(id^ ()cruntenvaf(t, in richfolds descending.
148. 3)Jit ©lirfen, &c., i.e. scanning the seated maiden with
keen glance.
149. The phrase C6 ift iniv fein ai>untcv is used in higher diction
in the sense of / do not ivonder ; I am not astonished.
150. (Sie l)ält, &c. The expression bie $robe galten is frequently
used like bie ^^robe bejieljcn, in the sense of to stand the fest.
152. 2)cnn ftc, &c,, i. e. bic rc^te ©ejlaU, the proper form.
15-1. 2Bcnn bie, &c., i.e. if only kindliness is joined to the
beautiful form, for cold beauty alone will not suffice.
158. (go ein, &c. Düntzer refers here to the well-known saying :
mens sana in corpore sano, Juvenal x. 356.
160. 'öebenfli(f», here doubt/ully.
163. (ä^' bu,* »ic. The populär German saying runs : Svau'
11. 164-195] Ä^OTES. VI. KLIO 129
Otiemanb, tu (jatefi teiui einen Scheffel (Salj mit i^^m gegcjfen, ' Trust no-
body tili you have eaten a bushel of salt with him.'
1. 164, &c. 2)i(^ tnacf^t, &c., i.e. time alone makes a person certain
in what relation he Stands to his new acquaintance and how the
friendship will endure.
166. 93ei guten, &c., make enqtnries among respectable pecple.
168. ^plgfiit, i.e. following the Apothecary, who, \ve presume,
had already started on his errand.
169. Scbcnflic^, here a serious matter.
171. 3n feinen, &c., in the course of his Business ; in the discharge
qf his duties.
172. 2)ei" finge, say the prudent.
176. \\m gefiel, &c., i.e. they were pleased with her appearance,
she seemed an excellent maiden.
177. SBaö 3^v unft, understand »on i^r.
Sluö IcBlic^cr, &.c.,/rom a good moti've.
179. 2Benn is here used in the sense of the original collateral
form toann, i. e. alei, ivhen.
180. 5)ie jene, &c., i.e. the maiden whom I mentioned.
182. S:^r fel)t, &c., i.e. in looking at her they see that she is
ä sturdy maiden (vüfttg geboren).
186. 9)Jit ilillem ®emüt, i.e. with quiet Submission.
190. ffiejlritt er, &c., hefought against.
Various persons are supposed to have served Goethe as a proto-
type of Dorothea's lover, but he was probably only describing a
type, without thinking of any individual. Such aspirations and
such a fate were common enough at the time. If Goethe
was thinking of anyone in particular, it was probably Dr. Adam
Lux^
195. 2)ent @cf)ut5en, &c., to the Judge.
The word @^ulje is contracted from (Sc^ultl)cije (©(^nlt^ei^
further on, 1. 214), i.e. a person who bids (^ei^t) people to do
^ M. Chuquet was, I believe, the first to conjecture that the prototype
of Dorothea's betrothed was Dr. Adam Lux of Mainz, who repaired in
1797 on a republican mission to Paris and was gnillotined there on
Nov. 4 of the same year.
130 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 19S-219
their duty or Obligation ((56u(b). Now the word ©d^utgc is
generally employed for a -village judge'^.
The noun ^fcnm^, denoting a small coin of somewhat varying
value, is also applied, like the English 'penny,' to any piece of
money.
1. 198. 9)?anc^cn Sl^cidr, say many a Shilling, or, retaining the
German expression, many a thaler.
The word %\)<x\ix derives its name from Joachimsthal, the
place where it was first coined. The former Prussian thaler
was equal to about three Shillings English money. The word is
here used for Ödb, hence the judge uses the pron. ci? in the next
line.
203-205. Sticmanb ineif, &c. These three lines give the reasons
why no one who has money should hesitate to give, and no
Wanderer in a stränge land should refuse to accept.
206. Render (Ei bcd), dear me, and c\i\dy\i{\%fussily.
208. ®io^ icic, &c., i.e. the largc coin as well as the small.
209. Uutcfc^cilft, &C., / ivill, hoive'ver, not let you go ivithout a
present.
The concise term uiibcfd^enh cannot be rendered into any
modern language, I believe, by a single equivalent. Cp. the
Eng. 'imcndowed' and the Lat. 'indotatus,'
211. Scutel Stands here for Xabafobeutcl, tobacco-pouch.
212. 2Boviu bcr, «S:c., in ^which he kept his tobacco.
The form S^cbaf (not !Eabaf) is the older one and has been used
by Goethe in his Faust, I, and in his Egmont.
213. Uub teilte, &c., i.e. he divided the contcnts of the poucb.
pfeifen, here pipesful.
216. The word Jlnaftev or .^anafiev is derivcd from the Spanish
canastro, i.e. rush-basket. Fine tobacco was packcd in rush-
baskets in South America, and the name of the receptacle was
transferred to its Contents.
219. ^cinli^, in suspense, anxiously.
' A fnrthcr note on the ctymology of (Sd^uljc will be found in
Lessing's Miinta von Barnhelm (C.P.S.), p. 23, 1. 8n. Cp. also
Goethe's Dichlnng und Wahrheit (C.I'.S.), p. 6, 1. 27 n.
11. 222-254] NOTES. VI. KLIO 131
1. 222. 3n ©cbanfcn ficf)en, to be lost in thought.
227. Scmaub tag SÖcrt iregncfimen, lit. 'to take the word from
anyone,' i. e. to Interrupt htm.
229. ®lücf fcir, &c., good luck to you and the ^j:ife of your youth.
Commentators refer the expression bcm 2Deite ter Su^enb to
the Biblical „ tfvcuc bic^ bc5 33ei6cg teiner ougenb." (Prov. v. 18.)
230. It is conjectured that Goethe uses the term n?cnbc in Order
to indicate that Hermann had already turned the carriage for the
return home.
232. 3}ie Oute is the usual epithet apphed to Dorothea.
234. The poet here uses the word ^ctc somewhat in the
Biblical sense, his message being ' heavenly and comforting.'
235. üJJit cüenbem, &c., lit. ' with a hasty vehicle,' say at füll speed.
238. SBoä nur, &c., that can afflict a lo'ving heart.
240. Slbcr jie, &C., but she luanders about in poverty and in
exile.
It is a fine psychological touch that Hermann only begins to
doubt the success of their mission when he is on the point of
taking the decisive step. On the subject of Dorothea's worth he
had never had any misgiving.
242. llnb fc, &c., i.e. the easily contented and active woman
has the whole world at her command.
243. Sitte, here virtue.
244. Um nie, &c., i.e. without attracting some worthy youth.
246, &c. Siö ^inan, to that place, i.e. where Dorothea was.
ÜÖiv möchten, &c., i.e. they may have to turn their horses tamely
homewards.
248, &c. !Die Iracfeve, &c., she has promised her brave hand and
pledged her troth to the happy man.
The expression bie .§anb ein[c6(agen denotes ' to give one's hand
as a sign of agreement,' ' to give a solemn promise.'
253. (£0 hjären, &c., i.e. we should not have fallen into such
a difficulty in olden times.
254. 9^ac^ feiner, &c., 'u^as conducted in its o^iVn manner. What
the right manner would have been in Hermann's case, the
Apothecary describes in the following passage.
K 2
132 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [II. 255-281
1. 255. Jpattcn bie, &c. The reflective verb ji^ (dat.) crfel^eu
denotes to single out a person or thing for one's benefit, to
sehet.
256. @iu Svciiiib, &c. The familiär expression vcm §aufe is
more appropriate here than the gcnitive bcö ^aiifci? would be.
SSevtrauüt^ gfiufctt, called in confidentially.
257. A jyrcicv^mami denotes either the wooer himself, or more
generally the person who wooes for another, a very difTerent
personage from the mcrcenary marriage-broker.
258. 5n |lattlid)cm ^u^e, in stately attire.
261. 3" tenfen, &c., to tum and direct.
262. iJlac^ langem, &c., aßer much roundabout talk.
264. 2)ci: Hugc, &c. Note the effective repetition of the epithet
flu^e in this line.
265. 9Kcvfte bcn, &c., i.e. very soon discerned the bent of their
inclinations.
266. .ßovb, say refusal.
The phrase einen .Sorb geben or einen Äorb befomnten (fxc^ Idolen),
denoting respectively ' to give ' or ' to receive a refusal,' is gener-
ally assumed to have arisen from the usage in former centuries
of presenting a basket, generally bottomless, as a symbol of re-
fusal to a rejected suitor. Subsequently the phrase was applied
to a refusal in general \
267. 5lber gelang, &c., but if it (i.e. the negotiation) really came
to anything.
275. The phrase fei cö, &c., is generally translated be that as
it may,
3f)m is here the dative of cö and is somctimes replaced in this
phrase by bent.
277. ©clbcr, &c. Hermann's assurance (V, 1. 129) that he would
not see the maiden tili she was his own was cvidently only meant
as a pledge not to seek her until his father's friends had sanctioned
his suit.
281. ©oH xS), &c., even ij I am.
* Some interesting Information on the above phnse will he found in
the JVörterl'üche)- oi Gnmm, Sanders, and Moritz Heyne.
11. 287-310] NOTES. VI. KLIO 133
1. 287. 2tkr lapt, &c. Understand here and in 1. 290 the verb
ge'^en after a((ciii.
292. ®e{)' i^, &c., i.e. he will return home by a short cut. iTie
!Evautc, say my belo'ved one.
293. Sveubig unb, &c., might bring home . . .joyjully and swjiftly
(as my bride).
Some editions read ifjn fü()vte for ^eitnfu^rte.
294. Unb Betrete, &c. Critics have been much exercised as to
the Pastor's suppression of the information he has received
(11. 186-190) concerning the death of Dorothea's first betrothed.
Some hold that Goethe was anxious to postpone this catastrophe,
some that 11. 186-190 were inserted when the poem had been
completed, while others maintain that the messengers had for-
gotten the important fact. But it seems simpler to suppose that
the Pastor's mouth was closed first by the Apothecary's loquacity
(11. 251-2) and again by Hermann's impetuous resolution, or the
Pastor may have thought it better that Dorothea should teil her
own tale ^ Gp. IX, II. 254, 255.
298. 9l6cv bu, &c. Here and in 1. 302 Goethe has resource to
the Homeric usage of apostrophizing the personages appearing in
his epic. Cp, also VII, 1. 173.
300, 9l6er Selb, &c., but body and bones are not. The verb is here
used in the singular number because Scib unb ©ebein form one
notion, i.e. the physical body.
301. üöenn bic, &c. This is a satirical allusion to the desire of
the clergy to arrogate secular authority to themselves.
303. ©nfe^en denotes to take one's seat (in a vehicle). ©etroji,
here <u}ithout fear.
305. 3!)ie füufitic^ftc, &c., to manage the moit difficult turning.
306-310. S)enu toir, &c. The plural is often thus used in con-
versational German instead of the singular.
The poet has here gratefully immortalized his memorable
sojourn at the University of Strasburg from 1770 to 177 1, so
charmingly described in Book IX of his Dichtung und Wahrheit.
' Düntzer explains the difficulty in much the same fashion.
134 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [VI, 307-VIl, 4
1. 307. ?ll0 \i), &c. The Pastor, like most young theologians, had
formerly acted as tutor.
308. 2)aö ^aümbc, &c., through the echoing gateiuay.
310. ÜKitten tuvd), &c. This line is rendered through cronuds qf
people ^vho spend their lifetime in ^Walking. Seil !£aij leben is a poetical
phrase for to ' spend one's life.'
Commentators generally quote here the following passage from
Goethe's Autobiography (Book IX): — !l)ic StvaPuräcr finb Icibcns
f(^aftlid)e S^jajicvgänger unb fie fjaben Jvoi^l vcc^t cö ju fein.
311. §a(b getvcllet, S2Ly partly reassured.
312. 3um tueiöUdicn, &c., ready for the cautious (Ht. 'prudent')
leap.
VII. grato
On his vvay to the village, Hermann meets Dorothea going to
fetch water and enters into conversation with her [II. 1-36].
She asks the reason of his coming ; he replics that he wishes
her to take service with his parents. They return to the barn
where the sick woman is lying, and Dorothea informs her friends
of Hermann's öfter and her acceptance of it [11. 37-170].
The Judge conimends Hermann's choice, and Dorothea takes
leave of her friends and accompanies Hermann to his home
[11. 171-204].
Lines 1-4. 9Bic ber, &c. This is a well-known optical pheno-
menon : ' when a man has been gazing at the fast-setting sun, he
still sees its image fioating before him in dark places such as the
dusk of a thicket or the shadonv of a rock : it flits before him ivher-
cver he turns his eyes, quivering and g/ittering ivith gorgeous tints '.'
I. ©eruianbcvnbe SJJann = tev 2yanbevcr. This is the only exten-
sive simile which Goethe has introduced into this poem. His
grounds for abstaining from such figures will be found in a letter
to Schiller, Dec. 23, 1797 ^
' Goethe has treated this subject scientifically in the opening para-
graphs of his Farbenlehre.
' Goethes PVerke, 12. Band : Briefe, p. 384, 4.
II. 6-52] NOTES. VII. ERATO 135
1. 6, &c. So bc»i>cgte, &c., i. e. the lovely form of the maiden
glided gently past him and seemed to follow the path through
the corn-field.
8. The participle ftauncnt is here used factitively in the sense of
Staunen eitegcnb, causing astonbhment.
1 3. !£ragenb in, &c., carrying a jug in each band ; gcfc^äftig, briskly.
14. %\)X Slublict, the sight of her.
15. 3u feiner, &c., to the astonhhed maiden. For this substantival
use of a participle cp. infra (VIII, 1. 59), feine SBertriebne.
18. 2)u a((ein, &c.,you, only, ivhile the others, &c.
The masculine form Üluefl is used instead of the more usual
bie Cuefic for the sake of the metre.
23, (S^irac^, &c. In German poetry the personal pronoun is
often omitted. See 9Öcg, my walk.
26. @uve ^{\{li,your charity.
30. (5ö f)aben, &;c. A reminiscence of the poet's own experience
during the Campaign in France, at a camp near Pillon, in
August, 1792.
32. @(ei(^, immediately.
36. t2^nef( and rafc^ correspond to the English quickly in the
senses of soon and hurriedly respectively.
37, &c. Goethe describes just such another well in his Werther' j
Leiden (Bk. I, May 12).
SBav . . . t)inunter . . . gelangt, ' had descended.'
41. Unb jic, &c., i.e. 'and they saw their reflected Images
moving in the blue of the sky, as they nodded to each other,
with friendly greetings, in the mirror.'
44. a3ertvaniic^, cojily.
50. 3^r . . . 5U f}?vcc^cn. With the verb fpvec^cn (i^on) the prep.
ju may be omitted before the pron. of address.
51. ©dctte nic^t, &c. The verb bticfen may be used transitively,
like its English equivalent, in such combinations as Siebe, 3orn, &c.,
blicfcn, ' to lock love, anger,' &c.
52. 3lbev I)c((cn, See. The conj. fcnbevn would sound common-
place here : besides, the clause does not express an absolute
contrast.
136 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA \\\. 54-93
1.54. 3)?cin .ßinb. The cordiality of Dorothea'sspeech(ll. 46, 47)
emboldens Hermann to use this endearing expression.
55. 2Ba(J, ivhy.
57. (^vXiX,possessions. %<x\Xio\Xi\\, to manage.
60. SSctcbt im, &c., lit. animates the household generally. The
meaning is that Hermann's mother is the lifc and soul of the
household.
61. The coUective noun baei ©efiubc is equivalent to äokj("/jo/<^ in
the sense of all the servants.
62. Untreu', clided for Untrcuc,/ra«^.
63. Unb 8^ct)Ier, &c., to exchange one fault for another.
67. 3n froI)CV, &c., luHh cheerful dexterity.
68. fl)te Siodc, &C., the perfect soiindness.
72. 2Baö jic, &c. Hermann does not make Dorothea a distinct
offer of a post in his parents' household, which would have been
an absolute deception ; he only leads her to infer that such is his
meaning.
73. <S(^cuct cuili, &c. The change in the mode of address is
significant. Hermann throughout the interview uses the second
person singular : Dorothea, at first, employs the more formal
plural (1. 26, &c.) ; after drawing the water, the advance in their
intimacy is marked by her adoption of the singular (11. 46, 47) ;
but, as soon as she understands that she is to enter his scrvice,
she reverts to the plural.
!Daö ÜBcitvc, &c., to teil (me) the rest.
74. 3c^ t)ab' €8, &c., I feel grateful for the offer.
76. The straightforvvard, practical Dorothea calls things by
their right names. iDingen, to hire.
77. 3u ttevfcf)cn, &c., to manage the house nuhich Stands there in
excellent order.
78. !£üd)ti9ce, &c., capable.
79. Unb nic!^t, &c., and not of a coarse disposition.
84. ©ic übrigen, &c., the rest ivill also make their appearance.
85, &c. 9U(c benfen, &c., all think, ofa surety, to return home shortly.
87. Seicht as an epithet to Hoffnung dcwoiesfalse, delusive.
93. fflaubcvnbeö, roT'/n^; \^\v0i\\tix(iifü,\, doubtful.
II. 97-146] NOTES. VII. ERATO 137
1. 97. QBiflijcn, cotisenting, acquiescing.
100. The expression nur bort erjl, there only, is somewhat pleo-
nastic.
loi. 5lc^ ! unb ben, &c. The sight of the golden engagement
ring strengthens Hermann's suspicion that Dorothea is already
betrothed. Cp. VI, 11, 243-245.
107. Unb füpcö, &c. Possibly imitated from Homer, //. iii, 446 :
S)S (reo vvv epafiai Kai /ie yXvKvs lufpos alpe'i, which is translated by
Voss : aöic i^ jcgt bic^ liebe unb fü^eö ^jertan^cn ergreift mic^.
III. (Sä trägt, &c., i.e. the better a bürden is balanced, the
more easily it is carried.
113. ^iUuUiä), harä, Aarsb.
116-17. Soc^ in 1. 116, aßer all', in 1. 117, indeed.
119. ©Raffen, arranging.
1 20. Sauer is used figuratively, like the English ' bitter,' for hard.
125. (Säugling, babe\ bie Äianfcubc, the patient.
The verb franfeu, ' to be ill,' is now only used in higher diction.
Cp. IX, 1. 138 n.
126. (Si(^ Raufen, here are added.
127. SWiinjig 3}iänner, &c. Twenty with Goethe, as Cholevius
seems to have been the first to remark, often Stands for an
indefinite number. Cp. the same usage in Homer.
128. (Sinfefin, to admit (acknowledge).
130. The expression 'bie iSenne ber S^eune,' lit. 'the threshing-
floor of the barn,' indicates that the patient lay on the floor.
131. ©ie fte, &c., 'zvhom she had left, in the Company of her
daughters, in a cheerful mood,
132. 3enen geretteten, &c. Cp. VI, 11. 108-18.
139. 9^reunbUd^, cordially. Dorothea is here, for the first time,
, mentioned by name.
144. @äuerU(^ trar'ö, i. e. the water was acid. Cp. 1. 20.
145. 25a verfe|te, then remarked. Apparently Dorothea spoke in
answer to the thanks of her friends, as iH'rfe|en always means
* to reply.'
146. &c. ©c^l, ' presumably.' 2)af i(^, &c., that I raise the
pitcher to your Ups.
138 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [II. 149-202
1. 149. 2)er ÜJu^, &c., enjoy repose and (the water of) the clear
founta'in.
Gucflcn may possibly be the genitive Singular, according to the
old form of declining feminine substantives in the singular number.
150. üJJeiii is the old form of the genitive of id^.
152. 2Baö i()V, &c., all the good-^zvill you ha-ve shonxjn me, I shall
acknoiuledge all my life.
155. 3m fvcmbcn Satibe, &c. Cp. note on Sluötanb (II, 1. 23).
158. ©iofcv fontmt, &C., he has come to invite me to h'is house.
166. !Dvücfct 3(}v, &c., i. e. if the mother clasps the babe to her
heart in these coloured wrappings.
168. ©ie Qim, your/riend.
172. 2)cö Scgciiö ©clifvfl maybe rendered the ivhispered bless'mg.
174. SBiftig feib 3(}V, &c., you may rightly be counted amotig, See.
3Birt = .^aii^iinvt, master of the house.
175. S^ücfltig, competent; bcbad^t finb, are bent lipon.
179. Suri^ hllfc^ee, &c., through fraiiduknt conduct.
180. 5)iefen nimmt, &c., he is engaged, just by chance and at
random.
184. Semanb lttof)l ^attfti, to treat anyone cvuell ; fc lancj' jtc . . . jl^
annimmt, as long as she managfs.
191. ÜBcim auö, &c., if the master should become a bridegroom she
ivill be providedfor.
194. ISJcbl)aft gcfvväc^ig, luith Hvely talk.
196, &c. giften . . . i^r in bie Kleiber, caught hold of her clothes.
198. ?lbcr ein' unb, &C., but one and atiother of the ^<omcn^ i. 6.
some of the women.
The use of the feminine gendcr with Sßcibcv is quite permissible
and more appropriate than the neuter wouid be.
201. \'(tii bcv, &c. According to the populär story, still current
among German children, it is the stork which brings new-born
babies to their future homes, together with sweetmeats from the
confectioner (3ucfevbä(fcr) for the other children.
202. The word 2)cutc, which is also found elsewhcre in Goethe's
writings, is applied to ' papcr-bags,' or the funncl-shapcd screws
of paper sometimes employed by grocers. The commoner forms
VII, 204-VIII, ii] NOTES. V/IL MELPOMENE 139
of this Low German word are £)ütc and %\\iz. See Grimm and
Sanders, sub iwce ©cutc.
1. 204. llnb ben, &C., and from the sight of the handkerchiefs
luaving at a dutänce.
Dorothea kept looking back at her friends who were waving
their farewells.
VIII. Ü}?cI:pomcnc
.^ermann unb X>orot^ea
On the way Dorothea questions Hermann as to his parents,
and he replies that his lather has a weakness for the outward
signs of politeness and afFection [II. 1-36].
Dorothea rejoinsthat she has learnt politeness from the French
and hopes to satisfy his father in this respect, but she wishes to
know how she is to treat Hermann himself [11. 37-51]-
They have reached the large pear-tree and they sit down to
rest, while Hermann bids her follow the promptings ot her own
heart. The gathering storm wams them to continue their journey,
and they proceed through the vineyard [11. 52-104].
Hermann and Dorothea are the personages with whom this
Canto is concerned, hence the second title.
Lines 3, 4. 9tuö bem, &c., radiantly shedding, ivitb fiery glances,
through its veil, a portentous light cnier the landscape.
The word 58Hcf, originally used in the sense of 'a flash of
lightning,' is elsewhere employed by Goethe in its present sense.
Cp. the history of the English word * glance.'
5. aSettev, alone, sometimes bears the meaning of Umrctter, a
storm. Cp. 'tempestas' in Latin.
6. Sc^Icpcn is generally rendered ' hail,' but it more nearly
corresponds to the English ' sleet.'
The Sc^lc^en, which usually precede the thunder-shower, are
smaller than the hail-stones of regulär hail (■^agel).
7. Söanfeubcn, iva'ving.
8. 2)aö bie, &c., i.e. which grew almost as high as the tali figures
passing through.
1 1. 2)ac§ unb %ad), say house and shelter. 25ac^, lit. ' roof,' denotes
140 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA i\\. 12-47
fig. shelter, and 5ac^, compartment or enclosure ; hencc the allitera-
tive cxpression !I)ac^ uut 5ac^ for house and home, or home and shelier.
Dväut, poetical for bro^t.
1. 12. ©a^ct mir, &c. The object of fa^cn is not immcdiately
stated until 1. 17.
16. Unb auf, &c., and upon zuhieb he has firmly set bis mind.
20. Sic^ bcfiagcn, formerly used in the sense of to inqu'tre,so\xnds
more dignified than ftc^ crfunbigcn.
22, 23. (£ic^ annc()mcn, to attend to. Unb fo, &c., and, in the same
auajf, buiy <witb.
24. ©ic irupt' eö, &c., i.e. ' my mother knew how to value
my industry.'
26. 9l(ö lucnn, &c., as if you managed your oivn bousehold.
27, 5lbcr bfm, &c., i.e. she will not appear in the same light to
his father, because he does not value earnest work for itself.
29. cnt()ü((eu, here to ren^eal (the character of).
30. Jyiei, i.e. ivithout restraint.
32. ?tbcv bu, &c., but you ivinfull confidence froni my heart.
33, &c. (Einige 3icrbc, &c., i.e. Hermann's father is fond of
external observance, and likes to receive outward marks of
respectful afFection.
37, &c. 3ugteid^, &c., i.e. ' at the same time quickening her pace
to swiftness, in light movement, along the darkening path^'
The verb buiifctu for ' to grow dark ' is not unconimon.
40. !Denu bev, &c., ' for your mother's disposition rescmbles my
own character.'
41. ^i^cnibc is substituted for the later and morc usual form
fremb for the sake of the metre.
42. Sn i^rcu, &c., that is to say before the Revolution.
43. 93icl galten auf, to attach great importance to.
46. ÜJJit Jöänbcfüffen, &c., with kissing of hands and curtseying.
47. ScgcnöWiinfc^c, plous nuishes ; unb gleiten, &c., and remalned
'well-beha'ved the luhole day ; fittli(^, formerly used in the sense of
' '.She douhled her quicker steps' is an example of the figure
' Prolcpsis.' Dorolhca's Steps were not quicker until aftei she had
doublcd thcrn ; yet thcy arc calied ' quicker ' proleptically.
11. 49-8o] NOTES. VI 11. MELPOMENE 141
fittig (as here), ' mannerly,' is now generally employed in the sense
of ' moral.'
1. 49. S5?ai? fon, &c,, all that my heart prompts. !Dcm 5llten, ioyour
Rüther.
Goethe speaks in his Sprüche in Prosa of a .^cfHd^feit bcö ^evjcnö.
50, &c. 5lber ivcr, &c. Dorothea, to avoid laying too great
emphasis on the fact that Hermann, the only son, is to be her
future master, puts the question in an indirect form : iver fagt
wir, &c.^
Note also the recurrence of the familiär S)u.
54. 93öf(iä befcerft, &c., the last glimmer qf sunshine ivas entirely
shrouded.
55, &c. Itnb fo, &C., and thus lay before them, in contrasted
masses, lights shining as bright as day and the shadoivs ofdark nights.
9täc^te is used in the plural for Oiac^t, and bunfeUr for bunfter; for
the sake of the metre.
57. ®crn, ivith pleasure.
59. 2)er woi), See, which, that very day, had ivitnessed his tears
for the exile fwhom he loved. Cp. IV, 11. 53-64.
64. (Sin Stein, &c., to hasten a No, i.e. ' to precipitate a refusal.'
68. @r, i.e. ' the glorious light of the moon.'
70. W\ä:i beliebt, &c., methinks, I could count.
71. ®ef)attene, reser'ved.
72. SJliebev, doivn.
73} 74- ?ift meinem, &c., is that ofmy room.
SBtv t*cränbcvn, &c., 'lue are making chatiges in the house.
76. §tcr im, (SlC, i.e. next day, when the harvest is being reaped,
they will enjoy their mid-day meal there, in the shade.
78. @ö rürft, &c., the hea'vy storm is approaching.
79. SBetterloiii^tenb, &c., sending forth summer lightning and about
to hide (lit. * swallow ') the lo-velyfull moon.
80. Itnb tranbedetl, &c., andjourneyed do<wn along thefield.
SSanbetn, poetically for geljen.
^ Commentators are concemed to justify what they call the ' boldness '
of Dorothea's question, but there is no ©reifligfett whatever in her
naive query, if considered in the above light.
]42 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [II. 81-104
1, 81. ÜWäd^tiflc, luxiiriant (lit. 'powerful').
82. 3tiö 2)uufe(, /«/o the darkness. Cp. IV, 1. 27 &c., for a de-
scription of the 'shady and well-covered walk' which they
now traversed.
88. 3^a«J übcv, &c., <who hung over htm.
As they went down, Hermann was always a Step below
Dorothea, who had her hands on his Shoulders (1. 85).
89. 'Bk'xOfifoot-path, is a not uncommon form, allied to Stcj and
Stieg.
90. ^t\){it tretenb, &c., ' missed the path in treading,' i. e. lost her
footing.
@Ö fnacftc, &c., her ankle turned, and she <would ha've fallen.
91. The past participle gewanbt is generally explained as standing
for ge\ucnbct, having turned round.
Sinnig, thoughtful.
94. 'iBcm crnikn, &c., restrained by h'ts firm resolution. 93änbigen
is used in poetry for bc^cnfi^cn, bejä()men. Cp. Goethe's Jphigenie
aufTaurh (C.P.S.), 1. 193 n.
95. (Sv ftcmnitc, &c., he braced himselj against the biirden. (Si(^
llemmen gegen etwaö denotes ' to lean against anything with force.'
97. 9ln feinen, &c., 'exhaling over his Ups.'
98. 2!rug mit, &c., and supported the heroic ma'iden nvith manly
feeling, i.e. he bore up the maiden, herseif a heroine, with the
strength and self-control of a man \
100. SBebcnfüc^e, super Jtitious.
Stumbling at the threshold when entering a housc is, in all
countries, popularly regarded as an omen of ill.
102. Jpätt' irf), &c., surely I could hai'e ^ishedfor, &c.
104. llnb ein, (S:c.,_>ok should be considered a poor manager.
' The expression .^elbcngvöpe bcö il>eibeö is evidently used here
metonyniically and not physically.
11. i-iS] NOTES. IX. URANIA 143
IX. Urania
After invoking the Muses, the poet describes the anxiety with
which Hermann's return is awaited. The Apothecary describes
how his father cured him of impatience, but the Pastor takes
exception to the method [11. 1-54].
Hermann appears with Dorothea. He takes the Pastor aside
to explain that he has engaged Dorothea as a servant. The
father greets her as his son's betrothed, much to her Indignation.
Hermann appeals to the Pastor [IL 55-107].
The Pastor teils her that a servant must put up with such
treatment. Dorothea confesses her liking for Hermann and
announces her Intention of leaving the house [11. 108-181].
Hermann's mother detains her, and an explanation ensues.
Dorothea accepts Hermann as her betrothed. The Pastor, pro-
ceeding to the ceremony of betrothal, expresses his surprise that
the maiden already wears a ring [11. 182-255].
Dorothea explains that her former betrothed feil in Paris a
victim to the French Revolution. Hermann renews his vows
of protection and expresses his resolve to do his duty as a German
at the present crisis [11. 256-318].
In this Canto the prospect is held out of a happy future for the
hero and heroine as w-ell as for their fatherland ; hence the
second title.
Line i, &c. An epic would be incomplete without an invocation
of the Muses, but Goethe is pecuhar in inserting his near the end
of the poem and in asking them, not, as is customary, to aid the
poet, but to unite the lovers — a labour they are not usually
expected to undertake.
5. ^teilen, to disperse ; fi(^ l)crauf;icf)n, to gather.
8. Sor^tic^ Stands here for befcrgt, anxiously.
10. 95om SlU^enbleiben, &C., of the staying aivay, of the long
absence.
16. Unruhig, here anxious.
17. The word fcUcj, ' blessed,' is usually prefixed to the names
of dead people in the sense of late, sainted.
1 8. 5äöd^en, the dim. of gafc [m. and/.), fibre,ßlament (of plants).
144 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 19-60
is here employed instead of jJ^Kvc^en, the dim. of the more usual
5afev, for the sake of the metre.
1. 1 9. @rh?artcn is here used in the sense of »vavtcn. Sie feiner, i.e.
as no philosopher ever did.
20. The noun Jlimftftücf is here used somewhat ironically for
expedimt, artifice.
24. 3um Snmneii, prcsumably to the well referred to in V, 1. 155,
VII, 1. 13, &c.
30. The impersonal phrase eei 5U tt)ciic^t betreiben (or treiben)
denotes to beha-ve toofoolishly.
31. 93ebcnflicf)cn, here jcr/Wj.
34. Unb fc, &c., i.e. and so it will go on from carly morning
tili evening through the busy hours.
36. ©id^ regt, bestirs h'imielf luith bis ivorkmen. ©efeKc means
properly 'journeyman.'
38. 3)aö bretternc, say the ivooden.
40. (Sin briitfcnbeö, &c., a heaiüly pressing roqf, r.e. the earth.
41. jm ©cific, in my m'ind.
44. Kennen anbcve, &c., noiu ivhen others run abottt ivildly in
uncertain expectation.
46-54, ?äd)clnb facjte — »cllenbe. The Pastor contcnds that the
idea of death, though sad, has neither terror for the wise, whom
it only rouses to keener activity, nor finality for the pious, whose
hopes in atfliction look beyond it. Thus to both these classes of
men death does really become life. The Apothecary's father
was wrong in emphasizing the extinction in death to a sensitive
child. We should rathcr show the young the nobility of ripe
old age, and the old 'the vigour of youlh,' that both may rejoice
in the never-ending cycle of life which thus perfects itself ^
57. See for 33ilbum3 V, 1. 167 n.
60. SKit jiiegcnben, &iC., ivith hasty ivords.
* This passage has been fully paraphrased above, not only because it
is often misunderstood, but also because it forcibly illustrates the pott's
SebeneanTdiauunfl. It may be addcd that the lines 46-49 werc inscribcd
in gilt lettering above the opcn curlains that hung in the hall whire
the poet lay in state, separating the spectator from the cofiin.
11. 6r-93] NOTES. IX. URANIA 145
11. 61-64, ^icv ift, &c. Hermann's introduction of Dorothea is
rather ambiguous. It may mean that he presents her to his
parents as their future daughter-in-law or as their servant.
63. 9k(^ bcm, (Src, of all that concerns the household.
64. @'uc^ näf)er, &c., to become more closely connected <with you.
The idiomatic use of the verb »erben is very extensive. Here
it is employed in analogy with phrases like einem gut or X\i\)
werben.
66. SSürbigcf, &c., re'verend. 93cfcrgniö may here be rendered
trouble.
67. The verb [c^aubern is here by no means too strong, con-
sidering that Hermann assumes that his whole happiness depends
on the successful Solution of the difficulty.
69. 3u geTjn, to enter, or rather to come to.
77. 2)Jit befiaglic^er, &c., complaisantly, ivith k'md Intention.
79. il)er feiner, &c., in his time, i. e. when he was young.
©cwiefen sounds here more dignified than betoiefen.
81. 2)ai3 SJJüttcvd^en, &c., i.e. it was our dear little mother
here.
The v/ord 3Kütteici^en is used in German as an endearing ex-
pression.
83. 2Betc^cä ©eifteä, &c., ivhat manner of man he is (lit. 'what
manner of spirit he is of), and 'whether he Jeels his oivn ivorth.
Cp. for the first clause St. Luke ix. 55. The phrase fid^ eigenen
has a more poetic sound than the customary feinen eigenen.
86. Ji^cvte, &c., only half caught his ivords.
90, &c. äWit fÜegenber, &c., a fugitive blush co'vering her cheek
and neck.
The p.p. übergoffen is cited as an example of the use of an
absolute participle in German, the verb ()afcenb being understood.
91. Jpielt fle, &c., but restraining and collecting her seif.
According to Düntzer the word <m is here not a preposition
but an adverb standing for guvücf.
93. The affirmative interjection traun, truly, indeed, is derived
from the INI.H.G. 'entiimven' (abbrev. 'triuiren'), i.e. in !£teucn
(corresponding to the Engl. ' i' faith,' ' forsooth ').
I.
146 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 94-1 iS
^öcvcitct instead of the fuller form t>crbcicitet.
1. 94. 9lrt, here disposition, manners. ©cm gclntbctcn, &c. (I. 95),
the man of culture.
100. Undcrstand the adverb \vni,far, before entfernt.
102. 35aö mit, &c., i.e. 'he house, being providcd with every
conifort, makes its inhabitants self-confident (gett.n§).
103. Slber id^, &c. Dorothea asserts that, though fuUy conscious
of her own worth and dignity, she quite realizes the difference
between her and Hermann's parents.
104. 3u treffen, here to assa'tl.
107. ©ic^ inö 5)Jitte( [dalagen (or legen) is an idiomatic exprcssion
for to interpose.
109. ®cf)a[tcncn, repressed, iuppressed.
110. Sa bcfal)(, &c., then bis spirit mo-ved b'im.
112. 11 nb er, &C., i. e. and he addressed her ivith fwords intended
to try her.
The verb ^»erfud^en is here used in the sense of to test, to prove.
113. D SWäbd^en, &c., lit. 'Oh maiden from abroad,' say thou
foreign maiden.
The usual interpretation of the Pastor's speech as a reminder
to Dorothea of her helpless condition is quite out of keeping with
his humane character. I rather think that he intends to empha-
size her inexpcrience by dilating on the importance of the agree-
ment she has too hastily concluded.
115. ®a^ c^, &C., ivhat is meant by.
116. !l)enu ber ^anbfcfi(ag, &c., ?<z.y for the agreement.
Jpanbfc(}(ag in the sensc of ' striking a bargain ' has no exact Engh"sh
equivalent, though the same idca is found in the exprcssion ' to
shake hands upon it ' in concluding a compact. Elsewhere it
simply denotes a greeting.
117. Unb gar, &c., lit. and the singlc ivord 'yes' binds her to
endure a great deal.
The terse exprcssion ^Jtt^crt denotes 'agreement to a pro-
posal,' but is niore commonly used for acceptance of an offer
of marriage.
118. 2inb bcd), (S:c., i. c. the ivcnrisome crraiids nn not the
11. 1 19-172] NOTES. IX. URANIA 147
most difficult pari of Service, ©ienftö instead of !Dienftcö for the
sake of the metre,
1. 119. S)ev elüig, &c., of the consiantly presslng lahoitr. The
epithet bittcvc suits the metre better than the disyllabic fauve
commonly used with @cI}Uicif, and is also more poetical.
127, 2)cd^, &c., but you do not appear to be suited (for this
task).
130. !l)ie tveffcubc, the pertinent, apposite.
131. @i(^ (jaltcn, here to restrain oneself.
133. SKit l}ei§, &C., ivhiht shedding sealding tears.
136. (Sin ^o^eö, &c., a supremefate.
138. 3)oci^ bev, &c., i. e. but the sufFerer, being sensitive, . . ,
140, 141. ßeiflc fic^, &c. Dorothea says she would prefer the
immediate disclosure of a sentiment which if revealed on some
later day would only increase her deep grief and perhaps plunge
her into silently consuming despair.
142, &c. 8a^t mtc^, &c. Understand the verb gefien after
^inttjeg and fort.
144. %\\x m\^, &c., i.e. choosing for herseif alone a better
lot.
148. SBie cö hJO'^t, &C., which is surely not seemly in.
149. 3tn •&cvjen, &c., an incUnation aivoke in my heart.
150. Understand toac after evfcf)ienen.
153. 2)aö er, &c., i. e. whom he probably already cherishes in
his heart as his future bride.
155. ©er .§intmU[(!t)en, &c., an angel from hewven.
156. 9Ug nun, &c., i. e. when thereupon he engaged her, &c.
158. Sllö fölint' icf), &C., say that I might possibly ■rivin him, &c.
161. ©0 na^, &C,, if I ivere to live so near,
163. Unt> Ifetin, &C., even if she luere the most deserving.
165. S)ie Sefiunung, the recovery of my senses.
167. !Da^ er, &C., that he nvoiild shortly bring a bride to his
home.
169. Söjl baö, &c., my heart is freed from the secret.
171. The clause 9tbcv ba^, &c., denotes I have said my say.
172. S3ef(f)ätttt itnb ärgj!H^, in shame and anguish.
L 2
148 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 174-224
1. 174. S)ie breit, &c., i.e. which is covered far and wide with
lowering clouds.
176. ©etrattfam ^erabfc^tägt, /»oarj doiun •violently.
The repetition of the same word at the beginning of 11. 174-176
(a figure of speech called ' Anaphora ') lends peculiar force to
Dorothea's assertion.
179. S^\\\^\\i,forth^ i. e. into the wide \vorld._
181. Dorothea's energetic resolution to leave the house is
emphatically expressed by her exclamation : cö ifl nun gcfcficl)eu, it
is all over noiv.
185. Um bcn, &c., hcre clasping her round the iva'tst.
186, &c. The pron. niiv in this line is an ethical dative ; in the
next line it Stands for the possessive adjective mein.
188. SDagcgen, i.e. opposite the group.
190. 3ft mir . . . getvorben, is my reward.
193. S5aö ^cftiflf &c., ivhich undertakes to settle in violent con-
fusion.
195. ©ieö trunbertid^c, &C., these stränge doings. Cp. IV,
1. 170.
196. 93of[enben, here to settle.
197. llnb eilte, &c., i. e. he hastened to carry out his Intention
of repairing to his own room.
201. 3(^ nur, &c., i. e. he alone has to bear the blame of all tliis
confusion.
204. SScHenbct, &c., rather bring the matter to an end.
206. 9Benn 5^r, &C,, if you indulge in the pleasnre of malice
(mischief) instead 0/ practising sjiperior ivisdom.
208. aCetd^e ^fugf)cit, &c., i.e. what prudent device.
209. S)icfer, &c., dranun Jrom this good maiden. !Diefev ©iiten is
here the dative.
210. ijl ni^t, &C., has not thy anxiety at once been tunied
into, &C.
2 1 3. ^tü^tigen, here passing.
22 T. D, fei, &c., i.e. be thou blessed Jor it. Cp. the phrasc fei
mir unflfommcn.
224. Sang' erfefjnt may be rendered long-ivished-for.
11. 225-254] NOTES. IX. URANIA 149
1. 225. künftigen ®tü(fö, &c. The pron. baö in the relative clause
is generally referred to ©lücf \
227. &c. 93or beut, &c., i.e. bending before the father affec-
tionately and with grace.
228. S)ie jur lief gelegene, i. e. ivhich he 'withdreiv.
229. ©erec^t, infairness.
232. Unb (aft, &c., i.e. the Landlord was to allow her time to
realize her new happiness.
233. 3d^ 93evircircne, <S:c., i. e. of which she in her confusion was
the cause.
234. &c. QBcjxi bie, &c., i.e. the daughter shall perform the
affectionate Service to which the faithful servant had pledged
herseif.
237, S^raulic^, here cordially, affectionately.
238. ©cfcüttdte, &c., i.e. shook Dorothea's hand in her own.
241. @r >rav, &c., // ivas retained by the plump ßnger.
It has been remarked that this single line describes the external
appearance of the Landlord, who had grown stout, as the landlord
of a thriving inn might be expected to do.
243. ®ci bev, &c., be it the office of the golden circlets. The word
9teif, hoop, may also be used for ' ring.'
24^. ©in Sanb ju fnüpfm, to tle a knot.
247. Unb fcgn' eiic^, &c. The dative fünfttgen Seiten is far more
poetical than the expression fiit a((e fünftigen Seiten, for all time
to come.
248. SSifle, here consent. Unb mit bcm, &c., and luith oiir friend
here (i. e. the Apothecary) as ivitness.
249. Unb eö, &c., i.e. and the neighbour bowed, giving utter-
ance to good wishes for the marriage.
254. ^\\^ lüd^t, &c., mny not yotirfirst betrothed appear at the altar.
Critics have been much exercised by the Pastor's apparent
surprise at the sight of Dorothea's engagement ring after he had
heard the whole of her story from the Judge (VI, 1. 186, &c.), but
' The above line has given rise to a considerable amonnt of dis-
cussion, as some commentators, inclnding Düntzer and Chuquet, refer
Ihe pron. baö to ficben.
150 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 257-381
Goethe himself has explained the appaient inconsistency in a
letter to Schiller dated April 19, 1797 : ' Einige Verse im Homer,
die für völlig falsch und ganz neu ausgegeben werden, sind
von der Art wie ich einige selbst in mein Gedicht, nachdem
es fertig war, eingeschoben habe um das Ganze klarer und
fasslicher zu machen und künftige Ereignisse bei Zeiten vorzu-
bereiten.' This remark evidently refers, in part at least, to
the interpolated passage in Canto VI which preparcs 'betimes
for future incidents.' The Pastor's exprcssion of astonishment
was left to give Dorothea an opportunity of relating her love-story
herseif.
1. 257. ®ei:^en, here to devote.
258. (Sd}cibenb, at parting. This expression goes to prove that
the ring in question was not a regulär engagcment-ring, but merely
a keepsake.
259. Sic Sietc, &c. Goethe probably used tcv 5v(if)cit in order
to avoid the repetition of jiiv.
260. 3in neuen, &c., i.e. in the new order of things.
262. i'cbc ijlücflic^ may be rcnderedy^rf-wf// and he bappy.
264. %x\\\^i^'i\i^t, fundamental lanvs.
268. S)iefe ('»'efpiäc^c, &c., i.e. these words of ours are perhaps
the last we shall exchange.
271. (5'0 ivanbevn, &c., i.e. the treasures stray away froni thcir
possessors.
272. (Selb unb, &c., i.e. the old sacred gold and silver vessels
are melted down.
275. !Dii bcita^vfl, &C., thoii <wilt preseri'e to me tby heart.
276. Über teil, &c., o-ver the rums of the ivorld, i.e. when society
has been organizcd anew.
277. Umgcbilbet, transformed.
Unabfjäiujiij, &c., i.e. indcpendent of fatc, becausc thosc who
have passed unscathed through such a tinie nccd not fear any-
thing eise fate can do to them.
279, ?lbei' füll, &c,, but if'tt is not to be.
281. D, fc, &C., oh, then preserik my hovering Image before your
thoughts.
11.282-305] NOTES. IX. URANIA 151
1. 282. ®a^ bu, &c., i.e. the thought of him should strengthen
her in all circumstances.
283. SücEct neue, &c., if a nenu home attracts thee^ &c. SScvbinbuttg,
Union, neiv ties.
285. Siebe bie, &c., i.e. love purely the loving, and be grateful to
those who are kind.
286. Slbev bann, &c., but only plant thy n'imble foot lightly, i.e. she
should not rely too much on the stability of good fortune.
287. ©Clin cö, &c., i.e. the double grief at the renewed loss is
lurking behind.
288. &c. Jpcilig fei, &c. The noun Xap is used in German
poetical language for 'itbiw.
©oc^ fc^ä^e, &c. Commentators quote here from Schiller's
Braut "von Messina :
5)ag geben ift ber ©iitev l}i3c^fteö nii^t,
Scv Übel grtjftesj aber ij! bie ©d)ulb.
The meaning is here that life is not to be valued higher than
any ordinary possession, and, after all, all earthly possessions are
not to be relied on.
291. 3U(e(J »eitor, &c. This statement tends to show that
Dorothea was formerly well-to-do.
294. Sin betn Stvin, by your arm.
295, &c. ©0 fdieint, &c., i.e. in the same way the firm earth
seems to rock to the sailor who has just landed,
Note here the emphatic use of the two superlatives fic^crfte and
fc^eii.\
299. ®ei, here am'idst.
300. 2Biv UH^Ken, &c., -we will hold together and persevere.
301. %i^ unö, &c., maintain oursel-ves ßrmly, and firmly niain-
tain.
302. "Der JUV, &c., who in unsettled times is himself unsettled (in
his mind).
304. 9lber mev, &c,, i. e. he who steadfastly adheres to his purpose
fashions the world in accordance vvith his will.
305, &c. J5ie fiivc^tevüd^e, &c., to continue the fearful commotion,
i.e. the French Revolution.
152 HERMANN UND DOROTHEA [11. 308-316
308-310. 2)cnn fö, &c. These linescontain a patriotic admoni-
tion to the Germans to stand togcther, for even if they are
defeated they will still be praised for having fought for God and
their kindred.
I. 311. Unb nun, &c., i.e. and now what belongs to nie is more
than ever mine.
The expressive comparative meiner has been coined by
Goethe.
312, 5)114)1 mit, &c., i.e. he will not preserve his possession with
sorrow and anxicty.
315. 2öci§ \6^, &c., if I only knoiu.
316. 2o ileKt, &c., i.e. then I expose my breast with assurance
to the foe.
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