The Fisherman.

The waters rush'd, the waters rose,

A fisherman sat by,
While on his line in calm repose

He cast his patient eye.
And as he sat, and hearken'd there,

The flood was cleft in twain,
And, lo! a dripping mermaid fair

Sprang from the troubled main.

She sang to him, and spake the while:

"Why lurest thou my brood,
With human wit and human guile

From out their native flood?
Oh, couldst thou know how gladly dart

The fish across the sea,
Thou wouldst descend, e'en as thou art,

And truly happy be!

"Do not the sun and moon with grace

Their forms in ocean lave?
Shines not with twofold charms their face,

When rising from the wave?
The deep, deep heavens, then lure thee not,

The moist yet radiant blue,
Not thine own form, to tempt thy lot

'Midst this eternal dew?"

The waters rush'd, the waters rose,

Wetting his naked feet;
As if his true love's words were those,

His heart with longing beat.
She sang to him, to him spake she,

His doom was fix'd, I ween;
Half drew she him, and half sank he,

And ne'er again was seen.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, poet, playwright, and natural philosopher, born on August 28, 1749, and died on March 22, 1832. He is considered one of the most important literary figures of the modern era. Goethe's best-known work, 'Faust,' is a profound exploration of human ambition, desire, and redemption. His contributions extend beyond literature into various fields, including science and politics. His writings and thoughts have had a lasting influence on Western culture.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Epilogue To Schiller's "Song Of The Bell."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Simple Poetry

Answers In A Game Of Questions.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Simple Poetry

Admonition.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Simple Poetry

English

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Joy And Sorrow.

As a fisher-boy I fared

To the black rock in the sea,
And, while false gifts I prepared.

Listen'd and sang merrily,
Down descended the decoy,

Soon a fish attack'd the bait;
One exultant shout of joy,

And the fish was captured straight.

Ah! on shore, and to the wood

Past the cliffs, o'er stock and stone,
One foot's traces I pursued,

And the maiden was alone.
Lips were silent, eyes downcast

As a clasp-knife snaps the bait,
With her snare she seized me fast,

And the boy was captured straight.

Heav'n knows who's the happy swain

That she rambles with anew!
I must dare the sea again,

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The Sea-Voyage.

Many a day and night my bark stood ready laden;
Waiting fav'ring winds, I sat with true friends round me,
Pledging me to patience and to courage,
In the haven.

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"Gladly pray we for thy rapid passage,
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In our arms thoult find thy prize, and love too,
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Venetian Epigrams.

Urn and sarcophagus erst were with life adorn'd by the heathen

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The Mermaid.

The moon in the East is glowing;
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From out the mist comes tripping
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The Mermaid Of Margate.[1]

"Alas! what perils do environ
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On Margate beach, where the sick one roams,
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There's a maiden sits by the ocean brim,
As lovely and fair as sin!
But woe, deep water and woe to him,
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Her head is crowned with pretty sea-wares,
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The Mermaid

To yon fause stream that, near the sea,
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Whar shells are silver bright,
Fishes war loupin' a' aroun',
And sparklin' to the light.

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Frae ilka rock an' tree;
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Frae 'neath a rock, sune, sune she rose,
And stately on she swam,
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Her een war o' the skyie blue,
Her lips did mock the wine;

The smile upon her bonnie cheek
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