Whereupon he spoke in words at once friendly and jesting "What! You are twice engaging yourself? I hope that the first one May not appear at the altar, unkindly forbidding the banns there!"But she said in reply:--"O let me devote but one moment To this mournful remembrance! For well did the good youth deserve it, Who, when departing, presented the ring, but never return'd home.
All was by him foreseen, when *******'s love of a sudden, And a desire to play his part in the new-found Existence, Drove him to go to Paris, where prison and death were his portion.
'Farewell,' said he, 'I go; for all things on earth are in motion At this moment, and all things appear in a state of disunion.
Fundamental laws in the steadiest countries are loosen'd, And possessions are parted from those who used to possess them, Friends are parted from friends, and love is parted from love too.
I now leave you here, and whether I ever shall see you Here again,--who can tell? Perchance these words will our last be.
Man is a stranger here upon earth, the proverb informs us;Every person has now become more a stranger than ever.
Ours the soil is no longer; our treasures are fast flying from us;All the sacred old vessels of gold and silver are melted, All is moving, as though the old-fashion'd world would roll backwards Into chaos and night, in order anew to be fashion'd.
You of my heart have possession, and if we shall ever here-after Meet again over the wreck of the world, it will be as new creatures, All remodell'd and free and independent of fortune;For what fetters can bind down those who survive such a period!
But if we are destined not to escape from these dangers, If we are never again to embrace each other with raptures O then fondly keep in your thoughts my hovering image, That you may be prepared with like courage for good and ill fortune!
If a new home or a new alliance should chance to allure you, Then enjoy with thanks whatever your destiny offers, Purely loving the loving, and grateful to him who thus loves you.
But remember always to tread with a circumspect footstep, For the fresh pangs of a second loss will behind you be lurking.
Deem each day as sacred; but value not life any higher Than any other possession, for all possessions are fleeting.'
Thus he spoke; and the noble youth and I parted for ever:
Meanwhile I ev'rything lost, and a thousand times thought of his warning.
Once more I think of his words, now that love is sweetly preparing Happiness for me anew, and the brightest of hopes is unfolding.
Pardon me, dearest friend, for trembling e'en at the moment When I am clasping your arm! For thus, on first landing, the sailor Fancies that even the solid ground is shaking beneath him."Thus she spoke, and she placed the rings by the side of each other.
But the bridegroom answer'd, with noble and manly emotion "All the firmer, amidst the universal disruption, Be, Dorothea, our union! We'll show ourselves bold and enduring, Firmly hold our own, and firmly retain our possessions.
For the man who in wav'ring times is inclined to be wav'ring Only increases the evil, and spreads it wider and wider;But the man of firm decision the universe fashions.
'Tis not becoming the Germans to further this fearful commotion, And in addition to waver uncertainly hither and thither.
'This is our own!' we ought to say, and so to maintain it!
For the world will ever applaud those resolute nations Who for God and the Law, their wives, and parents, and children Struggle, and fall when contending against the foeman together.
You are mine; and now what is mine, is mine more than ever.
Not with anxiety will I preserve it, or timidly use it, But with courage and strength. And if the enemy threaten Now or hereafter, I'll hold myself ready, and reach down my weapons.
If I know that the house and my parents by you are protected, I shall expose my breast to the enemy, void of all terror;And if all others thought thus, then might against might should be measured, And in the early prospect of peace we should all be rejoicing."1796?.
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