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RECIPROCAL INVITATION TO THE DANCE. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Goethe’s Works, vol. 1 (Poems) [1885]

Edition used:

Goethe’s Works, illustrated by the best German artists, 5 vols. (Philadelphia: G. Barrie, 1885). Vol. 1.

Part of: Goethe’s Works, 5 vols.

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RECIPROCAL INVITATION TO THE DANCE.

    • The Indifferent.
    • COME to the dance with me, come with me, fair one!
    • Dances a feast-day like this may well crown.
    • If thou my sweetheart art not, thou canst be so,
    • But if thou wilt not, we still will dance on.
    • Come to the dance with me, come with me, fair one!
    • Dances a feast-day like this may well crown.
    • The Tender.
    • Lov’d one, without thee, what then would all feasts be?
    • Sweet one, without thee, what then were the dance?
    • If thou my sweetheart wert not, I would dance not,
    • If thou art still so, all life is one feast.
    • Lov’d one, without thee, what then would all feasts be?
    • Sweet one, without thee, what then were the dance?
    • The Indifferent.
    • Let them but love, then, and leave us the dancing!
    • Languishing love cannot bear the glad dance.
    • Let us whirl round in the waltz’s gay measure,
    • And let them steal to the dim-lighted wood.
    • Let them but love, then, and leave us the dancing!
    • Languishing love cannot bear the glad dance.
    • The Tender.
    • Let them whirl round, then, and leave us to wander!
    • Wand’ring to love is a heavenly dance.
    • Cupid, the near one, o’erhears their deriding,
    • Vengeance takes suddenly, vengeance takes soon.
    • Let them whirl round, then, and leave us to wander!
    • Wand’ring to love is a heavenly dance.