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ANNIVERSARY SONG. - 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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ANNIVERSARY SONG.

    • WHY pacest thou, my neighbor fair,
    • The garden all alone?
    • If house and land thou seek’st to guard,
    • I’d thee as mistress own.
    • My brother sought the cellar-maid,
    • And suffer’d her no rest;
    • She gave him a refreshing draught,
    • A kiss, too, she impress’d.
    • My cousin is a prudent wight,
    • The cook’s by him ador’d;
    • He turns the spit round ceaselessly,
    • To gain love’s sweet reward.
    • We six-together then began
    • A banquet to consume,
    • When lo! a fourth pair singing came,
    • And danc’d into the room.
    • Welcome were they,—and welcome too
    • Was a fifth jovial pair,
    • Brimful of news, and stor’d with tales
    • And jests both new and rare.
    • For riddles, spirit, raillery,
    • And wit, a place remain’d;
    • A sixth pair then our circle join’d,
    • And so that prize was gain’d.
    • And yet to make us truly bless’d,
    • One miss’d we, and full sore;
    • A true and tender couple came,—
    • We needed then no more.
    • The social banquet now goes on,
    • Unchequer’d by alloy;
    • The sacred double-numbers then
    • Let all at once enjoy!