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VALEDICTION. - 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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VALEDICTION.

    • I ONCE was fond of fools,
    • And bid them come each day;
    • Then each one brought his tools,
    • The carpenter to play;
    • The roof to strip first choosing,
    • Another to supply,
    • The wood as trestles using,
    • To move it by-and-by,
    • While here and there they ran,
    • And knock’d against each other;
    • To fret I soon began,
    • My anger could not smother,
    • So cried, “Get out, ye fools!”
    • At this they were offended;
    • Then each one took his tools,
    • And so our friendship ended.
    • Since that, I’ve wiser been,
    • And sit beside my door;
    • When one of them is seen,
    • I cry, “Appear no more!”
    • “Hence, stupid knave!” I bellow:
    • At this he’s angry too:
    • “You impudent old fellow!
    • And pray, sir, who are you?
    • Along the streets we riot,
    • And revel at the fair;
    • But yet we’re pretty quiet,
    • And folks revile us ne’er.
    • Don’t call us names, then, please!”—
    • At length I meet with ease,
    • For now they leave my door—
    • ’Tis better than before!