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Chuld Nameh. - 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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Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


Chuld Nameh.

BOOK OF PARADISE.

THE PRIVILEGED MEN.

    • LET the foeman sorrow o’er his dead,
    • Ne’er will they return again to light;
    • O’er our brethren let no tear be shed,
    • For they dwell above yon spheres so bright.
    • All the seven planets open throw
    • All their metal doors with mighty shock,
    • And the forms of those we lov’d below
    • At the gates of Eden boldly knock.
    • There they find, with bliss ne’er dream’d before,
    • Glories that my flight first show’d to eye,
    • When the wondrous steed my person bore
    • In one second through the realms on high.
    • Wisdom’s trees, in cypress-order growing,
    • High uphold the golden apples sweet;
    • Trees of life, their spreading shadows throwing,
    • Shade each blossoming plant, each flow’ry seat.
    • Now a balmy zephyr from the East
    • Brings the heavenly maidens to thy view;
    • With the eye thou now dost taste the feast,
    • Soon the sight pervades thee through and through!
    • There they stand, to ask thee thy career:
    • Mighty plans? or dangerous bloody rout?
    • Thou’rt a hero, know they,—for thou’rt here,
    • What a hero?—This they’ll fathom out.
    • By thy wounds soon clearly this is shown,
    • Wounds that write thy fame’s undying story;
    • Wounds the true believer mark alone,
    • When have perish’d joy and earthly glory.
    • To chiosks and arbors thou art brought,
    • Fill’d with chequer’d marble columns bright;
    • To the noble grape-juice, solace-fraught,
    • They the guest with kindly sips invite.
    • Youth! Thou’rt welcome more than e’er was youth!
    • All alike are radiant and serene;
    • When thou tak’st one to thine heart with truth,
    • Of thy band she’ll be the friend and queen.
    • So prepare thee for this place of rest,
    • Never can it now be chang’d again;
    • Maids like these will ever make thee bless’d
    • Wines like these will never harm thy brain.

THE FAVORED BEASTS.

    • OF beasts there have been thosen four
    • To come to Paradise,
    • And there with saints for evermore
    • They dwell in happy wise.
    • Amongst them all the Ass stands first;
    • He comes with joyous stride,
    • For to the Prophet-City erst
    • Did Jesus on him ride.
    • Half timid next a Wolf doth creep,
    • To whom Mahomet spake:—
    • “Spoil not the poor man of his sheep,
    • The rich man’s thou may’st take.”
    • And then the brave and faithful Hound,
    • Who by his master kept,
    • And slept with him the slumbers sound
    • The seven sleepers slept.
    • Abuherrira’s Cat, too, here
    • Purrs round his master bless’d,
    • For holy must the beast appear
    • The Prophet hath caress’d.

THE SEVEN SLEEPERS.

    • SIX among the courtiers favor’d
    • Fly before the Cæsar’s fury,
    • Who would as a god be worshipp’d,
    • Though in truth no god appearing,
    • For a fly prevents him ever
    • From enjoying food at table.
    • Though with fans his servants scare it,
    • They the fly can never banish.
    • It torments him, stings, and troubles,
    • And the festal board perplexes,
    • Then returning like the herald
    • Of the olden crafty Fly-God.
    • “What!”—the striplings say together—
    • “Shall a fly a god embarrass?
    • “Shall a god drink, eat at table,
    • Like us mortals? No, the Only,
    • Who the sun and moon created,
    • And the glowing stars arch’d o’er us,
    • He is God,—we’ll fly!”—The gentle,
    • Lightly shod, and dainty striplings
    • Did a shepherd meet, and hide them,
    • With himself, within a cavern.
    • And the sheep-dog will not leave them,—
    • Scar’d away, his foot all-mangled,
    • To his master still he presses,
    • And he joins the hidden party,
    • Joins the favorites of slumber.
    • And the prince, whom they had fled from,
    • Fondly-furious, thinks of vengeance,
    • And, discarding sword and fire,
    • Has them wall’d-up in the cavern,
    • Wall’d-up fast with bricks and mortar.
    • But the others slumber ever,
    • And the Angel, their protector,
    • Gives before God’s throne this notice:
    • “To the right and left alternate
    • Have I ever car’d to turn them,
    • That their fair and youthful members
    • Be not by the mould-damp injur’d;
    • Clefts within the rocks I open’d,
    • That the sun may, rising, setting,
    • Keep their cheeks in youthful freshness.”
    • So they lie there, bless’d by Heaven.
    • And, with forepaws sound and scatheless,
    • Sleeps the dog in gentle slumber.
    • Years come round, and years fly onward,
    • And the youths at length awaken,
    • And the wall, which now had moulder’d,
    • From its very age has fallen.
    • And Jamblika says,—whose beauty
    • Far exceedeth all the others,—
    • When the fearful shepherd lingers:—
    • “I will run, and food procure you,
    • Life and piece of gold I’ll wager!”—
    • Ephesus had many a year now
    • Own’d the teaching of the Prophet
    • Jesus (Peace be with the Good One!)
    • And he ran, and at the gateway
    • Were the warders and the others.
    • Yet he to the nearest baker’s,
    • Seeking bread, went swiftly onwards.—
    • “Rogue!” thus cried the baker—“hast thou,
    • Youth, a treasure, then, discover’d?
    • Give me,—for the gold betrays thee,—
    • Give me half, to keep thy secret!”
    • And they quarrel.—To the monarch
    • Comes the matter; and the monarch
    • Fain would halve it, like the baker.
    • Now the miracle is proven
    • Slowly by a hundred tokens.
    • He can e’en his right establish
    • To the palace he erected,
    • For a pillar, when pierc’d open,
    • Leads to wealth he said ’twould lead to.
    • Soon are gather’d there whole races,
    • Their relationship to show him.
    • And as great-grandfather, nobly
    • Stands Jamblika’s youthful figure.
    • As of ancestors, he hears them,
    • Speaking of his son and grandsons.
    • His great-grandsons stand around him,
    • Like a race of valiant mortals,
    • Him to honor,—him, the youngest.
    • And one token on another
    • Rises up, the proof completing;
    • The identity is proven
    • Of himself, and of his comrades.
    • Now returns he to the cavern,
    • With him go both king and people.—
    • Neither to the king nor people
    • E’er returns that chosen mortal;
    • For the Seven, who for ages—
    • Eight was, with the dog, their number—
    • Had from all the world been sunder’d,
    • Gabriel’s mysterious power,
    • To the will of God obedient,
    • Hath to Paradise conducted,—
    • And the cave was clos’d forever.
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