Bildungsromans; Germany -- Fiction; Poets, German -- Fiction
He is happy with Matilda, who is both the Eastern Maiden and Cyane. A
joyous spirit-festival is celebrated. All that has past was Death, the
last dream and awakening. "Klingsohr comes again as king of Atlantis.
Henry's mother is Fancy, his father, Sense. Swaning is the Moon; the
miner is the antiquary and at the same time Iron. The emperor Frederick
is Arcturus. The Count of Hohenzollern and the merchants also return."
Everything flows into an allegory. Cyane brings the stone to the
emperor; but Henry is now himself the poet of the fabulous tale which
the merchants had formerly related to him.
The blissful land suffers yet again by enchantment, while subjected to
the changes of the Seasons. Henry destroys the realm of the Sun. The
whole work was to close with a long poem, only the beginning of which
was composed.
THE NUPTIALS OF THE SEASONS.
Deep buried in thought stood the new monarch. He was recalling
Dreams of the midnight, and every wonderful tale,
Which gathered he first from the heavenly flower, when stricken
Gently by prophecy, love all-subduing he felt.
He thought still he heard the accents deeply impressive,
Just as the guest was deserting the circle of joy;
Fleeting gleams of the moon illumined the clattering window,
And in the breast of the youth there raged a passionate glow.
Edda, whispered the monarch, what is the innermost longing
In the bosom that loves? What his ineffable grief?
Say it, for him would we comfort, the power is ours, and noble
Be the time when thou art the joy of heaven again.--
"Were the times not so cold and morose, if were united
Future with Present, and both with the holy Past time;
Were the Spring linked to Autumn, and the Summer to Winter,
Were into serious grace childhood with silver age fused;
Then, O spouse of my heart, would dry up the fountain of sorrow,
Every deep cherished wish would be secured to the soul."
Thus spake the queen, and gladsomely clasped her the radiant beloved:
Thou hast uttered in sooth to me a heavenly word,
Which long ago over the lips of the deep-feeling hovered,
But on thine alone first pure and in season did light.
Quickly drive here the chariot, ourselves we will summon
First the times of the year, then all the seasons of man.--
They ride to the sun, and first bring the Day, then the Night; then to
the North, for Winter, then to the South, to find Summer; from the East
they bring the Spring, from the West the Autumn. Then they hasten after
Youth, next to Age, to the Past and to the Future.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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