"Die heil'gen drei König' sind wohlgesinnt, Sie suchen die Mutter und das Kind, Der Joseph fromm sitzt auch dabei, Der Ochs und Esel liegen auf Streu."[30] [30] The Three Kings of the East with reverence lowly Seek out the babe and mother holy, Good Joseph's there too, and close by The ox and ass on the litter lie. Heine does not view the legend in a more religious light than Goethe, but he settles his features into a more serious expression, speaks more concisely, draws with a sharper outline, obtains a totally different effect. Goethe rouses and cheers his readers by his broad and merry artlessness; Heine's words bore their way into men's minds and leave their sting there. He seems to aim at producing the same effect as that of an old Florentine painting: "Die heil'gen drei König' aus Morgenland, Sie frugen in jedem Städtchen: Wo geht der Weg nach Bethlehem, Ihr lieben Buben und Mädchen? Die Jungen und Alten, sie wussten es nicht, Die Könige zogen weiter, Sie folgten einem goldenen Stern, Der leuchtete lieblich und heiter. Der Stern blieb steh'n über Josephs Haus, Da sind sie hineingegangen, Das Oechslein brüllte, das Kindlein schrie, Die heil'gen drei Könige sangen."[31] [31] The three holy kings from the Eastern land Inquired in every city: Where is the road to Bethlehem, Ye boys and maidens pretty? The young and the old, they could not tell, The kings went onward discreetly; They followed the track of a golden star, That sparkled brightly and sweetly. The star stood still over Joseph's house And they entered the dwelling lowly, The oxen bellowed, the infant cried, While sang the three kings holy. (BOWRING.) There is a certain amount of waggery in this. What a concert! But also, what painting! The fewest words possible--not a stroke, not a touch too much, and the most telling, prompt effect. Let us now, in conclusion, think of one of those abstract figures which occur in all lyric poetry--more or less carefully wrought-out personifications of an idea such as peace, happiness, unhappiness--and in this domain also compare Heine with Goethe. Here again it will be observed that Goethe has the fuller note, Heine the firmer outline. Goethe wrote these lines to peace: "Der du von dem Himmel bist, Alles Leid und Schmerzen stillest, Den, der doppelt elend ist, Doppelt mit Erquickung füllest, Ach, ich bin des Treibens müde! Was soll all der Schmerz, die Lust? Süsser Friede! Komm, ach komm in meine Brust!"[32] 32: