SELECT LIBRARY OF THE GERMAN CLASSICS. THE ALEXIS AND DORA OF GOETHE. WE find the following remarks upon the ALEXIS AND DORA, in vol. II. of the Correspondence between Goethe and Schiller. Your our Idyl," Schiller writes, having just read it in manuscript, "has affected me no less powerfully on a second reading, or rather still more powerfully, than on the first. Assuredly it is one of your most beautiful compositions; so full of simplicity, at the same time there is in it an unfathomable depth of feeling. Owing to the precipitation of the action, by means of the ship's crew who are waiting for Alexis, the lovers find themselves so pressed for room, their situation becomes so urgent and important, that this one moment does actually contain the sum and substance of a whole life. It would be difficult to conceive any other case in which the flower of poetry can be culled from an object with the same ease and felicity. Your introducing a fit of jealousy so immediately after, and making the lover's happiness swallowed up so rapidly in his fears, I have not yet been able to reconcile with my feelings, though I have no convincing objection to allege; I merely feel that I should have liked to prolong the trance of bliss in which Alexis leaves the girl and embarks. * "The admirable passage, Thine forever, thou answerest softly,' does not etrike me so much on accouut of its solemnity, which is a matter of course, but because the secret of her heart bursts forth in these little words at once and entirely, with its endless train of consequences. These words in this place serve instead of a whole love-story; and the two lovers stand immediately in the same relation to each other, as if their affection had subsisted for years." To the remark on the introduction of the passionate fit of jealousy at the close of the poem, Goethe replies: "I am glad that the Idyl does not lose ground on a nearer inspection. For the jealousy at the end I have two reasons; one from nature, because in fact every unmerited success in love is followed at the heels by the fear of losing it; and another from art, because the Idyl has a pathetic character throughout, and therefore the passion must become more intense towards its close, when the poet's parting bow restores the balance and cheerfulness of the whole. Thus much in justification of the inexplicable instinct by which such things are produced." The attentive student will also observe that the jealous lover does not in reality see, but only fancies the kind reception of a rival; since "the dimness of sad distance" had already" enveloped the town." In conclusion, we would earnestly bespeak for this highly finished work of art and almost perfect specimen of this species of poetry, the closest attention and study. A single reading may delight, warm and elevate; but this is one of the few poems worthy of being made in the truest sense our own: of being committed-not to the memory, merely, but-to the heart. ALEXIS AND DORA. Ah! every moment the vessel is driving incessantly onward! Over the foam-crested waves further and further it flies. Still does the keel's track lengthen its furrow, along which the dolphins All things betoken a prosperous voyage: the boatswain is gently Forward the souls of the mariners speed with the flags and the pennons; All save one by the mast, fixing his eyes on the shore, Watching the last blue tints of the hills as they vanish: he sees them Sink in the ocean; and now all that he joys in is gone. Now from the two has vanished the vessel that bears thy Alexis, Bears, O Dora, thy friend, bears thy beloved away. Thou after me too gazest in vain: our hearts are yet beating All feel pleasure in seeing the posy of sprightly devices; Yet they know not the word which will its meaning unfold. Lo, that word has been found; how at once ev'ry countenance brightens! Vain were the days of my youth, most vain were my dreams of the future; Yes, it endures, my bliss is enduring: I behold thee, my Dora: Oft had I seen thee repair, in thy maidenly garb, to the temple, O how nobly thy head bore up the pitcher on high, When from the fountain thou camest! how stately thy throat and thy neck rose! Every motion thou madest, harmony guided them all. Often I watched, with uneasy alarm, lest the pitcher should tumble; But on the round striped cloth steadily onward it sailed. Thus, my beautiful neighbor, I daily was wont to behold thee, As one beholdeth the stars, or as one looks at the moon. Gladly we see them again and again; but the bosom is quiet, Year after year rolled past me: but twenty paces asunder All were already in motion: the boy came hastily running Come, they are hoisting the sail, and it flaunts with the breezes, thus spake he Now, too, the anchor mounts, tearing its fangs from the sand. Hasten, Alexis, O hasten! On this my excellent father Gave me his blessing, his hand smoothing the curls on my brow. Quickly the ready-made bundle was fetched by my anxious mother; Come back happy, they cried, happy, Alexis, and rich. Down alongside of the wall ran I: but thou, as I passed, Stoodest by the gate of thy garden, and saidst with a smile, good Alexis, Far-off coasts thou'lt visit, and bring back costliest treasures, But bring me, too, I pray thee, a light gold necklace: I'll pay thee I had arrested my steps; and I asked, in a merchantly manner, Thus do I enter thy gate; thou busily pluckest the choice fruit; Following thee, I advanced to the arbor; a basket was lying And from the clear blue sky thrice does it thunder; then tears Chasing each other besprinkle my cheeks: thou weepest; I weep: joy Cries of impatience resound from the shore: my feet as if fastened 'Thine for ever!' thou answerest softly. The tears that were trickling Sparkle and vanish, as though dried by a breath from the gods. Straightway approaches the cry of Alexis! The boy who was seeking After me, peeps through the door. How he the basket took up! How he drove me away! how I covered thy hands with my kisses! So, too, my comrades deemed me, regarding my sickness with pity. • Thine forever! O, such was thy whisper! it sounds in my ears still, There shall the emerald vie with the ruby; the heavenly-eyed sapphire Nor shall trinkets and jewels be all thy beloved will purchase. Fine white linen: I see thee sitting, and sewing, and clothing Me and thyself, and perhaps also another therewith. Visions of hope come and quiet me, while you delude me! Ye gods, calm This tempestuous joy, which is upheaving my heart. Yet shall I soon claim back these transports of sickening sweetness, When grief's clay cold hand creeps with its palsying touch. No, not the Furies' torches, the hell-dog's barking could ever Scare poor sinuers with like force in the land of despair, As I am scared by the calm cold spectre that shows me my fair one Far from her lover: the gate, still it is standing ajar: Lo, and another now enters: for him too the orange is falling; Nor does the fig-tree deny honeyed refreshment to him. Him, too, she lures to the arbor! and look, he follows! strike me Is she then anything more than a woman! aud she who so lightly Scatter the planks all round; and give to the bellowing waters All these wares, yea, give me to the dolphins a prey. |