To Werther

A Trilogy of Passion

Once more you venture, much-lamented Shadow, Into the open light of day, Encountering me in freshly flowering meadows, Unembarrassed now by my gaze. It’s as if you re-lived that former season, When we two were refreshed by the same field’s dew, When after the day’s unwelcome exertions, The setting sun’s last rays gave pleasure too: I fated to remain, and you to vanish, You went before – missed little at the finish. Human life seems a pleasant fate: The day so sweet, and the night so great! And, in an enchanted Paradise, set down, We’ve scarce begun to enjoy the heavenly sun, When all at once our own confused endeavour Conflicts with our own self, and then the other: Nothing is complementary, as we’d wish, It darkens outside when inside it’s bliss, A bright exterior’s hidden from our gaze, Joy is near – yet no one knows its face. Now we think we’ve grasped it! With its power A woman’s seductive shape fills the hour: A young man, happy, in the flower of youth, Steps out, in Spring, and is the Spring, in truth, Delighted, wondering, who achieved this thing? He looks around – the world’s a gift to him. Some hasty impulse draws him swiftly on, And neither wall nor palace block his vision: Like the birds that skim the wooded peaks, He hovers, and around his love he sweeps, Ready to swoop down from the sky to find Her loving glance, and then it closely binds. But first too early, then too late prepared He feels his flight hemmed in: himself ensnared. To see her is a joy, to part is pain, A greater joy to see her yet again, A single glance repays the years past: But a harsh Farewell waits at the last. You smile, my Friend, with feeling, as is right: A fearsome parting made your name shine bright: To your misfortune’s wretchedness we’re kind, For better or worse, you left us all behind. And we were drawn uncertainly again Down all of passion’s labyrinthine ways: And for us there’s anguish with each breath, Then, at last, the parting – which is a death! How sweet it sounds, when the poet sings, Evading the true death that parting brings! Entangled in these torments, half to blame, May some god give them power to speak their pain.