Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VI. Fancy. 1904. | | | | Poems of Sentiment: III. Memory | | Mignon’s Song | | Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) |
| | From the German by Thomas Carlyle
From “Wilhelm Meister”
“KNOW’ST thou the land where citron-apples bloom, | |
| And oranges like gold in leafy gloom, | |
| A gentle wind from deep-blue heaven blows, | |
| The myrtle thick, and high the laurel grows? | |
Know’st thou it then?
’T is there! ’T is there, | 5 |
| O my true loved one, thou with me must go! | |
| |
| “Know’st thou the house, its porch with pillars tall? | |
| The rooms do glitter, glitters bright the hall, | |
| And marble statues stand, and look each one: | |
| What ’s this, poor child, to thee they ’ve done? | 10 |
Know’st thou it then?
’T is there! ’T is there, | |
| O my protector, thou with me must go! | |
| |
| “Know’st thou the hill, the bridge that hangs on cloud? | |
| The mules in mist grope o’er the torrent loud, | |
| In caves lie coiled the dragon’s ancient brood, | 15 |
| The crag leaps down, and over it the flood: | |
Know’st thou it then?
’T is there! ’T is there | |
| Our way runs: O my father, wilt thou go?” | | | | |
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