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From the German by Lord Bulwer-Lytton
“TAKE the world,” cried the God from his heaven | |
| To men—“I proclaim you its heirs; | |
| To divide it amongst you ’t is given: | |
| You have only to settle the shares.” | |
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| Each takes for himself as it pleases, | 5 |
| Old and young have alike their desire: | |
| The harvest the husbandman seizes; | |
| Through the wood and the chase sweeps the squire. | |
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| The merchant his warehouse is locking; | |
| The abbot is choosing his wine; | 10 |
| Cries the monarch, the thoroughfare blocking, | |
| “Every toll for the passage is mine!” | |
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| All too late, when the sharing was over, | |
| Comes the poet,—he came from afar; | |
| Nothing left can the laggard discover, | 15 |
| Not an inch but its owners there are. | |
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| “Woe is me! is there nothing remaining | |
| For the son who best loves thee alone!” | |
| Thus to Jove went his voice in complaining, | |
| As he fell at the Thunderer’s throne. | 20 |
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| “In the land of thy dreams if abiding,” | |
| Quoth the god, “Can’st thou murmur at me? | |
| Where wert thou when the earth was dividing?” | |
| “I was,” said the poet, “by thee! | |
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| “Mine eye by thy glory was captured, | 25 |
| Mine ear by thy music of bliss: | |
| Pardon him whom thy world so enraptured | |
| As to lose him his portion in this!” | |
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| “Alas,” said the god, “earth is given! | |
| Field, forest, and market, and all! | 30 |
| What say you to quarters in heaven? | |
| We ’ll admit you whenever you call!” | |
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