Verse Dedicated to a Sad Girlfriend pg. 60

Verse Dedicated to a Sad Girlfriend

Oh, if I were able- for your consolation

I would give [you] the charm of angelic sweetness

I would change your bitter tears into a smile

And free [your] soul of cares and bitterness

Oh, if I could, with a little song, drive away the clouds

That cast shadows of sadness on the youthful days of your life

I would write my song with the angelic chorus

[And] sing to you pleasure, hope, freedom

Your sad soul? May God help you

May the star of hope break through these shadows

May happiness brighten up your grief

May it sincerely lead [you] out of the storm, the lightning

            There are cares, thorns and pains aplenty in this life

            And more than openly, tears flow in secret

Loose Verses pg. 59

Loose Verses

In this world, already today

Everyone knows this

That when the wife is a candle

Then the husband is just a wick

            The more the wife desires to shine

            In this world

            At that time she sinks[1] [her] husband’s money

            Into [her] purse

A wife’s tongue- even in a pretty [wife]

Is many a time foolish

It’s a windmill that

Grinds grain to no purpose

            But the tongue, more than the windmill

            Usually takes the lead

            When it grinds and crushes

            Even when there’s no wind!

---

[1] i.e “puts”

Variant! pg. 58

Variant!

When I dream alone at night

At that time, in [my] imagination

The specters of [my] young years stand

Happy and friendly

The happy murmur of young souls

Rejoices in my heart

As if the wondrous sound is heard

Of a favorite song

A spirited youth steps forth boldly

Strong with plenty of fire

Sparks pour from his eyes

[His] veins burn with fire

Where they merely appear

They soon awaken enchantment

All the girls willingly send forth

The sky-blue of longing eyes

An Old Man’s Logic (Continued) pg. 57

Why are you marrying off your son so early

Before he arrives at understanding?

“Hm,” said the old father to this

“My plan’s not going to change-

When he arrives at understanding

He won’t get married at all.”

Advice!

When a dowried young lady’s

Reciprocating love you read

Kneel down without shuffling around and beg

“O lady, unite with me”

Exploit love for yourself

Exploit as long as [she’s] favorable

And perhaps she won’t even

Give you her hand for a minute

[But] forge a marriage on the heat

As long as the weather is favorable

Let [her] quietly marry[1] herself off

But her dowry- that’s a shame!

---

[1] Literally “take herself [in marriage]”

Verse Compositions, Well-Wishing And Toasts (Continued) pg. 56

Unconquered hope in evil times

Is a virtuous wife to her husband

6.

The stars shine little in life

Little the songs, the flowering roses

More the clouds, and sorrowful shadows

More the pain of a storm of tears

Well, for you, lady, I sincerely wish

To send a wreath of flowers as an offering

May in your life much flowering

Sow happiness under your feet

May your life be may time

Eternal spring, lasting paradise

An Old Man’s Logic

A certain father, a man of consequence

With a bald head and a grey chin

Wanted to marry off his son

But he was [too] young for marriage

Someone called to his attention

From amidst the crowd of his acquaintances

Verse Compositions, Well-Wishing And Toasts (Continued) pg. 55

But when they already stand on foreign soil

And he has begun[1] to live among foreign people

When a gloomy mist obscures the future

The present torments, or bores

And the past only bears forth in tears

Then tears are relief in sorrow

The only [relief] that I can manage, the only [relief] that I feel

Is, in solitude, to think about you

Until the mainstay of the patient, the faithful

God at last takes pity

And unites the separated forever

If we loved each other forever

How sweet the tears could be then

The sole translation of feelings

O my love! When will we, when

Will I cry such tears?

Because what could be, in this eternal life,

Sweeter than to live with a faithful companion

In sorrow, consolation, calm in accident

Salvation in tribulation, relief in deficiency

---

[1] Or “I have begun”

Verse Compositions, Well-Wishing And Toasts (Continued) pg. 54

Time will tell you my thoughts sincerely

And reveal the love secret until that moment

Give [me] at least [your] hand at that leave taking

It will confirm this, my declaration

I love Temira, because [she is] worthy of love

She lives virtuously, has a good-hearted soul

Perhaps her heart, which she today forbids me

Perhaps with faithful steadfastness I will turn it

Something says wait out the course of events

I was omened to suffer for such hope

5.

When people of heaven decree

To one going to a distant land

You must give up everything beloved

Give up perhaps forever

It’s bitter in the heart, and tears flow in

With a hot flame, one’s face burns

Will you remember the last happy hours

When we say goodbye to each other?