The Joyful Wisdom · Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
SONG OF A THEOCRITEAN GOATHERD.
Here I lie, my bowels sore, Hosts of bugs advancing, Yonder lights and romp and roar! What's that sound? They're dancing! At this instant, so she prated, Stealthily she'd meet me: Like a faithful dog I've waited, Not a sign to greet me! She promised, made the cross-sign, too, Could her vows be hollow? Or runs she after all that woo, Like the goats I follow? Whence your silken gown, my maid? Ah, you'd fain be haughty, Yet perchance you've proved a jade With some satyr naughty! Waiting long, the lovelorn wight Is filled with rage and poison: Even so on sultry night Toadstools grow in foison. Pinching sore, in devil's mood, Love doth plague my crupper: Truly I can eat no food: Farewell, onion-supper! Seaward sinks the moon away, The stars are wan, and flare not: Dawn approaches, gloomy, grey, Let Death come! I care not! Souls that lack determination Rouse my wrath to white-hot flame! All their glory's but vexation, All their praise but self-contempt and shame! Since I baffle their advances, Will not clutch their leading-string, They would wither me with glances Bitter-sweet, with hopeless envy sting. Let them with fell curses shiver, Curl their lip the livelong day! Seek me as they will, forever Helplessly their eyes shall go astray! Ah, what I wrote on board and wall With foolish heart, in foolish scrawl, I meant but for their decoration! Yet say you, "Fools' abomination! Both board and wall require purgation, And let no trace our eyes appal!" Well, I will help you, as I can, For sponge and broom are my vocation, As critic and as waterman. But when the finished work I scan, I'm glad to see each learned owl With "wisdom" board and wall defoul.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.