Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 9.djvu/114

92 Eagerly thy portion seize, If thou wouldst possess the fruit! Fast begin to ripen these, And the rest already to shoot. With each heavy storm of rain Change comes o'er thy valley fair; Once, alas! but not again Can the same stream hold thee e'er.

And thyself, what erst at least Firm as rocks appeared to rise, Walls and palaces thou seest But with ever-changing eyes. Fled for ever now the lip That with kisses used to glow, And the foot, that used to skip O'er the mountain, like the roe.

And the hand, so true and warm, Ever raised in charity, And the cunning-fashioned form,— All are now changed utterly. And what used to bear thy name When upon yon spot it stood, Like a rolling billow came, Hastening on to join the flood.

Be then the beginning found With the end in unison, Swifter than the forms around Are themselves now fleeting on! Thank the merit in thy breast, Thank the mould within thy heart, That the Muses' favour blest Ne'er will perish, ne'er depart.