Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 9.djvu/412

378 PHILINE'S SONG.

not thus in notes of sadness Of the loneliness of night: No! 'tis made for social gladness, Converse sweet, and love's delight.

As to rugged man his wife is For his fairest half decreed, So dear night the half of life is, And the fairest half, indeed.

Who could hail the day with pleasure, Which but interrupts our joys, Scares us from our dreams of leisure With its glare and irksome noise?

But when night is come, and glowing Is the lamp's attempered ray, And from lip to lip are flowing Love and mirth, in sparkling play;

When the fiery boy, that wildly Gambols in his wayward mood, Calms to rest, disporting mildly, By some trivial gift subdued;

When the nightingale is trilling Songs of love to lovers' ears, Which, to hearts with sorrow thrilling, Seem but sighs and waken tears;

How, with pulses lightly bounding, Leaps the heart to hear the bell, Which, the hour of midnight sounding, Doth of rest and safety tell.