Page:The Works of J. W. von Goethe, Volume 9.djvu/48

26 TRUE ENJOYMENT.

wouldst thou, to gain a heart, Heap up a maiden's lap with gold; The joys of love thou must impart, Wouldst thou e'er see those joys unfold. The voices of the throng gold buys. No single heart 'twill win for thee; Wouldst thou a maiden make thy prize, Thyself alone the bribe must be.

If by no sacred tie thou'rt bound, Oh, youth, thou must thyself restrain! Well may true liberty be found, Though man may seem to wear a chain. Let one alone inflame thee e'er, And if her heart with love o'erflows, Let tenderness unite you there. If duty's self no fetter knows.

First feel, oh, youth! A girl then find Worthy thy choice,—let her choose thee, In body fair, and fair in mind, And then thou wilt be blest, like me. I who have made this art mine own, A girl have chosen such as this; The blessing of the priest alone Is wanting to complete our bliss.

Nought but my rapture is her guide, Only for me she cares to please,— Ne'er wanton save when by my side, And modest when the world she sees. That time our glow may never chill, She yields no right through frailty;