Mythology & Folklore
The Consecrated Spot
Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1853) · From Antiques
WHEN in the dance of the Nymphs, in the moonlight so holy assembled,
Mingle the Graces, down from Olympus in secret descending,
Here doth the minstrel hide, and list to their numbers enthralling,
Here doth he watch their silent dances' mysterious measure.
All that is glorious in Heaven, and all that the earth in her beauty
Ever hath brought into life, the dreamer awake sees before him;
All he repeats to the Muses, and lest the gods should be anger'd,
How to tell of secrets discreetly, the Muses instruct him.
Cite this poem
MLA
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. “The Consecrated Spot.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/goethe/285/.
Chicago
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. “The Consecrated Spot.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/goethe/285/.
Read this poem with the Codex →