Arts & Sciences
Song and Structure
Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1853) · From West-Eastern Divan
Arts & Sciences
LET the Greek his plastic clay
Mould in human fashion,
While his own creation may
Wake his glowing passion;
But it is our joy to court
Great Euphrates' torrent,
Here and there at will to sport
In the Wat'ry current.
Quench'd I thus my spirit's flame,
Songs had soon resounded;
Water drawn by bards whose fame
Pure is, may be rounded.
Cite this poem
MLA
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. “Song and Structure.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/goethe/325/.
Chicago
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. “Song and Structure.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/goethe/325/.
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