The Mind

For woman due allowance make!

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1749–1832

Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1853) · From West-Eastern Divan

The Mind

FOR woman due allowance make!
Form'd of a crooked rib was she,--

By Heaven she could not straightened be.
Attempt to bend her, and she'll break;
If left alone, more crooked grows madam;
What well could be worse, my good friend, Adam?--
For woman due allowance make;
'Twere grievous, if thy rib should break!

MLA

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. “For woman due allowance make!” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/goethe/332/.

Chicago

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. “For woman due allowance make!” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/goethe/332/.

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