Poetry Codex

German

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

1749–1832

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) was born in Frankfurt am Main and studied law before the success of his novel The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774) made him famous across Europe. In 1775 he moved to Weimar at the invitation of Duke Karl August, where he served as a minister of state and director of the court theatre, and from 1794 he was the close friend and collaborator of Friedrich Schiller.

Best known for the drama Faust, he wrote lyrics, ballads, odes, elegies and epigrams throughout his life, from the early songs and the Roman Elegies and Venetian Epigrams of his Italian years to the West-Eastern Divan (1819), inspired by the Persian poet Hafiz. The English versions here are from Edgar Alfred Bowring’s 1853 The Poems of Goethe, translated in the original metres; it is a selection from his shorter verse.

Major Works (1)

  1. Hermann and Dorothea — translated by Ellen Frothingham (1870)

Poems (402)

  1. Sound, Sweet Song
  2. To the Kind Reader
  3. The New Amadis
  4. When the Fox Dies, His Skin Counts
  5. The Heathrose
  6. Blindman's Buff
  7. Christel
  8. The Coy One
  9. The Convert
  10. Preservation
  11. The Muses' Son
  12. Found
  13. Like and Like
  14. Reciprocal Invitation to the Dance
  15. Self-Deceit
  16. Declaration of War
  17. Lover in All Shapes
  18. The Goldsmith's Apprentice
  19. Answers in a Game of Questions
  20. Different Emotions on the Same Spot
  21. Who'll Buy Gods of Love?
  22. The Misanthrope
  23. Different Threats
  24. Maiden Wishes
  25. Motives
  26. True Enjoyment
  27. The Farewell
  28. The Beautiful Night
  29. Happiness and Vision
  30. Living Remembrance
  31. The Bliss of Absence
  32. To Luna
  33. The Wedding Night
  34. Mischievous Joy
  35. Apparent Death
  36. November Song
  37. To the Chosen One
  38. First Loss
  39. After-Sensations
  40. Proximity of the Beloved One
  41. Presence
  42. To the Distant One
  43. By the River: Flow on, ye lays so loved, so fair
  44. Farewell
  45. The Exchange
  46. Welcome and Farewell
  47. New Love, New Life
  48. To Belinda
  49. May Song: How fair doth Nature
  50. With a Painted Ribbon
  51. With a Golden Necklace
  52. On the Lake
  53. From the Mountain
  54. Flower-Salute
  55. In Summer
  56. May Song: Between wheatfield and corn
  57. Premature Spring
  58. Autumn Feelings
  59. Restless Love
  60. The Shepherd's Lament
  61. Comfort in Tears
  62. Night Song
  63. Longing
  64. To Mignon
  65. The Mountain Castle
  66. The Spirit's Salute
  67. To a Golden Heart That He Wore Round His Neck
  68. The Bliss of Sorrow
  69. The Wanderer's Night-Song
  70. The Wanderer's Night-Song (The Same)
  71. The Hunter's Even-Song
  72. To the Moon
  73. To Lina
  74. Ever and Everywhere
  75. Petition
  76. To His Coy One
  77. Night Thoughts
  78. To Lida
  79. Proximity
  80. Reciprocal
  81. Rollicking Hans
  82. The Freebooter
  83. Joy and Sorrow
  84. March
  85. April
  86. May
  87. June
  88. Next Year's Spring
  89. At Midnight Hour
  90. To the Rising Full Moon
  91. The Bridegroom
  92. Such, Such Is He Who Pleaseth Me
  93. Sicilian Song
  94. Swiss Song
  95. Finnish Song
  96. Gipsy Song
  97. The Destruction of Magdeburg
  98. Anniversary Song
  99. The Spring Oracle
  100. The Happy Couple
  101. Song of Fellowship
  102. Constancy in Change
  103. Table Song
  104. Wont and Done
  105. General Confession
  106. Coptic Song
  107. Coptic Song (Another)
  108. Vanitas! Vanitatum Vanitas!
  109. Fortune of War
  110. Open Table
  111. The Reckoning
  112. Ergo Bibamus!
  113. Epiphanias
  114. Mignon
  115. The Minstrel
  116. Ballad of the Banished and Returning Count
  117. The Violet
  118. The Faithless Boy
  119. The Erl-King
  120. Johanna Sebus
  121. The Fisherman
  122. The King of Thule
  123. The Beauteous Flower
  124. Sir Curt's Wedding-Journey
  125. Wedding Song
  126. The Treasure-Digger
  127. The Rat-Catcher
  128. The Spinner
  129. Before a Court of Justice
  130. The Page and the Miller's Daughter
  131. The Youth and the Millstream
  132. The Maid of the Mill's Treachery
  133. The Maid of the Mill's Repentance
  134. The Traveller and the Farm-Maiden
  135. Effects at a Distance
  136. The Walking Bell
  137. Faithful Eckart
  138. The Dance of Death
  139. The Pupil in Magic
  140. The Bride of Corinth
  141. The God and the Bayadere
  142. The Pariah I: The Pariah's Prayer
  143. The Pariah II: Legend
  144. The Pariah III: The Pariah's Thanks
  145. Death-Lament of the Noble Wife of Asan Aga
  146. Second Ode
  147. Third Ode
  148. Mahomet's Song
  149. Spirit Song over the Waters
  150. My Goddess
  151. Winter Journey over the Hartz Mountains
  152. To Father Kronos
  153. The Wanderer's Storm-Song
  154. The Sea-Voyage
  155. The Eagle and Dove
  156. Prometheus
  157. Ganymede
  158. The Boundaries of Humanity
  159. The Godlike
  160. The German Parnassus
  161. Lily's Menagerie
  162. To Charlotte
  163. Love's Distresses
  164. The Musagetes
  165. Morning Lament
  166. The Visit
  167. The Magic Net
  168. The Goblet
  169. To the Grasshopper
  170. From 'The Sorrows of Young Werther.'
  171. Trilogy of Passion I: To Werther
  172. Trilogy of Passion II: Elegy
  173. Trilogy of Passion III: Atonement
  174. The remembrance of the Good
  175. When I was still a youthful wight
  176. For Ever
  177. From an Album of 1604
  178. Lines on Seeing Schiller's Skull
  179. Royal Prayer
  180. Human Feelings
  181. On the Divan
  182. Explanation of an Ancient Woodcut, Representing Hans Sachs' Poetical Mission
  183. The Friendly Meeting
  184. In a Word
  185. The Maiden Speaks
  186. Growth
  187. Food in Travel
  188. Departure
  189. The Loving One Writes
  190. The Loving One Once More
  191. She Cannot End
  192. Nemesis
  193. The Christmas-Box
  194. The Warning
  195. The Epochs
  196. The Doubters and the Lovers
  197. Charade
  198. To Originals
  199. The Soldier's Consolation
  200. Genial Impulse
  201. Neither This nor That
  202. The Way to Behave
  203. The Best
  204. As Broad as It's Long
  205. The Rule of Life
  206. The Same, Expanded
  207. If wealth is gone--then something is gone!
  208. He who with life makes sport
  209. Each road to the proper end
  210. Calm at Sea
  211. The Prosperous Voyage
  212. Courage
  213. My Only Property
  214. Admonition
  215. Old Age
  216. Epitaph
  217. Rules for Monarchs
  218. Paulo Post Futuri
  219. The Fool's Epilogue
  220. Joy
  221. Explanation of an Antique Gem
  222. Cat-Pie
  223. Legend
  224. Authors
  225. The Critic
  226. The Dilettante and the Critic
  227. The Wrangler
  228. The Yelpers
  229. The Stork's Vocation
  230. Celebrity
  231. Playing at Priests
  232. Songs
  233. Poetry
  234. A Parable
  235. Should E'er the Loveless Day
  236. A Plan the Muses Entertained
  237. The Death of the Fly
  238. By the River: When by the broad stream thou dost dwell
  239. The Fox and Crane
  240. The Fox and Huntsman
  241. The Frogs
  242. The Wedding
  243. Burial
  244. Threatening Signs
  245. The Buyers
  246. The Mountain Village
  247. Symbols
  248. Three Palinodias I
  249. Three Palinodias II: Conflict of Wit and Beauty
  250. Three Palinodias III: Rain and Rainbow
  251. The Country Schoolmaster
  252. The Legend of the Horseshoe
  253. The Drops of Nectar
  254. The Wanderer
  255. Love as a Landscape Painter
  256. Rhymed Distich 1: Who trusts in God
  257. Rhymed Distich 2: This truth may be by all believed
  258. Rhymed Distich 3: How? when? and where?--No answer comes from high
  259. Rhymed Distich 4: If the whole is ever to gladden thee
  260. Rhymed Distich 5: Water its living strength first shows
  261. Rhymed Distich 6: Transparent appears the radiant air
  262. Rhymed Distich 7: Whate'er a living flame may surround
  263. Procemion
  264. What God would outwardly alone control
  265. Within us all a universe doth dwell
  266. The Metamorphosis of Plants
  267. Proverb 1: 'Tis easier far a wreath to bind
  268. Proverb 2: I kill'd a thousand flies overnight
  269. Proverb 3: To the mother I give
  270. Proverb 4: A breach is every day
  271. Proverb 5: What harm has thy poor mirror done, alas?
  272. Tame Xenia 1: God gave to mortals birth
  273. Tame Xenia 2: Barbarians oft endeavour
  274. Tame Xenia 3: What shall I teach thee, the very first thing?--
  275. Tame Xenia 4: "What is science, rightly known?
  276. Tame Xenia 5: It matters not, I ween
  277. Thoughts on Jesus Christ's Descent Into Hell
  278. Leopold, Duke of Brunswick
  279. To the Husbandman
  280. Anacreon's Grave
  281. The Brethren
  282. Measure of Time
  283. Warning
  284. Solitude
  285. The Chosen Cliff
  286. The Consecrated Spot
  287. The Instructors
  288. The Unequal Marriage
  289. Excuse
  290. Sakontala
  291. The Muse's Mirror
  292. Phoebus and Hermes
  293. The New Amor
  294. The Garlands
  295. The Swiss Alps
  296. Antique Distich 1: Chords are touch'd by Apollo,--the death-laden bow, too, he bendeth
  297. Antique Distich 2: What is merciful censure? To make thy faults appear smaller?
  298. Antique Distich 3: Democratic food soon cloys on the multitude's stomach
  299. Antique Distich 4: What in France has pass'd by, the Germans continue to practise
  300. Antique Distich 5: Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others
  301. Antique Distich 6: Not in the morning alone, not only at mid-day he charmeth
  302. Venetian Epigram 1: Urn and sarcophagus erst were with life adorn'd by the heathen
  303. Venetian Epigram 2: Clasp'd in my arms for ever eagerly hold I my mistress
  304. Venetian Epigram 3: I would liken this gondola unto the soft-rocking cradle
  305. Venetian Epigram 4: Why are the people thus busily moving? For food they are seeking
  306. Venetian Epigram 5: I would compare to the land this anvil, its lord to the hammer
  307. Venetian Epigram 6: What is the life of a man? Yet thousands are ever accustom'd
  308. Venetian Epigram 7: Merry's the trade of a poet; but somewhat a dear one, I fear me
  309. Venetian Epigram 8: Is' thou'rt in earnest, no longer delay, but render me happy
  310. Venetian Epigram 9: Art thou, then, vex'd at my silence? What shall I speak of? Thou markest
  311. Venetian Epigram 10: In the twilight of morning to climb to the top of the mountain,--
  312. Venetian Epigram 11: Thou art amazed, and dost point to the ocean. It seems to be burning
  313. Venetian Epigram 12: Gleaming the ocean appear'd, the beauteous billows were smiling
  314. Venetian Epigram 13: Spacious and fair is the world; yet oh! how I thank the kind heavens
  315. Venetian Epigram 14: Ah, my maiden is going! she mounts the vessel! My monarch
  316. Roman Elegy 1: Speak, ye stones, I entreat! Oh speak, ye palaces lofty!
  317. Roman Elegy 2: Do not repent, mine own love, that thou so soon didst surrender
  318. Roman Elegy 3: Alexander, and Caesar, and Henry, and Fred'rick, the mighty
  319. Roman Elegy 4: These few leaves, oh ye Graces, a bard presents, in your honour
  320. Roman Elegy 5: Amor is ever a rogue, and all who believe him are cheated!
  321. God is of the east possess'd
  322. He, the only righteous one
  323. Error seeketh to deceive me
  324. The Four Favours
  325. Discord
  326. Song and Structure
  327. Spirit let us bridegroom call
  328. To Hafis
  329. The Types
  330. One Pair More
  331. LOVE's torments sought a place of rest
  332. Five Things
  333. For woman due allowance make!
  334. Firdusi (Speaks)
  335. Suleika (Speaks)
  336. It is a fault oneself to praise
  337. Call on the present day and night for nought
  338. The sea is flowing ever
  339. Be stirring, man, while yet the day is clear
  340. When the heavy-laden sigh
  341. How vast is mine inheritance, how glorious and sublime!
  342. Unwary saith,--ne'er lived a man more true
  343. Though the bards whom the Orient sun bath bless'd
  344. Would we let our envy burst
  345. By those who themselves more bravely have fought
  346. "Wherefore is truth so far from our eyes
  347. Why these inquiries make
  348. Once when I a spider had kill'd
  349. Motley this congregation is, for, lo!
  350. If the country I'm to show
  351. A man with households twain
  352. Bless, thou dread Creator
  353. Let this house's glory rise
  354. O'er the Mediterranean sea
  355. If the ass that bore the Saviour
  356. The flood of passion storms with fruitless strife
  357. When so many minstrels there are
  358. The Winter and Timur
  359. To Suleika
  360. Once, methought, in the night hours cold
  361. Hatem: Not occasion makes the thief
  362. Suleika: The sun appears! A glorious sight!
  363. Love for love, and moments sweet
  364. Hatem: O, say, 'neath what celestial sign
  365. Hatem: Hold me, locks, securely caught
  366. The Loving One Speaks
  367. The Loving One Again
  368. These tufted branches fair
  369. Suleika: What is by this stir reveal'd?
  370. The Sublime Type
  371. Suleika: Zephyr, for thy humid wing
  372. The Reunion
  373. Suleika: With what inward joy, sweet lay
  374. In thousand forms mayst thou attempt surprise
  375. Can the Koran from Eternity be?
  376. Ye've often, for our drunkenness
  377. From heaven there fell upon the foaming wave
  378. Bulbul's song, through night hours cold
  379. In the Koran with strange delight
  380. All kinds of men, both small and great
  381. It Is Good
  382. The Bequest of the Ancient Persian Faith
  383. After the Battle of Bade, Beneath the Canopy of Heaven
  384. The Favoured Beasts
  385. The Seven Sleepers
  386. The Lay of the Captive Count
  387. Hassan Aga
  388. The Minstrel
  389. Mignon's Song
  390. The Violet
  391. The Treasure-seeker
  392. The Rose
  393. The Fisherman
  394. The King of Thule
  395. A Voice from the Invisible World
  396. The Alder-King
  397. A Song from the Coptic
  398. Another Coptic Song
  399. An Irish Lamentation
  400. Poems
  401. Legend (After the Manner of Hans Sachs)
  402. The Castle on the Mountain

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