HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories

Loud roared the billows.
And deep from the loud roaring sea.
As plaintive as a whispering monsoon.
Sounded the song of the Oceanides—
Of the beautiful, compassionate mermaids.
Distinct midst them all the lovely voice
Of the silver-footed spouse of Peleus—
And they sigh and sing:
"Oh fool, thou fool, thou boasting fool,
Tormented with misery!
Destroyed are all thy hopes.
The playful children of the heart—
And ah! thy heart, Niobe-like,
Is petrified with grief!
In thy brain falls the night.
And therein are unsheathed the lightnings of frenzy,
And thou makest a boast of thy trouble!
Oh fool, thou fool, thou boasting fool!
Stiff-necked art thou as thy forefather,
The lofty Titan, who stole celestial fire
From the gods, and bestowed it upon man.
And tortured by eagles chained to the rock,
Olympus-high he flung defiance, flung defiance and
groaned.
Till we heard it in the depths of the sea,
And came to him with the song of consolation.
Oh fool, thou fool, thou boasting fool!
264