27.12.2013 Views

HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories

HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories

HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Thou seemest to me a goddess-corpse,<br />

Venus Libitina!<br />

No longer glances toward thee with love.<br />

Yonder the dread Ares!<br />

How melancholy looks Phoebus Apollo<br />

The youth. His lyre is silent.<br />

Which once so joyously resounded at the feast of the<br />

gods.<br />

Still sadder looks Hephaistos.<br />

And indeed nevermore shall the limper<br />

Stumble into the service of Hebe,<br />

And nimbly pour forth to the assemblage<br />

The luscious nectar. And long ago was extinguished<br />

The unextinguishable laughter of the gods.<br />

I have never loved you, ye gods!<br />

For to me are the Greeks antipathetic,<br />

And even the Romans are hateful.<br />

But holy compassion and sacred pity<br />

Penetrate my heart.<br />

When I now gaze upon you yonder,<br />

Deserted gods!<br />

Dead night-wandering shadows.<br />

Weak as mists which the wind scares away.<br />

And when I recall how dastardly and visionary<br />

Are the gods who have supplanted you,<br />

The new, reigning, dolorous gods,<br />

Mischief-plotters in the sheep's clothing of humility,<br />

268

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!