C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)
Vanitas! Vanitatum Vanitas!
I
Hurrah!
And so the world goes well with me:
Hurrah!
And who has a mind to be fellow of mine,
Why, let him take hold and help me drain
These moldy lees of wine.
Hurrah!
And bartered away my peace and health:
But ah!
The slippery change went about like air,—
And when I had clutched me a handful here,
Away it went there!
Hurrah!
For her sweet sake was oft perplexed:
But ah!
The False one looked for a daintier lot,
The Constant one wearied me out and out,
The Best was not easily got.
Hurrah!
And spurned our plain old fatherland:
But ah!
Naught seemed to be just the thing it should,—
Most comfortless beds and indifferent food!
My tastes misunderstood!
Hurrah!
And lo! I’m eclipsed by some upstart’s name;
And ah!
When in public life I loomed quite high,
The folks that passed me would look awry;
Their very worst friend was I.
Hurrah!
We gained some battles with éclat;
Hurrah!
We troubled the foe with sword and flame—
And some of our friends fared quite the same:
I lost a leg for fame.
Hurrah!
And the whole wide world belongs to me:
Hurrah!
The feast begins to run low, no doubt;
But at the old cask we’ll have one good bout—
Come, drink the lees all out!