Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Germany: Vols. XVII–XVIII. 1876–79.

Appendix: Ilm, the River

To the Moon

By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)

Translated by J. S. Dwight

FILLEST hill and vale again,

Still, with softening light!

Loosest from the world’s cold chain

All my soul to-night!

Spreadest round me, far and nigh,

Soothingly, thy smile;

From thee, as from friendship’s eye,

Sorrow shrinks the while.

Every echo thrills my heart,—

Glad and gloomy mood.

Joy and sorrow both have part

In my solitude.

River, river, glide along!

I am sad, alas!

Fleeting things are love and song,—

Even so they pass!

I have had and I have lost

What I long for yet;

Ah! why will we, to our cost,

Simple joys forget?

River, river, glide along,

Without stop or stay!

Murmur, whisper to my song

In melodious play,—

Whether on a winter’s night

Rise thy swollen floods,

Or in spring thou hast delight

Watering the young buds.

Happy he who, hating none,

Leaves the world’s dull noise,

And, with trusty friend alone,

Quietly enjoys

What, forever unexpressed,

Hid from common sight,

Through the mazes of the breast

Softly steals by night!