Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ANGELICA, by HEINRICH HEINE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ANGELICA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now that heaven my wish hath granted
Last Line: Gets so very quickly cold.
Subject(s): Beauty; Kisses; Love; Singing & Singers; Songs


1.

NOW that heaven my wish hath granted,
Why be dumb, like mutes inglorious, --
I who, when unhappy, chanted
Of my woe with noise uproarious,

Till a thousand youths despairing
Sang like me with voices hollow,
And the song I sang uncaring
Made still greater mischief follow?

O ye nightingale-like chorus,
That I bear within my spirit,
Let your song of joy rise o'er us
Merrily, that all may hear it.

2.

ONCE more behind thee thou wert looking,
Swiftly as thou didst past me glide,
With open mouth, as if inquiring,
And in thy look a stormy pride.

O that I ne'er had sought to grasp it,
That flowing robe of snowy white!
The little foot's enchanting traces,
O that they ne'er had met my sight!

Thy wildness now indeed hath vanish'd,
Like other women tame art thou,
And mild, and somewhat over-civil,
And, ah, thou even lov'st me now.

3.

I'LL not credit, youthful beauty,
What thy bashful lips may say;
Eyes so black and large and rolling
Are not much in virtue's way.

Strip away this brown-striped falsehood --
Well and truly love I thee;
Let thy white heart kiss me, dearest --
White heart, understand'st thou me?

4.

UPON her mouth I give a kiss,
And close her either eye;
She gives me now no peace for this,
But asks the reason why.

From night to morn, because of this,
This is her constant cry:
"When on my mouth thou giv'st a kise,
"Why close my either eye?"

I tell her not the cause of this,
Nor know the reason why,
Yet on her mouth I give a kiss,
And close her either eye.

5.

WHEN I am made blest with kisses delicious,
And lie in thine arms, O in that happy season
Thou ne'er must discourse of Germany, dearest, --
It spoils my digestion, -- there's plenty of reason.

With Germany leave me in peace, I implore thee,
Thou must not torment me with question on question
Of home and relations and manner of living, --
There's plenty of reason, -- it spoils my digestion.

The oaks there are green, and blue are the dear eyes
Of German women; they sigh as they please on
The blisses of love and of hope and religion, --
It spoils my digestion, -- there's plenty of reason.

6.

WHILST I after other people
And their treasures have been prying,
And with ever-restless yearning,
At strange doors of love been spying,

Probably those other people
Have been taking their own pleasure
Similarly, and been ogling
At my window my own treasure.

This is human! God in heaven
In our every action guard us!
God in heaven give us blessings,
And with happiners reward us!

7.

OYES, thou art my ideal forsooth,
I've often confirmed it till dizzy
With kisses and oaths unnumber'd in truth; --
To-day I however am busy.

Return to-morrow between two and three,
And then a fresh-kindled passion
Shall prove my love, and afterwards we
Will dine in a friendly fashion.

And if I in time the tickets receive,
We'll join in a merry revel,
And go to the Opera, where I believe
They're playing Robert the Devil.

A wondrous magic play is here,
With devils' loves and curses;
The music is by Meyerbeer,
By Scribe the wretched verses.

8.

DISMISS me not, although thy thirst
The pleasant draught has still'd,
Some three months longer keep me on,
Till I too have been fill'd.

If thou my love canst not remain,
O be my friend, I pray;
For when one has outloved one's love,
Friendship may have its way.

9.

THIS wild carnival of loving,
This delirium of our bosoms
Comes unto an end, and now we
Soberly gape on each other!

Drain'd the cup is to the bottom,
Brimming with intoxication,
Foaming, glowing to the margin;
Drain'd the cup is to the bottom.

And the fiddles too are silent,
Which for dancing gave the signal,
Signal for the dance of passion;
Yes, the fiddles too are silent.

And the lamps too are extinguish'd,
Which their wild light shed so brightly
On the masquerade exciting;
Yes, the lamps too are extinguish'd.

And to-morrow comes Ash-Wednesday,
When I'll sign upon thy forehead
With the cross of ashes, saying:
"Woman, that thou'rt dust, forget not."

10.

O HOW rapidly develop
From mere fugitive sensations
Passions that are fierce and boundless,
Tenderest associations!

Tow'rds this lady grows the bias
Of my heart on each occasion,
And that I'm enamoured of her
Has become my firm persuasion.

Beauteous is her spirit. Truly
Thus I learn to rise superior
To the overpowering beauty
Of her form and mere exterior.

Ah, what hips! and, ah, what forehead!
Ah, what nose! Could aught serener
Be than this sweet smile she's wearing?
And how noble her demeanour!

11.

AH, how fair art thou, whenever
Thou thy mind disclosest sweetly,
And thy language with the grandest
Sentiments o'erflows discreetly!

When thou tell'st me how thou always
Worthily and nobly thoughtest;
How unto thy pride of heart thou
Greatest sacrifices broughtest!

How with countless millions even
Men could woo and win thee never;
Sooner than be sold for money
Thou wouldst quit this world for ever.

And I stand before thee, listening
To the end with due emotion;
Like an image mute of faith, I
Fold my hands with meek devotion.

12.

HAVE no fear, dear soul, I pray thee,
Thou art safe here evermore;
Fear not lest they'll take away thee,
For I'll forthwith bar the door.

Though the wind may roar around us,
It will do no mischief here;
That a fire may not confound us,
Let us put the light out, dear!

Let me in mine arm, dear small one,
Thy enchanting neck enfold;
In the absence of a shawl, one
Gets so very quickly cold.





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