Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-01-03
POETRY

POETRY.
For the Waichman and journal.
THE IDEAL AND THE ACTUAL.
FROM SCHILLER
Clear and and with mirror-brightness
Floweth life with zephyr-ligitness,
In tn Olympus of the gods, away
Moons must change and races have their closes;
Ever bloom in youth tho Blessed-ones' roses
Changeless in the wide ana swut uecay'
Peace of soul and sensuous joys between
On celestial brows NO good refusing
Their united light is seen.
Would We rise to gods oil tiroless pnion,
Free he e'en in DEATH's dominion
PACK no fruit from all his gardens right
Feast thy gaze alone, the prospect ranging
For cnioyments pleasures eyer Eve, en ..oiS ng,,
Twas not Syx that flowed nine times around her,
Cores dausbter's exit did restrain,
At the applo grasped she, and then bound her
EvermOrc grim Pluto's choin'
Matter only subject is and yieldeth
TO tho power that uphudelh
D. Ouf dark fate but free from time and storm,
Playmate too of all the blessed spirits
In the fields Of light which Grace inhorts,
Moves divine among the gods-the FORM
Would we float licf cn lot piE.0-t!'
Cast earth from thee which dom ,hee o'erwhcm,
Fly from lile's confined and dak dominIons
Into the Ideal realm.
Here, in youth, and free from earthly changes,
In periectun's radiance ranges
Th' archetypal form of man revealed,
Like LIES silent phuntoms dimy glancing
BY tho mournfu Stygian stream advancing,
As she stood in the hight heavenly field
Ere immortal she had yet descended
To the dark and dreary tomb of life.
If in life the battle meier is ended
Vct'ry here doth end the sttiie
Here waves vict'ry's odorous garland DER thee
For the Contest now before thee
Nerving the exhausted fainting mind
Be thy lUngings high, or stcd forever,
Still thourt hurried swiftly down fe's river
And along the whirling dance of time.
But when sinks the bold wngof thy spirit
And its limit pains the weary soul,
Then from hills which BEAUTY doth inherit
Joyful shines the attained goal
If thy lot to lead and help the battle
Foo 'gainst foe with din and rattle
-. On the path of Fortune and OF Fame,
Then must courage join in strife with Power,
And the war-cars in the rafting stour
hlinge crashing on the dusty plain
Vaor only hath the power OF gaining
The rewards that beckon at the goal
Strong ones only destiny enchanting
" lille must sink the weak Of soul
But ife's flood from ock-bound fastness gushing,
Wild and ioamng downward rushing,
Through the shadow-land of Beauty flows
Gently, while upon its surface even,
Silver mirror of tn o'erarchng heaven,
:, Dawn's with Hesper's beauteous image glows.
Mutual love the raging warfare closing
Bound by the free bond of GRACE in one
Here opposing passions lie reposing
And tho angry strife is done
If upon the dead its life bestowing,
With its mighty impulse glowing,
Plastic Genius strives to wed with stone,
Then, then strain the nerves with high endeavor,
And the thought doth keenly struggle ever,
Till DER matter victory is won;
For the earnest soul whose cheek meier paleth
BY sore toll, sounds only Truths deep strain;
Heavy chissel's stroke alone prevalent
O'er the marbles brittle grain.
Butpre forward to the sphere ideal
And the hard and dusty real
With the matter DER which it prevails,
Stays behind. Proceeding from no weary
LaboS, hat arising lght'and airy,
Ase% np'a1s sprung the ws Vanished
An. And a all stsfes ia vietory's high success.
of the human needinoss.
If ye in Humonity's sad straitnes
Stand before tho pare laws greatness,
II before the Holy doth appear
Guilt, within Truths dazzling light then pale,h
All your virtue fore thu IDEAL failcth
And flies forth the DEED, With shame and ferr.
This high goal, artist can attain it,
Over the terrific gulf is found
Vessel none to cross, nor bridge to span it,
And no anchor reacheth ground.
But ly forth on free Thoughts vent'rous pinion
From the flesh's confined dominion,
And the ugly phantom, Fear, is flown,
And the vast abyss thon quickly fiest
Show but the DIVINE in all thou widest
And a, Goag she st1oP Ten hs high throne
Slavsh minds who will the Law defy.
Let to strive,-at once he hndeth
1t hath laid its tenors by.
If the woe of man around thee mouneth,
If the son of Priam groaneth
In denth-struggle with TIL enveuomed snakes,
Then let Nature in thee rise and driven
BE thy cry e'en to the vault of heaven,
While the feeling heart in pity breaks
SIihe not thou Natures voices fearful, Y
Let the cheek of joy all pallid be,
Let tn, immortal in you yield, and fearful
Join in holy sympathy.
But in yonder clear ideal region
Mid pure forms of old religion
Sorrows troubled storms no longer roll
Pain no longer here the spirit knoweth
Here for grief the tear no longer foweth,
But tor thoughts of that enduring soul
Lovely as the hues the rainbow borrowa
PAINTED on the storm-clouds fragrant dow
Here shines through the misty veil of souows
Gentle rests unclouied blue.
In base slavery to The feeble hearted
On his endless conflict started
'ts. once Alcdes on fe's thorny road;
aRetrangled lions, hydra's heads did shiver
Entered living, dear friends to deliver
Charon's boat, that felt unwonted load
EARTHLY plaques and tolls the goddess cunning
Heaps III anger the hated one,
And his mortal shoulders, nothing stunning,
Burdens Till his race is rum,
TIL tho GOD the sluggish clay disclaming
From the mortal parteth flaming
=. And the balmy breeze of Aether drinks.
Floating on unwonted pinon geam-hke
Upward HES he, and the eaI tn form dreamlike
Downward falling sinks and sinks, and sinks
Then olympus harmonies enhancing
Welcome him TO the celestial goal
And the goddess rosy -cheeked advancing
Smiling reaches him the bowl