The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-18
aeErHE,s BALLAD OF THE nuNsrnEL

BALLAD OF THE MINSTREL.
The beautiful ballad Of s.The MINSTREL by,
GoEmE, has been frequently translated by Bull
wER and others, and is quite famiIar to literary
people. But the following translation by one ct
our own citizens, seems to us the most feGcitous
OF al that we have seen and we should venture to
say is Of the most true to the beautiful origin
al The translator, in the present instance, who,
as our readers will readily perceive, has all the
de1terity of an expert III The Courts Of Apollo, IN
troduces his rendering with brief note He says ::
t'These lines of GoETuE, seems to me, rather an
alegory than common ballad. The fifth stanzas
probably suggested Co1ER1paEs fine tribute to the
spirit Of his own inspiration-'1 have found
poetry it's own exceeding great reward Doubt
less the first part Of this is true. large portion
oiGeE1HE's ballads are allegorical. he was not
sensuous Like SCHILLER, but was perpetually Sock
ing after the occult, and, in the merest song, he
dsguses moral; aud, in his historical ballad, he
is apt to hide mystery. But CoLEBDoE hardly
needed the influence Of the fifth worse in this in
stance, to prompt sentiment which is universal
among poets. They sing os the birds do, else why
sing Verify, man is rarely disposed to compen-
safe any of our balladists with gold chains or
golden goblets. But GOETHE seems to Illustrate
art In this passage, which may reject the gold
chain as an ornament for the Bard, but which will
yet look gratefully upon the picturesque, and be-
hold in the purple wine, in the golden vessel, the
ideal Of an assimilative and corresponding rich
ness, which will appeal equally to eye and mind.
We may reject the gold as gold, per Sc, yet vol
come draught Of Rhenish from the goblet Of gold,
which We yet refuse to carry away in our OWL
bosoms. Art is thus shown to be equally con
scious and unsetish-to be quick and Keen in the
appreciation Of yhst is picturesque, appropriate
and symmetrical yet quite Indifferent to all the
cares Of accumulation. But we must no longer
keep our readers from the beautiful ballad which
follows:
THE MINSTREL.
.'Who sings so late before the eate7
What sound from brdR, and castle-wau
FAls tMnt and clear the voice Ihear
Shall ring tonight in bower and hail.
The monarch spoke, the minion ran;
Saek came the page; ,..Ho seneschan
Br.cS e tho Essu s1i.1.' ~ -, .m H.
-tiSow fair befall ye mobiles all
Now greet ye fair ye lovely DANES;
Rich heavenl afar shines star and star;
Whas It; tongue Gan .g speak their high;born names?
Be wise old man, from beauty's flames H
Hide thou thy dazzled sight
The harper sang, with sudden clang
The armed Knights looked sterniy round;
With gentle 1rown. the DANES looked down;
Hc sang Of war. high lenped the sound;
He sang Of love, low sighed tae strain;
From his own neck The King unbound,
And bsde him wear the chain . E
.Thy gift withhold; the chain OF gold NJ
r Bestow upon some noble Knight ".
Whom glorys prize or beauty's eyes
Have fred with valor in the Hght: .@@
Or let thy Chancellor, whose burden
VI goiden care seems always Light,
Receive it for his guerdon.
sing as the bird that chaunts unheard
Nor heeds that none his note regardeth;
The song that flows from the heart bestows
The only reward that rewardeth.
Yet dare ask-for palsy cold TN
The how from heart to lip retardeth-,
beaker ofvintage old ?s tar.s
He took it up, he drained the cup:
o. sweet refreshment, draught divine
High-placed wis, the house where this
1s deemed dole Of common wine;
FareWeu-and shouldst thou think Of me-
Thank God as for this gift OF thine.
], nom my heart, thank thee.
+'Iasst mir den besten Becher Veins ~ -
In purem Golde 1irchen."
But rs the minstrel had already expressed contemnt f.
god the conceit of drinking from cup Of gold seems
be misplaced. M