certain that George ranks very high indeed and that his influence has been both novel and salutary.
The following translations have been made from representative works of George and aim to give the reader at least a conception of the poet's manner and style.
CONSECRATION
Out to the stream! where proud the lofty sedges
In gentle breeze their banners wave before us
And hinder from the mossy river-edges
The youthful billows' fawning, fondling chorus.
On sod reclining thou shalt grow forgetful
By pow'rful scent primeval, undisturbed,
Thus routing every breath foreign and fretful.
Thine eye shall bide fulfilment unperturbed.
See'st thou the bush—its leaves in rhythm shiv'ring—
And on the darksome waters' smooth expanse
The veil of mist, about to lift, is quiv'ring?
Hear'st thou the elves' song to the elfish dance?
F'en now through branches' dented frames are shining
With starry cities blessed fields elysian,
Time in its flight the old names is resigning
And space and being live but as a vision.
Now thou'rt mature, the mistress swoops upon thee,
Moon-silv'ry veils her figure are caressing,
Freighted with dreams her half-oped lids gaze on thee
Reclining toward thee to fulfil the blessing.
While on thy face her lips were palpitating
And she beheld thee blessed thus and pure
She sought not in her kiss so unabating
To flee thy finger on thy lips demure.
A DEPARTURE
The beeches gray would join their hands extended
Along the shore, by thronging billows lapped
At grain-fields' gold the verdant meads have ended,
The cottage neath the gardens is enwrapped.
