* *

FORUM OF WOMEN

Woman--to judge man rightly--do not scan
Each separate act;--pass judgment on the Man!

* * * * *

GENIUS

Intellect can repeat what's been fulfill'd,
And, aping Nature, as she buildeth--build;
O'er Nature's base can haughty Reason dare
To pile its lofty castle--in the air.
But only thine, O Genius, is the charge,
In Nature's kingdom Nature to enlarge!

* * * * *

THE IMITATOR

Good out of good--that art is known to all--
But Genius from the bad the good can call;
Then, Mimic, not from leading-strings escaped,
Work'st but the matter that's already shaped
The already-shaped a nobler hand awaits--
All matter asks a Spirit that _creates!_

* * * * *

CORRECTNESS

(FREE TRANSLATION)

The calm correctness, where no fault we see,
Attests Art's loftiest or its least degree;
Alike the smoothness of the surface shows
The Pool's dull stagner--the great Sea's repose.

* * * * *

THE MASTER

The herd of scribes, by what they tell us,
Show all in which their wits excel us;
But the True Master we behold,
In what his art leaves--just untold.

* * * * *

EXPECTATION AND FULFILLMENT

O'er Ocean, with a thousand masts, sails forth the stripling bold--
One boat, hard rescued from the deep, draws into port the old!

* * * * *

THE PROSELYTE MAKER

"A little earth from out the Earth-and I
The Earth will move:" so spake the Sage divine.
Out of myself one little moment--try
Myself to take:--succeed, and I am thine!

* * * * *

THE CONNECTING MEDIUM

What to cement the lofty and the mean
Does Nature?--What?--Place vanity between?

* * * * *

THE MORAL POET

[This is an Epigram on Lavater's work, called "Pontius Pilatus, oder der
Mensch in Allen Gestalten," etc.--TRANSLATOR.]

"How poor a thing is man!" Alas, 'tis true
I'd half forgot it--when I chanced on you!

* * * * *

THE SUBLIME THEME

[Also on Lavater, and alluding to the "Jesus Messias, oder die Evangelien
und Apostelgeschichte in Gesaengen."--TRANSLATOR.]

How God compassionates Mankind, thy muse, my friend, rehearses--
Compassion for the sins o