Category Archives: Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim


Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim: “War-Song”

Excerpt: “Historic Survey of German Poetry, interspersed with various translations.” By William Taylor in Three volumes. 1828-1830.

Ludwig Gleim: “TO GENERAL VON STILLE”

Excerpt, “The Poetry of Germany, Consisting from Upwards of Seventy of the Most Celebrated Poets.”  Translated into English Verse by Alfred Baskerville.  1853.

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The Round Table by Adolph von Menzel

Frederick the Great at Sanssouci

Third from the left, in the purple coat, is Voltaire; next to him in the red uniform General Christoph Ludwig von Stille, then the king, Frederick II.

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Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim: “The Invitation”

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The Invitation

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I have a cottage by the hill;

It stands upon a meadow green;

Behind it flows a murmuring rill;

Cool-rooted moss and flowers between.

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Beside the cottage stands a tree,

That flings its shadow o’er the eaves;

And scarce the sunshine visits me,

Save when a light wind rifts the leaves.

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A nightingale sings on a spray

Through the sweet summer time night-long,

And evening travelers on their way,

Linger to hear her plaintive song.

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Thou maiden with the yellow hair,

The winds of life are sharp and chill;

Wilt thou not seek a shelter there,

In yon lone cottage by the hill?

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Johann W. L. Gleim: “The Wanderer”

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Fairwell to the Valley – Moritz von Schwind

 

THE WANDERER

 

My native land, on thy sweet shore

Lighter heaves the breast;

Could I visit thee once more,

How I should be blest!

 

Heart so anxious and so pained,

Fitting is thy woe;

My native land, what have I gained

By wandering from thee so?

 

Fresher green bedecks thy fields,

Fairer blue thy skies;

Sweeter shade thy forest yields,

Thy dews have brighter dies.

 

Thy Sabbath bells a sweeter note,

Echo far and near;

The nightingale’s melodious throat,

Sweeter thrills the ear.

 

Softer flow thy lavish streams

Through the meadow’s bloom;

Ah!  How bright the wanderer’s dreams

‘Neath thy linden’s gloom!

 

Fair thy sun that flings around

Genial light and heat.

To my father’s household gate

Let me bend my feet;

There, forgetting all the past,

I will rest in peace at last!