Two genii are there, from thy birth through weary life to guide thee;
Ah, happy when, united both, they stand to aid beside thee?
With gleesome play to cheer the path, the one comes blithe with beauty,
And lighter, leaning on her arm, the destiny and duty.
With jest and sweet discourse she goes unto the rock sublime,
Where halts above the eternal sea the shuddering child of time.
The other here, resolved and mute and solemn, claspeth thee,
And bears thee in her giant arms across the fearful sea.
Never admit the one alone!—Give not the gentle guide
Thy honor—nor unto the stern thy happiness confide!
(Friedrich von Schiller)
More Poetry from Friedrich von Schiller:
Friedrich von Schiller Poems based on Topics: Happiness, Time, Beauty, Fate & Destiny, Eternity, Duty- The Artists (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
- The Lay Of The Bell (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
- The Fight With The Dragon (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
- The Walk (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
- The Driver (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
- The Eleusinian Festival (Friedrich von Schiller Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Time Poems, Beauty Poems, Happiness Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Eternity Poems, Duty PoemsBased on Keywords: gleesome, halts, genii, claspeth, honor-
- Belphegor Addressed To Miss De Chammelay (Jean de La Fontaine Poems)
- The Pastoral, Or Lyric Muse Of Scotland. Canto Second (Hector MacNeill Poems)
- An Oriental Apologue (James Russell Lowell Poems)
- 'Look at The Clock!' : Patty Morgan The Milkmaid's Story (Richard Harris Barham Poems)
- Rachel (John Lawson Stoddard Poems)