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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - To Charlotte
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`MIDST the noise of merriment and glee,

`Midst full many a sorrow, many a care,
Charlotte, I remember, we remember thee,

How, at evening`s hour so fair,
Thou a kindly hand didst reach us,

When thou, in some happy place

Where more fair is Nature s face,

Many a lightly-hidden trace
Of a spirit loved didst teach us.

Well `tis that thy worth I rightly knew,—

That I, in the hour when first we met,

While the first impression fill`d me yet,
Call`d thee then a girl both good and true.

Rear`d in silence, calmly, knowing nought,

On the world we suddenly are thrown;
Hundred thousand billows round us sport;

All things charm us—many please alone,
Many grieve us, and as hour on hour is stealing,

To and fro our restless natures sway;
First we feel, and then we find each feeling

By the changeful world-stream borne away.

Well I know, we oft within us find

Many a hope and many a smart.
Charlotte, who can know our mind?

Charlotte, who can know our heart?
Ah! `twould fain be understood, `twould fain o`erflow

In some creature`s fellow-feelings blest,
And, with trust, in twofold measure know

All the grief and joy in Nature`s breast.

Then thine eye is oft around thee cast,

But in vain, for all seems closed for ever.
Thus the fairest part of life is madly pass`d

Free from storm, but resting never:
To thy sorrow thou`rt to-day repell`d

By what yesterday obey`d thee.
Can that world by thee be worthy held

Which so oft betray`d thee?

Which, `mid all thy pleasures and thy pains,

Lived in selfish, unconcern`d repose?
See, the soul its secret cells regains,

And the heart—makes haste to close.
Thus found I thee, and gladly went to meet thee;

"She`s worthy of all love!" I cried,
And pray`d that Heaven with purest bliss might greet thee,

Which in thy friend it richly hath supplied.
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