Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller

In a narrow circle the mind contracts.
Man grows with his expanded needs.
[Ger., Im engen Kreis read more

In a narrow circle the mind contracts.
Man grows with his expanded needs.
[Ger., Im engen Kreis verengert sich der Sinn.
Es wachst der Mensch mit seinen grossern Zwecken.]

And this be the vocation fit,
For which the founder fashioned it;
High, high above earth's life, read more

And this be the vocation fit,
For which the founder fashioned it;
High, high above earth's life, earth's labor
E'en to the heaven's blue vault to soar.
To hover as the thunder's neighbor,
The very firmament explore.
To be a voice as from above
Like yonder stars so bright and clear,
That praise their Maker as they move,
And usher in the circling year.
Tun'd be its metal mouth alone
To things eternal and sublime.
And as the swift wing'd hours speed on
May it record the flight of time!

The zeal of friends it is that razes me,
And not the hate of enemies.
[Ger., Der read more

The zeal of friends it is that razes me,
And not the hate of enemies.
[Ger., Der Freunde Eifer ist's, der mich
Zu Grunde richtet, nicht der Hass der Feinde.]

The dream is short, repentance long.
[Ger., Der Wahn ist kurtz, die Reu ist lang.]

The dream is short, repentance long.
[Ger., Der Wahn ist kurtz, die Reu ist lang.]

Alas! when duty grows thy law, enjoyment fades away.

Alas! when duty grows thy law, enjoyment fades away.