Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LOWER WORLD, by HEINRICH HEINE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LOWER WORLD, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Many a time poor pluto sigh'd thus
Last Line: "a faded life, love lost for ever!"
Subject(s): Life; Love; Marriage; Mythology; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


I.

MANY a time poor Pluto sigh'd thus:
"Were I but a single man!
"Since my married life began,
"Hell, I've learnt, was not a hell
"Till I to a wife was tied thus!

"Would that I remain'd still single!
"Since I Proserpine did wed,
"Each day wish I I was dead!
"With the bark of Cerberus
"Her loud scoldings ever mingle.

"Each attempt I make is fruitless
"After peace. There's not a ghost
"Half so sad in all my host,
"And I envy Sisyphus,
"And the Danaid's labour bootless.

II.

ON golden chair in the regions infernal,
Beside her spouse, the monarch eternal,
Queen Proserpine's sitting
With mien ill befitting
Her station, and sadly she's sighing:

"For roses I yearn, and the rapturous blisses
"Of Philomel's song, and the sun's sweet kisses;
"And here 'mongst the pallid
"Lemures and squalid
"Dead bodies, my youth's days are flying.

'I'm firmly bound in the hard yoke of marriage
In this hole, which I'm sure e'en a rat would disparage
"And the spectres unsightly
"Through my window peep nightly,
"Their wails with the Styx's groans vying.

"This very day I've invited to dinner
"Old Charon, the bald-pated spindle-shank'd sinner, --
"And also the Judges,
"Those wearisome drudges --
"Such company's really too trying!"

III.

WHILST these murmurs unavailing
In the lower world found vent,
Ceres on the earth was wailing,
And the crazy goddess went,
With no cap on, with no collar,
And with loose dishevell'd hair,
Uttering, in a voice of dolour,
That lament known everywhere:

"Is't the beauteous spring I see?
"Hath the earth grown young again?
"Sunlit hills glow verdantly,
"Bursting through their icy chain.
"From the streamlet's mirror blue
"Smiles the now-unclouded sky,
"Zephyr's wings wave milder too,
"Youthful blossoms ope their eye.
"In the grove sweet songs resound,
"While the Oread thus doth speak:
"'Once again thy flow'rs are found,
"'Vain thy daughter 'tis to seek.'

"Ah, how long 'tis since I went
"First in search o'er earth's wide face!
"Titan, all thy rays I sent,
"Seeking for the loved one's trace!
"Of that form so dear, no ray
"Hath as yet brought news to me,
"And the all-discerning Day
"Cannot yet the lost one see.
"Hast thou, Zeus, her from me torn?
"Or to Orcus' gloomy stream,
"Hath she been by Pluto borne,
"Smitten by her beauty's beams?

"Who will to yon dreary strand
"Be the herald of my woe?
"Ever leaves the bark the land,
"Yet but shadows in it go.
"To each blest eye evermore
"Closed those night-like fields remain;
"Styx no living form e'er bore,
"Since his stream first wash'd the plain.
"Thousand paths lead downward there,
"None lead up again to light;
"And her tears no witness e'er
"Brings to her sad mother's sight."

IV.

"CERES! my good wife's relation!
"Prythee cease to weep and call so!
"I now grant your application --
"I have suffer'd greatly also!

"Comfort take! we'll share your daughter's
"Sweet society, and let her
"Have on earth six months her quarters
"Yearly, if you like it better.

"She, when men in summer swelter,
"Can assist your rural labours,
"'Neath a straw hat taking shelter,
"Flow'r-bedizen'd, like her neighbours'.

"She can rant, when colours glowing
"Robe the evening sky in splendour,
"When beside the stream is blowing
"On his flute a bumpkin tender.

"She'll rejoice with lads and lasses
"At the harvest-home's gay dances,
"And amongst the sheep and asses
"Be a lioness, the chance is.

"I'll recruit my spirits sinking
"Here in Orcus in a canter,
"Mingled punch and Lethe drinking,
"And forget my wife instanter!"

V.

"METHINKS at times thy brow is shaded
"With yearnings that in secret dwell;
"Thy hapless lot I know full well;
"Lost love, a life untimely faded!

"Thou nodd'st a sad assent! I never
"Can give thee back thy youthful prime;
"Thy heart's woes cannot heal with time:
"A faded life, love lost for ever!"





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