Crossing Goethe

[muckefuck]

It took me a while to find a translation I liked. Of the ones available online, Thomas Carlyle's seems to have done the least damage to Goethe's original lines.

Know’st thou the land where lemon-trees do bloom,
And oranges like gold in leafy gloom;
A gentle wind from deep blue heaven blows,
The myrtle thick, and high the laurel grows?
Know’st thou it, then?
’Tis there! ’tis there,
O my belov’d one, I with thee would go!

Know’st thou the house, its porch with pillars tall?
The rooms do glitter, glitters bright the hall,
And marble statues stand, and look me on:
What’s this, poor child, to thee they’ve done?
Know’st thou it, then?
’Tis there! ’tis there,
O my protector, I with thee would go!

Know’st thou the mountain bridge that hangs on cloud?
The mules in mist grope o’er the torrent loud,
In caves lie coil’d the dragon’s ancient brood,
The crag leaps down and over it the flood:
Know’st thou it, then?
’Tis there! ’tis there
Our way runs; O my father, wilt thou go?

Preserving the...ah...inimitable qualities of Kempner's verse is a different challenge altogether and I submit my miserable attempt in full knowledge that it is not up to the task.

Know'st thou the land,
Where the lianas bloom
And jungle green
Entwines to heaven's dome?
Where Niagara from the rocks does break,
The sun a stinging in your scalp embake?

Know'st thou the land,
Whither martyrs do go,
And where they mute
As alpine roses glow?
The second homeland 'tis, so some have sa'd
Know'st thou the land? No? That's too bad!"