To Joy
Joy, thou fair and sparkling child,
Heaven-born Elysian maid,
We draw near with fervour wild
And thy sanctuary invade.
Thine enchantments bind again
What the fashions set aside;
Friends and brothers men remain
Where thy gentle pinions glide.
Chorus.
Approach, ye myriads, embrace!
To the whole world my kiss shall swell!
Brothers, beyond that starry sphere
There must a loving Father dwell.
He who happily succeeds
In befriending a true friend,
Whom a worthy woman leads —
Such their triumph-cry may lend!
So may he who but one soul
As his very own can claim:
He who can none such enrol
Let him quit our midst in shame!
Chorus.
By all dwellers on our globe
Sympathy must e'er be shown;
Into star-land it can probe,
Where is throned the great Unknown.
All the world may draughts of joy
From the breast of Nature take;
Good and ill alike employ
Pains to trace joy's rosy wake.
Kisses gave she and the grape,
And the faithful, lifelong friend;
E'en the worm its joy can shape,
Heavenward the cherubs tend.
Chorus.
High-placed myriads, will ye fall?
Dost thou fear thy Maker, world?
Seek him past yon shimmering pall
Where the starlight is unfurled.
Joy is like th' eternal springs
Which the wheels of Nature start,
Driving true with even swings
In the world's great throbbing heart.
Joy can coax the buds when shy,
Summon suns from boundless space,
Settle planets in the sky
Which to seers have no place.
Chorus.
As the suns in glory roll,
Joyous, through the heavenly plane,
Press, my brethren, towards the goal
Your victorious campaign.
Truth her mirrored rays projects,
Joyful, on th' inquiring mind;
Joy the wanderer protects
Who the path of right would find.
High on Faith's illumined hills
Gallantly her banners wave,
And with angel voice she trills
'Mid the choirs beyond the grave.
Chorus.
Myriads, your courage raise!
Suffer for that higher sphere.
There, beyond the starry maze,
A rewarding God will cheer.
Who can e'er the Gods requite?
'Tis enough like them to be.
Grief and poverty unite
With the joyful to agree.
Vengeance let us set aside,
And forgive our direst foe:
Let no tears his conscience chide,
Force him not remorse to know.
Chorus.
Cancelled be our roll of crime,
Wiped away be every grudge;
God above those stars sublime
Judges mortals as they judge.
Joy in foaming beakers creams: —
Influenced by the golden vine,
Civilized the savage seems,
Timid hearts with valour shine.
Let the generous flagon pass;
Brethren, in your places rise,
To good fortune drain a glass,
Effervescing to the skies!
Chorus.
Stars salute thee as they sail,
Seraphs sing thy hymn of praise:
To thy glorious spirit, hail,
High above the twinkling maze!
Courage grant to real woe,
Help where drops a guiltless tear;
Constancy on oaths bestow,
Truth let foe and friend revere!
Manly pride before the throne
Grant — no matter what the cost —
Let the worthy gain their own,
Be the brood of liars lost!
Chorus.
Draw the circle nearer still,
By this golden wine declare
That your vows ye will fulfil;
By the judge of Heaven swear!
Heaven-born Elysian maid,
We draw near with fervour wild
And thy sanctuary invade.
Thine enchantments bind again
What the fashions set aside;
Friends and brothers men remain
Where thy gentle pinions glide.
Chorus.
Approach, ye myriads, embrace!
To the whole world my kiss shall swell!
Brothers, beyond that starry sphere
There must a loving Father dwell.
He who happily succeeds
In befriending a true friend,
Whom a worthy woman leads —
Such their triumph-cry may lend!
So may he who but one soul
As his very own can claim:
He who can none such enrol
Let him quit our midst in shame!
Chorus.
By all dwellers on our globe
Sympathy must e'er be shown;
Into star-land it can probe,
Where is throned the great Unknown.
All the world may draughts of joy
From the breast of Nature take;
Good and ill alike employ
Pains to trace joy's rosy wake.
Kisses gave she and the grape,
And the faithful, lifelong friend;
E'en the worm its joy can shape,
Heavenward the cherubs tend.
Chorus.
High-placed myriads, will ye fall?
Dost thou fear thy Maker, world?
Seek him past yon shimmering pall
Where the starlight is unfurled.
Joy is like th' eternal springs
Which the wheels of Nature start,
Driving true with even swings
In the world's great throbbing heart.
Joy can coax the buds when shy,
Summon suns from boundless space,
Settle planets in the sky
Which to seers have no place.
Chorus.
As the suns in glory roll,
Joyous, through the heavenly plane,
Press, my brethren, towards the goal
Your victorious campaign.
Truth her mirrored rays projects,
Joyful, on th' inquiring mind;
Joy the wanderer protects
Who the path of right would find.
High on Faith's illumined hills
Gallantly her banners wave,
And with angel voice she trills
'Mid the choirs beyond the grave.
Chorus.
Myriads, your courage raise!
Suffer for that higher sphere.
There, beyond the starry maze,
A rewarding God will cheer.
Who can e'er the Gods requite?
'Tis enough like them to be.
Grief and poverty unite
With the joyful to agree.
Vengeance let us set aside,
And forgive our direst foe:
Let no tears his conscience chide,
Force him not remorse to know.
Chorus.
Cancelled be our roll of crime,
Wiped away be every grudge;
God above those stars sublime
Judges mortals as they judge.
Joy in foaming beakers creams: —
Influenced by the golden vine,
Civilized the savage seems,
Timid hearts with valour shine.
Let the generous flagon pass;
Brethren, in your places rise,
To good fortune drain a glass,
Effervescing to the skies!
Chorus.
Stars salute thee as they sail,
Seraphs sing thy hymn of praise:
To thy glorious spirit, hail,
High above the twinkling maze!
Courage grant to real woe,
Help where drops a guiltless tear;
Constancy on oaths bestow,
Truth let foe and friend revere!
Manly pride before the throne
Grant — no matter what the cost —
Let the worthy gain their own,
Be the brood of liars lost!
Chorus.
Draw the circle nearer still,
By this golden wine declare
That your vows ye will fulfil;
By the judge of Heaven swear!
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