THE SEVEN SLEEPERS OF EPHESUS
by: Johann Wolfgang von
Goethe
- IX young
men of Caesar's household
- Fled before their master's anger;
- As a god he claimed their worship,
- Though a sorry god was he.
- For an insect, ever buzzing,
- Still annoyed him at the banquet,
- Still disturbed his rest and pleasure.
- All the chasing of his servants
- Could not drive away the torment.
- Ever round the head of Caesar
- Did the angry creature hover,
- Threatening with its poisoned sting
- Still it flew, and swiftly circling,
- Made confusion at the table,
- Messenger of Beelzebub,
- The infernal Lord of flies.
-
- "Ha!" -- so spake the youths together,
- "He a god that fears an insect!
- Can a god be thus molested?
- Does a god, like wretched mortals,
- Feast and revel at the banquet?
- Nay! to Him, the one, the only,
- Who the sun and moon created,
- Who hath made the stars in glory,
- Shall we henceforth bend the knee!"
-
- So they spake, and left the palace,
- Left it in their trim apparel;
- By a shepherd led, they hastened
- To a cave was in the mountain,
- And they all went gliding in.
- And the shepherd's dog came after,
- Though they strove to drive him from them;
- Thrust himself toward his master,
- Licked their hands in dumb entreaty,
- That he might remain their fellow;
- And lay down with them to sleep.
-
- But the wrath of Caesar kindled,
- When he knew that they had left him;
- All his former love departed,
- All his thought was vengeance only.
- Out in quest he sent his people,
- Traced them to the mountain hollow.
- Not to fire nor sword he doomed them;
- But he bade great stones be lifted
- To the entrance of the cavern;
- Saw it fastened up with mortar;
- And so left them in their tomb.
-
- But the youths lay calmly sleeping;
- And the angel, their protector,
- Spake before the throne of glory:
- "I have watched beside the sleepers,
- Made them turn in slumber ever,
- That the damps of yonder cavern,
- Should not cramp their youthful limbs;
- And the rocks around I've opened,
- That the sun at rising, setting,
- May give freshness to their cheeks.
- So they lie in rest and quiet,
- In the bliss of happy dreams."
- So they lay; and still beside them,
- Lay the dog in peaceful slumber,
- Never whimpering in his sleep.
-
- Years came on and years departed;
- Till at last the young men wakened;
- And the wall, so strongly fastened,
- Now had fallen into ruin,
- Crumbled by the touch of ages.
- Then Iamblichus, the youngest,
- And the goodliest of them all,
- Seeing that the shepherd trembled,
- Said, "I pray you now, my brothers,
- Let me go to seek provisions;
- I have gold, my life I'll venture,
- Tarry till I bring you bread."
-
- Ephesus, that noble city,
- Then, for many a year, had yielded
- To the faith of the Redeemer,
- Jesus. (Glory to his name!)
-
- And he ran into the city;
- At the gate were many wardens,
- Armed men on tower and turret,
- But he passed them all unchallenged;
- To the nearest baker's went he,
- And in haste demanded bread.
-
- "Ha! young rogue," exclaimed the baker,
- "Surely thou hast found a treasure;
- That old piece of gold betrays thee!
- Give me, or I shall denounce thee,
- Half the treasure thou hast found."
-
- And Iamblichus denied it.
- But the baker would not listen;
- Brawling till the watch came forward,
- To the king they both were taken;
- And the monarch, like the baker,
- But a higher right asserting,
- Claimed to share the treasure too.
-
- But at last the wondrous story,
- Which the young man told the monarch,
- Proved itself by many tokens
- Lord was he of that same palace,
- Whither he was brought for judgment;
- For he showed them to a pillar,
- In the which a stone was loosened
- Led unto a treasure chamber,
- Heaped with gold and costly jewels.
- Straightway came in haste his kindred,
- All his clan came thronging round him,
- Eager to advance their claim;
- Each was nearer than the other.
-
- And Iamblichus, the blooming,
- Young in face, and form, and feature,
- Stood an ancestor among them.
- All bewildered he heard legends
- Of his sons and of his grandsons,
- Fathers of the men before him.
- So amazed he stood and listened,
- Patriarch in his early manhood;
- While the crowd around him gathered,
- Stalwart men, and mighty captains,
- Him, the youngest, to acknowledge
- As the founder of their race!
- And one token with another
- Made assurance doubly certain;
- None can doubt the wondrous story
- Of himself and of his comrades.
-
- Shortly, to the cave returning,
- King and people all go with him,
- And they saw him enter in.
- But no more to king or people,
- Did the Chosen reappear.
- For the Seven, who long had tarried --
- Nay, but they were eight in number,
- For the faithful dog was with them --
- Thenceforth from the world were sundered.
- The most blessed Angel Gabriel,
- By the will of God Almighty,
- Walling up the cave for ever,
- Led them unto Paradise.
John Storer Cobb's English translation
of 'The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus' was first published in Goethe:
Poetical Works, vol. II. Boston: Francis A Niccolls &
Company, 1902. |
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