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19

SONG. FREU'T EUCH DES LIBENS.

Chorus.

Taste life's glad moments
Whilst the wasting taper glows;
Pluck, ere it withers,
The quickly fading rose.
Man blindly follows grief and care,
He seeks for thorns and finds his share,
Whilst vi'lets to the passing air
Unheeded shed their blossoms.
Chorus.
Though tim'rous nature veils her form,
And rolling thunder spreads alarm;
Yet, ah! how soft when lull'd the storm
The sun smiles forth at ev'n!
Chorus.
To him who Spleen and Envy flies,
And meek Contentment well can prize,
The humble plant a tree shall rise,
Which golden fruit will yield him.
Chorus.
20

Who fosters Faith in upright breast,
And freely gives to the distress'd,
There shall Contentment build her nest,
And flutter round his bosom.
Chorus.
And when life's path grows dark and strait,
And pressing ills on ills await,
Then Friendship, sorrow to abate,
The helping hand will offer.
Chorus.
She dries his tears—she strews his way,
Ev'n to the grave, with flow'rets gay,
Turns night to morn, and morn to day,
And pleasure still increases.
Chorus.
Of Life she is the fairest band,
Joins brothers truly hand in hand;
Thus onward to a better land
Man journeys light and cheer'ly.

Chorus.

Taste Life's glad moments
Whilst the wasting taper glows;
Pluck, ere it withers,
The quickly fading rose.
 

Translated at Leipsic in 1795. Several versions of this song have been published. If this is the least elegant, it is perhaps the most literal.

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