"Ganymed" is a poem by

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as t ...

, in which the character of the mythic youth Ganymede is seduced by God (or

Zeus Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label= genitive Boeotian Aeolic and Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label= genitive el, Δίας, ''Días'' () is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek relig ...

) through the beauty of Spring. In early editions of the ''Collected Works'' it appeared in Volume II of Goethe's poems in a section of ' (assorted poems), shortly following the "", and the '' Harzreise im Winter''. It immediately follows "

Prometheus In Greek mythology, Prometheus (; , , possibly meaning " forethought")Smith"Prometheus". is a Titan god of fire. Prometheus is best known for defying the gods by stealing fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, kn ...

", and the two poems together should be understood as a pair, one expressing the sentiment of

divine love Love of God can mean either love for God or love by God. Love for God (''philotheia'') is associated with the concepts of worship, and devotions towards God. The Greek term ''theophilia'' means the love or favour of God, and ''theophilos'' mean ...

, the other

misotheism Misotheism is the "hatred of God" or "hatred of the gods" (from the Greek adjective () "hating the gods" or "God-hating" – a compound of, , "hatred" and, , "god"). A related concept is dystheism ( grc, δύσ θεος, "bad god"), the belief t ...

. Both belong to the period 1770 to 1775.

is the creative and rebellious spirit which, rejected by God, angrily defies him and asserts itself; Ganymede is the boyish self which is adored and seduced by God. One is the lone defiant, the other the yielding

acolyte An acolyte is an assistant or follower assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession. In many Christian denominations, an acolyte is anyone performing ceremonial duties such as lighting altar candles. In others, the term is used f ...

. As the

humanist Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential and agency of human beings. It considers human beings the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry. The meaning of the term "human ...

poet, Goethe presents both identities as aspects or forms of the human condition. The poem was set to music, among others, by

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wo ...

(D. 544, 1817),

Carl Loewe Johann Carl Gottfried Loewe (; 30 November 1796 – 20 April 1869), usually called Carl Loewe (sometimes seen as Karl Loewe), was a German composer, tenor singer and conductor. In his lifetime, his songs ("Balladen") were well enough known for s ...

(Op. 81, No. 5, for

SATB SATB is an initialism that describes the scoring of compositions for choirs, and also choirs (or consorts) of instruments. The initials are for the voice types: S for soprano, A for alto, T for tenor and B for bass. Choral music Four-part harm ...

, 1836–1837), and by

Hugo Wolf Hugo Philipp Jacob Wolf (13 March 1860 – 22 February 1903) was an Austrian composer of Slovene origin, particularly noted for his art songs, or Lieder. He brought to this form a concentrated expressive intensity which was unique in late Ro ...

(1891).

Text

Wie im Morgenglanze Du rings mich anglühst, Frühling, Geliebter! Mit tausendfacher Liebeswonne Sich an mein Herz drängt Deiner ewigen Wärme Heilig Gefühl, Unendliche Schöne! Daß ich dich fassen möcht' In diesen Arm! Ach, an deinem Busen Lieg' ich, schmachte, Und deine Blumen, dein Gras Drängen sich an mein Herz. Du kühlst den brennenden Durst meines Busens, Lieblicher Morgenwind! Ruft drein die Nachtigall Liebend nach mir aus dem Nebeltal. Ich komm', ich komme! Wohin? Ach, wohin? Hinauf! Hinauf strebt's. Es schweben die Wolken Abwärts, die Wolken Neigen sich der sehnenden Liebe. Mir! Mir! In eurem Schosse Aufwärts! Umfangend umfangen! Aufwärts an deinen Busen, Alliebender Vater! How, in the morning brightness, You all around shine at me, Springtime, Beloved! With thousandfold love-bliss The holy feeling Of your eternal warmth Presses itself upon my heart, Unending beauty! Could I but embrace you In this arm! Ah, upon your breast I lie, languish, And your blossoms, your grass press upon my heart. You cool the burning Thirst of my bosom, Lovely morning-wind! There calls the nightingale Lovingly for me from the misty vale. I come, I come! Whither, ah whither? Up! Up it surges. The clouds are leaning Downwards, the clouds Bow down to yearning love. To me! To me! In your lap, clouds, Upwards! Embracing, embraced! Upwards to thy bosom, All-loving Father!

Sources

*J. W. Goethe, ' (Vol II, 79–80). (J. G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung, Stuttgart and Tübingen 1827). *J. W. Goethe, ' (Aufbau-Verlag, Berlin and Weimar 1988). .

External links

*
Text in seven languages, musical settings
LiederNet {{Authority control 1770s poems Poetry by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Characters in poems Ganymede (mythology) Works based on classical mythology