THE TREE OF LIFE.
FROM THE GERMAN OF RÜCKERT.
I.
When Adam’s latest breath was nearly gone,
To Paradise the Patriarch sent his son,
II.
A branch to fetch him from the tree of life,
Hoping to taste of it ere life was done.
III.
Seth brought the branch, but ere he had arrived,
His father’s spirit was already flown.
IV.
Then planted they the twig on Adam’s grave,
And it was tended still from son to son.
V.
It grew while Joseph in the dungeon lay,
It grew while Israel did in Egypt groan.
VI.
Sweet odours gave the blossoms of the tree,
When David harping sat upon his throne.
VII.
Dry was the tree, when from the ways of God
Went erring in his wisdom Solomon:
VIII.
Yet the world hoped it would revive anew,
When David’s stock should give another Son.
IX.
Faith saw in spirit this, the while she sat
Mourning beside the floods of Babylon.
X.
And when the eternal lightning flashed from heaven,
The tree asunder burst with jubilant tone.
XI.
To the dry trunk this grace from God was given,
The Wòod of Passion should from thence be won.
XII.
The blind world fashioned out of it the cross,
And its Salvation nailed with scorn thereon.
XIII.
Then bore the tree of life ensanguined fruit,
Which whoso tasteth life shall be his loan.
XIV.
Oh look, oh look, how grows the tree of life,
By storms established more, not overthrown.
XV.
May the whole world beneath its shadow rest:
Half has its shelter there already won.