I.

Society.

A thought as the morning dawned.

You! — Artist of your own torments,
poor mortal! — your blessedness
hangs upon the chains of love,
which form the society of men.
Ah! Wretched man! why do you seek
to tear these chains asunder,
and, out of the stubbornness
of your unjust soul, accuse them
of being a burden to humanity?
Ah! how pitiable is the error
that deceives you!
Know, wretched man! — you are rushing
toward your own ruin! —
Do you then misjudge the power of these bonds?
Through them, continents are bound,
and climatic zones Original: "Himmelsstriche." In the 18th century, this term referred to specific regions of the earth categorized by their climate or latitude—literally "strokes of the heavens." are united. —
In vain does the immense partition
of the sea separate mankind;
nothing more exists upon the globe of the earth
that the chain of society does not link.
The whole world is now but one single land,