Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg: His Short Biography and Aesthetic Representation of His Works (1810) - Page 15

Softly groaning from the mouth of friendship,

Echoing in the army of the multitude,

Swollen by loud lamentations,

Carried through the air in a thousand voices;

Zumsteeg is no more!

O the mournful day,

O the terribly swift blow,

That picks the noble fruit so early!

Hardly carried away by the outpourings of the harmonica,

By the stream of heavenly tones,

Is the spirit transported to the better land.

Into the land of higher beauty,

Where, at the hand of the faithful genius,

That magic of soul-filled tones,

That light flow of harmonies,

In the hours of holy enthusiasm,

He had once happily, astonishingly found.

Hark how Kolma laments with love,

How Lenore rages and trembles!

How the Spring Celebration Klopstock's work presses toward Orion,

Swings itself around newborn suns,

Weeping by the glow-worm,

Resounding by the storm of the forest,