The Goethe Library

In which the poet contemplates the beguiling nature of Cupid, recognising the god's treachery as both inspiration and distraction amidst the ancient splendours of Rome. Tender moments of intimacy mingle with a...

In which the lustrous echoes of ancient rites and harvest festivals yet linger upon the Via Flamina, as two lovers quietly recall the forgotten reverence once paid to Ceres, the nurturing goddess of grain. Amidst...

In which the poet lays before the graces a humble offering of verses, framed by a vivid tableau where divine figures in marble silently observe with varied expressions—Jupiter's sternness, Juno's quiet ascent, and...

In which the household awaits with mounting anticipation as a young man returns with a mysterious maiden, whose unexpected confession stirs a tender and earnest discourse on love, duty, and the delicate balance of...

In which the journey of two companions is set against the gathering tempest, and amid the ripened grain they share quiet confidences about family and the manners dear to their hearts. Beneath the bright moonlight, a...

In which a youthful Hermann encounters the compassionate Dorothea at a distant spring, where she thoughtfully tends to the needs of her weary countryfolk with a tender heart and steady hand. Their ensuing dialogue...

In which a foreign judge recounts the bitter trials and fleeting hopes of his exiled people amid the tumult of war and shifting loyalties, whilst the ministers and local dignitaries observe with measured sympathy a...

In which a thoughtful company of villagers deliberate on the wisdom of youthful choice and steadfastness, as a young man’s heart is set upon a stranger maiden displaced by the upheavals of war. With hope tempered by...

In which a mother, seeking her son through the verdant family estates, finds him immersed in deep reflection upon the encroaching dangers facing their homeland, his heart stirred not only by patriotism but also by a...

In which an earnest father admonishes his son to pursue progress and civic responsibility, lamenting the decline of diligence among the youth, while a mother defends her son's nature as worthy and deserving of love. The...

In which the young Hermann, moved by compassion and duty, shares his gifts amid the trials of displacement, revealing both tenderness and the heavy burden of his times. Meanwhile, the domestic scene unfolds with lively...

In which the quiet town is stirred by the mournful passage of exiles fleeing from distant strife, their sorrowful procession drawing the attentions and reflections of its inhabitants near and far. As the day wanes in...

In which the prelude to a touching narrative is delicately unfolded, outlining the historical and political tapestry that colours the tale of Hermann and Dorothea, and introducing a cast of characters rendered with both...