Johann Wolfgang von Goethe | Autograph poem, 'Liegt dir Gestern klar und offen', signed, 1831

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Autograph poem, 'Liegt dir Gestern klar und offen', signed ("JWvGoethe")

Liegt dir Gestern klar und offen,

Wirkst du heute kräftig treu;

Kannst auch auf ein Morgen hoffen,

Das nicht minder glücklich sey.

1 page, 11.5 x 19.5cm, laid down on paper, later manuscript inscription ("†​ ​d. 22^sten März 1832 im 83. Lebensjahr"), Weimar, February 1831

ONE OF GOETHE'S BEST-KNOWN AND BEST-LOVED POEMS.

This famous quatrain, a masterly paraphrase of a poem by François de Maucroix (1619-1708), was originally published in 1826 in lithographed facsimile of the original manuscript (dated 7 November 1825), appearing under Bendixen's lithograph portrait (after Vogelstein) of the poet. It was also selected by Goethe to round off Group IV of the Zahme Xenien in the final edition of his works. Its quiet praise of the benefits of a life well led no doubt appealed to the poet as he approached the twilight of his own life. Not only did he have lithograph facsimiles made, but he also produced a number of handwritten copies for his friends.

LITERATURE:

Leonard L. Mackall, 'Goethe's Quatrain "Liegt dir Gestern klar und offen" a Paraphrase from Maucroix', The American Journal of Philology, vol.41 no.4 (1920), pp.379-383