The Project Gutenberg E-text of Ausgewählte Gedichte, by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

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Ausgewählte Gedichte

Hans Steffen stieg bei Dämmerung (und kaum
konnt er vor Näschigkeit die Dämmerung erwarten)
in seines Edelmannes Garten
und plünderte den besten Apfelbaum.

Johann und Hanne konnten kaum
vor Liebesglut die Dämmerung erwarten
und schlichen sich in ebendiesen Garten
von ungefähr an ebendiesen Apfelbaum.

Hans Steffen, der im Winkel oben saß
und fleißig brach und aß,
ward mäuschenstill vor Wartung böser Dinge,
daß seine Näscherei ihm diesmal schlecht gelinge.
Doch bald vernahm er unten Dinge,
worüber er der Furcht vergaß
und immer sachter weiteraß.

Johann warf Hannen in das Gras.
"O pfui!", rief Hanne, "welcher Spaß!
Nicht doch, Johann!—Ei was?
O schäme dich!—Ein andermal—o laß—
O schäme dich! Hier ist es naß."
Naß oder nicht; was schadet das?
Es ist ja reines Gras.

Wie dies Gespräche weiterlief,
das weiß ich nicht. Wer braucht's zu wissen?
Sie stunden wieder auf, und Hanne seufzte tief:
"So, schöner Herr, heißt das bloß küssen?
Das Männerherz! Kein einzger hat Gewissen.
Sie könnten es uns so versüßen.
Wie grausam aber müssen
wir armen Mädchen öfters dafür büßen!

Wenn nun auch mir ein Unglück widerfährt!—
Ein Kind—ich zittre.—Wer ernährt
mir denn das Kind? Kannst Du es mir ernähren?"
"Ich?", sprach Johann, "die Zeit mag's lehren.
Doch wird's auch nicht von mir ernährt:
Der über uns wird schon ernähren;
dem über uns vertrau."

'Dem über uns.' Dies hörte Steffen.
'Was', dachte er, 'will das Pack mich äffen?
Der über Ihnen? Ei, wie schlau!'
"Nein", schrie er, "laßt euch andere Hoffnung laben!
Der über euch ist nicht so toll.
Wenn ich ein Bankbein nähren soll,
so will ich es auch selbst gedrechselt haben."

Wer hier erschrak und aus dem Garten rann,
das waren Hanne und Johann.
Doch gaben bei dem Edelmann
sie auch den Apfeldieb wohl an?
Ich glaube nicht, daß sie's getan.

Die Ehre hat mich nie gesucht;
sie hätte mich auch nie gefunden.
Wählt man, in zugezählten Stunden,
ein prächtig Feierkleid zur Flucht?

Auch Schätze hab ich nie begehrt.
Was hilft es sie auf kurzen Wegen
für Diebe mehr als sich zu hegen,
wo man das wenigste verzehrt?

Wie lange währt's, so bin ich hin,
und einer Nachwelt untern Füßen?
Was braucht sie wen sie tritt zu wissen?
Weiß ich nur, wer ich bin.

Faulheit, endlich muß ich dir
Auch ein kleines Loblied bringen!
O!... Wie... sauer... wird es mir
Dich nach Würde zu besingen!
Doch ich will mein Bestes tun:
Nach der Arbeit ist gut ruhn.

Höchstes Gut, wer dich nur hat,
Dessen ungestörtes Leben...
Ach!... ich gähn!... ich... werde matt.
Nun, so magst du mir's vergeben,
Daß ich dich nicht singen kann:
Du verhinderst mich ja dran.

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Ausgewählte Gedichte

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