-----
第一章THE Gesellige Lieder， which I have angicisled as above， as several of them cannot be called convivial songs， are separated by Goethe from his other songs， and I have adhered to the same arrangement. The Ergo bibamus is a well-known drinking song in Germany， where it enjoys vast popularity.
ON THE NEW YEAR.
[Composed for a merry party that used to meet， in 1802， at Goethe's house.]
FATE now allows us，'Twixt the departingAnd the upstarting， Happy to be；And at the call ofMemory cherish'd，Future and perish'd Moments we see.
Seasons of anguish，--
Ah， they must everTruth from woe sever， Love and joy part；Days still more worthySoon will unite us，Fairer songs light us， Strength'ning the heart.
We， thus united，Think of， with gladness，Rapture and sadness， Sorrow now flies.
Oh， how mysteriousFortune's direction！
Old the connection，New-born the prize！
Thank， for this， Fortune， Wavering blindly！
Thank all that kindly Fate may bestow！
Revel in change'sImpulses clearer，Love far sincerer， More heartfelt glow！
Over the old one，Wrinkles collected，Sad and dejected， Others may view；But， on us gentlyShineth a true one，And to the new one We， too， are new.
As a fond couple'Midst the dance veering，First disappearing， Then reappear， So let affectionGuide thro' life's mazyPathways so hazy Into the year！
1802.
-----
