FOR woman due allowance make!
Form’d of a crooked rib was she, —
By Heaven she could not straight’ned be.
Attempt to bend her, and she’ll break;
If left alone, more crooked grows madam;
What well could be worse, my good friend, Adam? —
For woman due allowance make;
‘Twere grievous, if thy rib should break!
Form’d of a crooked rib was she, —
By Heaven she could not straight’ned be.
Attempt to bend her, and she’ll break;
If left alone, more crooked grows madam;
What well could be worse, my good friend, Adam? —
For woman due allowance make;
‘Twere grievous, if thy rib should break!
1819.*
[From Tefkir Nameh. Book of Contemplation, Western-Eastern Divan (1814-19). Those who know German, can read the original text. There is also a collection of Goethe’s works in verse, first printed in 1883, which you can find here. It contains English translation of the Divan. Finally, in Russian it is published at Lib.ru, but in fragments only].