All 7 Uses
endeavor
in
Faust — translated by Brooks
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To mystify be your endeavor,
To satisfy is labor sore....
What ails you? Are you pleased or pained? What notion——
Poet. Go to, and find thyself another slave!
What! and the lofty birthright Nature gave,
The noblest talent Heaven to man has lent,
Thou bid'st the Poet fling to folly's ocean!
How does he stir each deep emotion?
How does he conquer every element?
But by the tide of song that from his bosom springs,
And draws into his heart all living things?
When Nature's hand, in endless iteration,
The thread across the whizzing spindle flings,
When the complex, monotonous creation
Jangles with all its million strings:
Who, then, the long, dull series ani†Chpt All * -
To know one thing I vainly endeavor,
There's nothing wherein one fellow-creature
Could be mended or bettered with me for a teacher.
And then, too, nor goods nor gold have I,
Nor fame nor worldly dignity,—A condition no dog could longer live in!
And so to magic my soul I've given,
If, haply, by spirits' mouth and might,
Some mysteries may not be brought to light;†Chpt All -
The other, friend, O, learn it never!
Two souls, alas! are lodged in my wild breast,
Which evermore opposing ways endeavor,
The one lives only on the joys of time,
Still to the world with clamp-like organs clinging;†Chpt All - O, never!
My promise, rightly understood,
Fulfils my nature's whole endeavor.
I've puffed myself too high, I see;†Chpt All - Faust. What am I then? if that for which my heart
Yearns with invincible endeavor,
The crown of man, must hang unreached forever?†Chpt All - Brander. A sorry song! Fie! a political song!
A tiresome song! Thank God each morning therefor,
That you have not the Romish realm to care for!
At least I count it a great gain that He
Kaiser nor chancellor has made of me.
E'en we can't do without a head, however;
To choose a pope let us endeavour.
You know what qualification throws
The casting vote and the true man shows.†Chpt Allunconventional spelling: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavor. - Faust. To keep my wits I must endeavor!
Call this a fair! I swear, I never—!†Chpt All
Definitions:
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(1)
(endeavor) to attempt; or a project or activity attempted
- (2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)