'An Schwager Kronos'

‘An Schwager Kronos’, a poem written by Goethe in October 1774 and first printed in Schriften 1789. In the MS., written for Frau von Stein in 1777, the date and place of origin is given: ‘In der Postchaise den 10. Oktober 1774’. The coachman (Schwager) of the title is Time (Chronos), for the ‘K’ is merely an error which has been perpetuated. The poet sees his life as a journey, with Time as coachman and a welcome at the end from the princes of the Underworld. In its combination of exaltation and humour, it is akin to ‘Wanderers Sturmlied’. The original differs appreciably from the version of 1789 and is now usually preferred.