Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GERMANY; A WINTER TALE: CAPUT 26, by HEINRICH HEINE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GERMANY; A WINTER TALE: CAPUT 26, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The cheeks of the goddess glow'd all-red
Last Line: "methinks it by far the best place is."
Subject(s): Future; Grief; Hamburg, Germany; Kisses; Love; Sorrow; Sadness


THE cheeks of the goddess glow'd all-red
(I think that the rum had ascended
Up into her head) and she spoke in a tone
In which sorrow was painfully blended:

"I'm fast getting old; I was born on the day
"Of Hamburg's first foundation;
"My mother was a mermaid, who had
"At the mouth of the Elbe her station.

"My father was a monarch renown'd,
"Called Charlemagne the glorious;
"He was still more wise than Frederick the Great,
"And also still more victorious.

"At Aix-la-Chapelle is the seat where he sat
"On the day of his coronation;
"The seat where he sat at night devolved
"On my mother, as nearest relation.

"My mother left it to me in her turn,
"A common-looking article;
"And yet for the whole of Rothschild's gold
"I wouldn't surrender one particle.

"Behold, in yon corner stands a chair,
"Both old and weather-beaten;
"The leather that covers its arms is torn,
"And the cushion is sadly moth-eaten.

"Approach it now, and gently lift
"The cushion from the settle;
"Thou'lt see an oval opening then,
"And under it a kettle.

"That is a magic kettle wherein
"The magic forces are brewing;
"On placing thy head in the aperture, soon
"The future thou'lt clearly be viewing.

"Yes, Germany's future there thou'lt see,
"Like wondrously rolling phantasmas;
"But shudder not, if out of the filth
"Arise any foul miasmas!"

She spoke, and she laugh'd a singular laugh
But I undauntedly hasted
To hold my head over the terrible hole,
And there I eagerly placed it.

I'll not betray, for silence I vow'd,
The things that I saw and felt there;
I scarcely dare to utter a word,
Good heavens, of what I smelt there!

With deep disgust I think to this day
Of that smell, which blended together,
In vile and accursed union, a stench
Of old cabbage and Russia leather.

And heavens! the stink that afterwards rose
Was still more filthy and dirty;
'Twas as though they had swept together the soil
From closets six and thirty.

I know full well what was said by Saint Just
In the famous Committee of Safety:
"Great illnesses cannot be cured by musk
"And rose-oil," he told them with naivete.

And yet this German futurity's smell
Was infinitely stronger
Than aught that my nose could e'er have conceived --
In fact I could bear it no longer. --

My senses I lost, and on opening my eyes
Once more, I found myself sitting
Beside the goddess, and leaning my head
On her breast, in a manner befitting.

Her look it glisten'd, her mouth it glow'd,
Her nostrils twitched, with bacchantic
Excitement she clasp'd the poet, and sang
With ecstasy fearful and frantic:

"Stay with me in Hamburg, I love thee full well,
"And we'll eat and drink with gladness
"The oysters and wine of present times,
"Forgetting the future's sadness.

"Put on the cover, for fear lest the stench
"Should all our pleasure cloud over;
"I love thee no German poet had e'er
"A more affectionate lover!

"I kiss thee, and I feel myself now
"By thy genius quite inspired;
"My spirit by a wondrous kind
"Of paroxysm is fired.

"I feel as though I heard in the street
"The watchmen singing in chorus;
"'Tis wedding music and bridal songs,
"Sweet friend, that are rising o'er us.

"The attendants on horseback also approach,
"With their torches flaring brightly;
"The torch-dance they dance in dignified wise,
"And hop and spring about lightly.

"The noble and worshipful Senate is there,
"And the elders according to station;
"The burgomaster clears his throat,
"Preparing a lengthy oration.

"In glittering uniforms also appear
"The whole of the corps diplomatic,
"In the name of the neighbouring states to present
"Congratulations emphatic.

"A clerical deputation, too, comes,
"By rabbis and pastors guided;
"But, alas! here Hoffmann also draws near,
"With his scissors, as censor, provided.

"The scissors rattle in his hand,
"And eagerly he races
"To seize thy body, -- he cuts thy flesh --
"Methinks it by far the best place is."





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