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BARBAROSSA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The ancient barbarossa
Last Line: "by magic spell I'm bound."
Alternate Author Name(s): Raimar, Freidmund
Subject(s): Frederick I. Holy Roman Emperor


The ancient Barbarossa
By magic spell is bound, --
Old Frederic the kaiser,
In castle underground.

The kaiser hath not perished, --
He sleeps an iron sleep:
For in the castle hidden
He's sunk in slumber deep.

With him the chiefest treasures
Of empire hath he ta'en,
Wherewith in fitting season
He shall appear again.

The kaiser he is sitting
Upon an ivory throne;
Of marble is the table
His head he resteth on.

His beard it is not flaxen:
Like living fire it shines
And groweth through the table
Whereon his chin reclines.

As in a dream he noddeth,
Then wakes he, heavy-eyed,
And calls, with lifted finger,
A stripling to his side: --

"Dwarf, get thee to the gateway,
And tidings bring, if still
Their course the ancient ravens
And wheeling round the hill.

"For if the ancient ravens
Are flying still around,
A hundred years to slumber
By magic spell I'm bound."






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