Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ATTA TROLL; A SUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM: CAPUT 2, by HEINRICH HEINE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ATTA TROLL; A SUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM: CAPUT 2, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: That a swarthy freiligrathian
Last Line: "in the street mud are reflected!"
Subject(s): Freiligrath, Ferdinard (1810-1876); Moors (people)


THAT a swarthy Freiligrathian
Moorish prince with anxious longing
On the big drum's skin should rattle,
Till with violence 'tis broken,

Is a very drum-affecting
And a drumskin-breaking matter --
But just fancy the confusion
When a bear has burst his fetters!

Both the music and the laughter
Straight are hush'd; with screams of terror
Rush the people from the market,
Pale as death turn all the ladies.

Yes, from out his slavish fetters
Atta Troll has freed himself
Suddenly, and springing wildly,
Through the narrow streets he hastens --

(Each one civilly makes way),
Up the rocks he nimbly clambers,
Then looks down, as if in scorn, -- then
Vanishes within the mountains.

On the empty market stand now
Swarthy Mumma, and bear-leader
All alone. In angry fury
On the ground his hat he flingeth,

Trampling on it, -- the Madonnas
Trampling also, tears the covering
From his ugly naked body,
Swears at such ingratitude,

Such black bear's ingratitude!
For he constantly had treated
Atta Troll in friendly fashion,
And instructed him in dancing.

All he had to him was owing,
E'en his very life. In vain they
Offer'd him a hundred dollars
For the skin of Atta Troll!

Then upon the poor black Mumma,
Who, a form of silent sorrow,
On her hinder paws imploring,
Stood before the much enraged one,

Fell the much enraged one's fury
With redoubled strength. He beats her,
Calls her even Queen Christina,
Madame Munoz and Putana. --

All this happen'd in a beauteous
Sultry summer afternoon,
And the night which then succeeded
To that day was quite superb.

Almost half that night consumed I
On the house's balcony;
Juliet was beside me standing,
Gazing on the stars above us.

Sighing said she: "Ah, in Paris
"Fairest are the stars of all,
"When they on a winter evening
"In the street mud are reflected!"





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