Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GERMANY; A WINTER TALE: CAPUT 10, by HEINRICH HEINE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GERMANY; A WINTER TALE: CAPUT 10, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: On leaving hagen the night came on
Last Line: So amen to my invocation!
Subject(s): Drinks & Drinking; Marriage; Westphalia, Germany; Wine; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


ON leaving Hagen the night came on,
And I felt a chilly sensation
Inside. At the inn at Unna I first
Recover'd my animation.

A pretty maiden found I there,
Who pour'd out my punch discreetly;
Like yellow silk were her comely locks,
Her eyes like the moonlight gleam'd sweetly

Her lisping Westphalian accents I heard
With joy, as she utter'd them clearly;
The punch with sweet recollections smoked,
I thought of my brethren loved dearly;

The dear Westphalians, with whom I oft drank
At Gottingen, while we were able.
Till we sank in emotion on each other's necks,
And also sank under the table.

That loveable, worthy, Westphalian race!
I ever have loved it extremely;
A nation so firm, so faithful, so true,
Ne'er given to boasting unseemly.

How proudly they stand, with their lion-like hearts,
In the noble science of fencing!
Their quarts and their tierces, so honestly meant,
With vigorous arm dispensing.

Right well they fight, and right well they drink;
When they give thee their hand so gentle
To strike up a friendship, they needs must weep,
Like oaks turn'd sentimental.

May heaven watch over thee, worthy race,
On thy seed shower down benefactions,
Preserve thee from war and empty renown,
From heroes and heroes' actions!

May it evermore grant to thy excellent sons
An easy examination,
And give thy daughters marriages good, --
So Amen to my invocation!





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