Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE AUDIENCE (AN OLD FABLE), by HEINRICH HEINE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE AUDIENCE (AN OLD FABLE), by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I'll let not my children, like pharaoh, be drown'd
Last Line: No more of his children's intrusion.
Subject(s): Children; Courts & Courtiers; Drowning; Herwegh, Georg (1817-1875); Nature; Childhood; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens


"I'LL let not my children, like Pharaoh, be drown'd
"In the Nile's deep turbulent water;
"Nor am I a tyrant, like Herod of old,
"No patron of children's slaughter.

"I will, as my gracious Saviour did,
"Find the sight of the children pleasant;
"So suffer the children to come, and first
"The big one, the Swabian peasant."

Thus spake the monarch; the chamberlain ran,
And return'd, introducing slowly
The stalwart child from Swabia's land,
Who made a reverence lowly.

Thus spake the king: "A Swabian art thou?
"There's no disgrace in that surely." --
"Quite right! I was born in Swabia's land,"
Replied the Swabian demurely.

"Art thou from the seven Swabians sprung?"
Ask'd the other. -- "In truth I'm descended
"From one of them only," the Swabian replied,
"And not from the whole of them blended."

The king then ask'd: "Are dumplings this year
"In Swabia as usual eaten?" --
"I'm obliged for the question," the Swabian rejoin'd,
"They are not easily beaten."

"And do ye still boast big men?" next said
The monarch. -- "Why, just at present
"The big ones are scarce, but in their place
"We've fat ones," answer'd the peasant.

"Has Menzel," added the king, "received
"On his ear many boxes lately?"
"I'm obliged for the question," the Swabian said,
"The former ones punish'd him greatly."

The king then said, "Thou'rt not such a fool,
"My friend, as thou fain wouldst persuade me."
"That's because I was changed in my cradle," said he,
"By the cobolds, who different made me."

The king then spake: "The Swabians are wont
"To love their fatherland dearly;
"So why hast thou left thy native home?
"Explain the reason clearly."

The Swabian replied: "Each day I had nought
"But turnips and sour-crout ever;
"And had my mother but cook'd me meat,
"I bad left my fatherland never."

"One wish I will grant thee," the monarch then said --
Then the Swabian in deep supplication
Knelt down and exclaim'd: "O, Sire, pray grant
"Their freedom once more to the nation.

"Freeborn is man, and Nature ne'er meant
"That he as a slave should perish;
"O, Sire, restore to the German folk
"The rights that they manfully cherish!"

The monarch in deep amazement stood,
The scene was really enthralling;
With his sleeve the Swabian wiped from his eye
The tear that was wellnigh falling.

At last said the king: "In truth a fine dream!
"Farewell, and pray learn more discretion;
"And as a somnambulist plainly thou art,
"Of thy person I'll give the possession

"To two trusty gendarmes, whose duty 'twill be
"To see thee safe over the border --
"Farewell! I must hasten to join the parade,
"The drums are beating to order."

And so this affecting audience came
To a most affecting conclusion.
But from that moment the monarch allow'd
No more of his children's intrusion.





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