Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MAID OF ORLEANS, by JOHANN CHRISTOPH FRIEDRICH VON SCHILLER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MAID OF ORLEANS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: At thee the mocker sneers in cold derision
Last Line: Of nobleness alone a noble mind is proud.
Alternate Author Name(s): Schiller, Friedrich Von
Subject(s): Freedom; Joan Of Arc (1412-1431); Liberty


AT thee the Mocker sneers in cold derision,
Through thee he seeks to desecrate and dim
Glory for which he hath no soul or vision,
For "God" and "Angel" are but sounds with him.
He makes the jewels of the heart his booty,
And scoffs at Man's Belief and Woman's Beauty.

Yet thou—a lowly shepherdess!—descended
Not from a kingly but a godly race,
Are crowned by Poësy! Amid the splendid
Of Heaven's high stars she builds thy dwellingplace,
Garlands thy temples with a wreath of glory,
And swathes thy memory in eternal Story.

The Base of this weak world exult at seeing
The Fair defaced, the Lofty in the dust;
Yet grieve not! There are godlike hearts in being
Which worship still the Beautiful and Just.
Let Momus and his mummers please the crowd,
Of nobleness alone a noble mind is proud.





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