HEINE ON AN ILLUSTRIOUS EXILE WITH SOMETHING ABOUT WHALES
(From the “De l’Allemagne.”) (1867.)
Neptune is still the monarch of the empire of the seas, and Pluto
(although metamorphosed into the Devil) has retained the throne of
Tartarus. They have both been more lucky than their brother Jupiter, who
had to suffer specially the vicissitudes of fortune. This third son of
Saturn, who after the fall of his sire assumed the sovereignty of the
heavens, reigned for a long series of years on the summit of Olympus,
surrounded by a jovial court of high and of most high gods and demigods,
as well as on high and of most high goddesses and nymphs—their celestial
ladies of the bedchamber and maids of honor, who all led a joyous life,
replete with ambrosia and nectar, despising the clowns attached to the
soil down here, and taking no thought of the morrow. Alas, when the
reign of the Cross, the empire of suffering, was proclaimed, the supreme
Chronide emigrated and disappeared amidst the tumult of the barbarian
tribes which invaded the Roman world. All traces of the ex-God were
lost, and I have questioned in vain old chronicles and old women; no one
has been able to furnish me with any information as to his destiny. I
have burrowed in many a library, where I made them bring me the most
magnificent _codex_ enriched with gold and jewels, veritable odalisques
in the harem of science; and as is the custom, I here render my public
thanks to the erudite eunuchs who, without too much grumbling and
sometimes even with affability, have given me access to these luminous
treasures confided to their care. I am now convinced that the middle
ages have not bequeathed to us any traditions concerning the fate of
Jupiter after the fall of Paganism. All that I have been able to
discover in connection with this subject is the history told me long ago
by my friend Niels Andersen.
I have just mentioned Niels Andersen, and this good figure, at once so
droll and so lovable, emerges all riant in my memory. I must devote a
few lines to him here. For the rest, I like to indicate my authorities
and to show their good or bad qualities, in order that the reader may be
in a position to judge himself how far these authorities deserve to be
trusted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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