"I too might know the soft control Of one the longing heart could choose, With look which love illumes with soul-- The look that supplicates and woos. And sweet with him, where love presiding Prepares our hearth, to go--but, dim, A Stygian shadow, nightly gliding, Stalks between me and him! "Forth from the grim funereal shore, The Hell-Queen sends her ghastly bands; Where'er I turn--behind--before-- Dumb in my path--a Spectre stands! Wherever gayliest, youth assembles-- I see the shades in horror clad, Amidst Hell's ghastly People trembles One soul for ever sad! "I see the steel of Murder gleam-- I see the Murderer's glowing eyes-- To right--to left, one gory stream-- One circling fate--my flight defies! I may not turn my gaze--all seeing, Foreknowing all, I dumbly stand-- To close in blood my ghastly being In the far strangers' land!" Hark! while the sad sounds murmur round, Hark, from the Temple-porch, the cries!-- A wild, confused, tumultuous sound!-- Dead the divine Pelides lies! Grim Discord rears her snakes devouring-- The last departing god hath gone! And, womb'd in cloud, the thunder, lowering, Hangs black on Ilion. [Illustration: CASSANDRA Ferdinand Keller] * * * * * RUDOLPH OF HAPSBURG (1803) A BALLAD [Hinrichs properly classes this striking ballad (together with the yet grander one of the "Fight with the Dragon") amongst those designed to depict and exalt the virtue of Humility. The source of the story is in Ægidius Tschudi, a Swiss chronicler; and Schiller appears to have adhered, with much fidelity, to the original narrative.] At Aachen, in imperial state, In that time-hallow'd hall renown'd, At solemn feast King Rudolf sate, The day that saw the hero crown'd! Bohemia and thy Palgrave, Rhine, Give this the feast, and that the wine;[19] The Arch Electoral Seven, Like choral stars around the sun, Gird him whose hand a world has won, The anointed choice of Heaven. In galleries raised above the pomp, Press'd crowd on crowd their panting way, And with the joy-resounding tromp, Rang out the millions' loud hurra! For, closed at last the age of slaughter, When human blood was pour'd as water-- LAW dawns upon the world![20] Sharp force no more shall right the wrong, And grind the weak to crown the strong-- War's carnage-flag is furl'd! In Rudolf's hand the goblet shines-- And gaily round the board look'd he; "And proud the feast, and bright the wines My kingly heart feels glad to me! Yet where the Gladness-Bringer--blest In the sweet art which moves the breast With lyre and verse divine? Dear from my youth the craft of song, And what as knight I loved so long, As Kaiser, still be mine."