The Poems of Schiller - Third period Part 11

From the Switzer land collects he All his warriors brave;-- Cross on breast, their course directs he To the Holy Grave.

In triumphant march advancing, Onward moves the host, While their morion plumes are dancing Where the foes are most.

Mortal terror strikes the Paynim At the chieftain's name; But the knight's sad thoughts enchain him-- Grief consumes his frame.

Twelve long months, with courage daring, Peace he strives to find; Then, at last, of rest despairing, Leaves the host behind; Sees a s.h.i.+p, whose sails are swelling, Lie on Joppa's strand; s.h.i.+ps him homeward for her dwelling, In his own loved land.

Now behold the pilgrim weary At her castle gate!

But alas! these accents dreary Seal his mournful fate:-- "She thou seek'st her troth hath plighted To all-gracious heaven; To her G.o.d she was united Yesterday at even!"

To his father's home forever Bids he now adieu; Sees no more his arms and beaver, Nor his steed so true.

Then descends he, sadly, slowly,-- None suspect the sight,-- For a garb of penance lowly Wears the n.o.ble knight.

Soon he now, the tempest braving, Builds an humble shed, Where o'er the lime-trees darkly waving, Peeps the convent's head.

From the orb of day's first gleaming, Till his race has run, Hope in every feature beaming, There he sits alone.

Toward the convent straining ever His unwearied eyes,-- From her cas.e.m.e.nt looking never Till it open flies, Till the loved one, soft advancing, Shows her gentle face, O'er the vale her sweet eye glancing, Full of angel-grace.

Then he seeks his bed of rushes, Stilled all grief and pain, Slumbering calm, till morning's blushes Waken life again.

Days and years fleet on, yet never Breathes he plaint or sighs, On her cas.e.m.e.nt gazing ever Till it open flies.

Till the loved one, soft advancing, Shows her gentle face, O'er the vale her sweet eyes glancing, Full of angel-grace.

But at length, the morn returning Finds him dead and chill;-- Pale and wan, his gaze, with yearning, Seeks her cas.e.m.e.nt still.

THE FIGHT WITH THE DRAGON.

Why run the crowd? What means the throng That rushes fast the streets along?

Can Rhodes a prey to flames, then, be?

In crowds they gather hastily, And, on his steed, a n.o.ble knight Amid the rabble, meets my sight; Behind him--prodigy unknown!-- A monster fierce they're drawing on; A dragon stems it by its shape, With wide and crocodile-like jaw, And on the knight and dragon gape, In turns, the people, filled with awe.

And thousand voices shout with glee "The fiery dragon come and see, Who hind and flock tore limb from limb!-- The hero see, who vanquished him!

Full many a one before him went, To dare the fearful combat bent, But none returned home from the fight; Honor ye, then, the n.o.ble knight!"

And toward the convent move they all, While met in hasty council there The brave knights of the Hospital, St. John the Baptist's Order, were.

Up to the n.o.ble master sped The youth, with firm but modest tread; The people followed with wild shout, And stood the landing-place about, While thus outspoke that daring one: "My knightly duty I have done.

The dragon that laid waste the land Has fallen beneath my conquering hand.

The way is to the wanderer free, The shepherd o'er the plains may rove; Across the mountains joyfully The pilgrim to the shrine may move."

But sternly looked the prince, and said: "The hero's part thou well hast played By courage is the true knight known,-- A dauntless spirit thou hast shown.

Yet speak! What duty first should he Regard, who would Christ's champion be, Who wears the emblem of the Cross?"-- And all turned pale at his discourse.

Yet he replied, with n.o.ble grace, While blus.h.i.+ngly he bent him low: "That he deserves so proud a place Obedience best of all can show."

"My son," the master answering spoke, "Thy daring act this duty broke.

The conflict that the law forbade Thou hast with impious mind essayed."-- "Lord, judge when all to thee is known,"

The other spake, in steadfast tone,-- "For I the law's commands and will Purposed with honor to fulfil.

I went not out with heedless thought.

Hoping the monster dread to find; To conquer in the fight I sought By cunning, and a prudent mind."

"Five of our n.o.ble Order, then (Our faith could boast no better men), Had by their daring lost their life, When thou forbadest us the strife.

And yet my heart I felt a prey To gloom, and panted for the fray; Ay, even in the stilly night, In vision gasped I in the fight; And when the glimmering morning came, And of fresh troubles knowledge gave, A raging grief consumed my frame, And I resolved the thing to brave."

"And to myself I thus began: 'What is't adorns the youth, the man?

What actions of the heroes bold, Of whom in ancient song we're told, Blind heathendom raised up on high To G.o.dlike fame and dignity?

The world, by deeds known far and wide, From monsters fierce they purified; The lion in the fight they met, And wrestled with the minotaur, Unhappy victims free to set, And were not sparing of their gore.'"

"'Are none but Saracens to feel The prowess of the Christian steel?

False idols only shall be brave?

His mission is the world to save; To free it, by his st.u.r.dy arm, From every hurt, from every harm; Yet wisdom must his courage bend, And cunning must with strength contend.'

Thus spake I oft, and went alone The monster's traces to espy; When on my mind a bright light shone,-- 'I have it!' was my joyful cry."

"To thee I went, and thus I spake: 'My homeward journey I would take.'

Thou, lord, didst grant my prayer to me,-- Then safely traversed I the sea; And, when I reached my native strand, I caused a skilful artist's hand To make a dragon's image, true To his that now so well I knew.

On feet of measure short was placed Its lengthy body's heavy load; A scaly coat of mail embraced The back, on which it fiercely showed."

"Its stretching neck appeared to swell, And, ghastly as a gate of h.e.l.l, Its fearful jaws were open wide, As if to seize the prey it tried; And in its black mouth, ranged about, Its teeth in p.r.i.c.kly rows stood out; Its tongue was like a sharp-edged sword, And lightning from its small eyes poured; A serpent's tail of many a fold Ended its body's monstrous span, And round itself with fierceness rolled, So as to clasp both steed and man."

"I formed the whole to nature true, In skin of gray and hideous hue; Part dragon it appeared, part snake, Engendered in the poisonous lake.

And, when the figure was complete, A pair of dogs I chose me, fleet, Of mighty strength, of nimble pace, Inured the savage boar to chase; The dragon, then, I made them bait, Inflaming them to fury dread, With their sharp teeth to seize it straight, And with my voice their motions led."

"And, where the belly's tender skin Allowed the tooth to enter in, I taught them how to seize it there, And, with their fangs, the part to tear.

I mounted, then, my Arab steed, The offspring of a n.o.ble breed; My hand a dart on high held forth, And, when I had inflamed his wrath, I stuck my sharp spurs in his side, And urged him on as quick as thought, And hurled my dart in circles wide As if to pierce the beast I sought."

"And though my steed reared high in pain, And champed and foamed beneath the rein, And though the dogs howled fearfully, Till they were calmed ne'er rested I.

This plan I ceaselessly pursued, Till thrice the moon had been renewed; And when they had been duly taught, In swift s.h.i.+ps here I had them brought; And since my foot these sh.o.r.es has pressed Flown has three mornings' narrow span; I scarce allowed my limbs to rest Ere I the mighty task began."

"For hotly was my bosom stirred When of the land's fresh grief I heard; Shepherds of late had been his prey, When in the marsh they went astray.

I formed my plans then hastily,-- My heart was all that counselled me.

My squires instructing to proceed, I sprang upon my well-trained steed, And, followed by my n.o.ble pair Of dogs, by secret pathways rode, Where not an eye could witness bear, To find the monster's fell abode."

"Thou, lord, must know the chapel well, Pitched on a rocky pinnacle, That overlooks the distant isle; A daring mind 'twas raised the pile.

Though humble, mean, and small it shows Its walls a miracle enclose,-- The Virgin and her infant Son, Vowed by the three kings of Cologne.

By three times thirty steps is led The pilgrim to the giddy height; Yet, when he gains it with bold tread, He's quickened by his Saviour's sight."

"Deep in the rock to which it clings, A cavern dark its arms outflings, Moist with the neighboring moorland's dew, Where heaven's bright rays can ne'er pierce through.

There dwelt the monster, there he lay, His spoil awaiting, night and day; Like the h.e.l.l-dragon, thus he kept Watch near the shrine, and never slept; And if a hapless pilgrim chanced To enter on that fatal way, From out his ambush quick advanced The foe, and seized him as his prey."

"I mounted now the rocky height; Ere I commenced the fearful fight, There knelt I to the infant Lord, And pardon for my sins implored.

Then in the holy fane I placed My s.h.i.+ning armor round my waist, My right hand grasped my javelin, The fight then went I to begin; Instructions gave my squires among, Commanding them to tarry there; Then on my steed I nimbly sprung, And gave my spirit to G.o.d's care."

"Soon as I reached the level plain, My dogs found out the scent amain; My frightened horse soon reared on high,-- His fear I could not pacify, For, coiled up in a circle, lo!

There lay the fierce and hideous foe, Sunning himself upon the ground.

Straight at him rushed each nimble hound; Yet thence they turned, dismayed and fast, When he his gaping jaws op'd wide, Vomited forth his poisonous blast, And like the howling jackal cried."

"But soon their courage I restored; They seized with rage the foe abhorred, While I against the beast's loins threw My spear with st.u.r.dy arm and true: But, powerless as a bulrush frail, It bounded from his coat of mail; And ere I could repeat the throw, My horse reeled wildly to and fro Before his basilisk-like look, And at his poison-teeming breath,-- Sprang backward, and with terror shook, While I seemed doomed to certain death."

"Then from my steed I nimbly sprung, My sharp-edged sword with vigor swung; Yet all in vain my strokes I plied,-- I could not pierce his rock-like hide.

His tail with fury las.h.i.+ng round, Sudden he bore me to the ground.