Parerga/Der Königssohn

Der Königssohn.

FROM UHLAND.

I.
High on his old ancestral throne
The aged King has placed him,
And glitter'd bright in the sun's last light.
The royal robes that graced him.

"My eldest-born, the land to share
"With the next in birth I give thee.—
"My best-beloved, my youngest son,
"What have I left to leave thee?"

"Give me the old and rusty crown—
"Treasures I ask no other:
"Then, three tall ships. I'll leave thy throne,
"And win myself another."

II.
From his own deck the youthful Chief
Now watch'd his galley's bounding.
The sun shone fair on his golden hair,
The laugh of the breeze was sounding.

A favouring gale has swell'd the sail,
The pennon high is dancing,
The mermaids' throng with sport and song
Around the keel are glancing.

"And this," he cried, "my kingdom is,
"My bark that bounds so merrily;
"The waves so free shall my comrades be,
"And we'll coast the dull earth cheerily."

Lo, tempest-charged, a swarthy cloud
Goes grimly up the heaven,
From its angry heart the lightnings start,
And the mast is in splinters riven.

The billows dark bound o'er the bark,
Mid the roar of the rattling thunder,
The Prince and his chosen kingdom sink
Together the wild waves under.

III.
FISHERMAN.
"The ship lies deep, her crew must sleep
"With ocean o'er their pillow.—
"But see! what swimmer speeds to shore,
"Borne on the rolling billow?"

"With stalwart arm he cleaves the tide,
"And rides its swell securely;
"High on his head gleams a golden crown,
"Some King I deem him surely."

PRINCE.
"Yes, I am come of royal race.
"No home is now before me;
"A feeble mother 'twas at first,
"The cold dull Earth that bore me.

"But soon a mightier birth was mine,
"The Sea was my second mother;
"In giant arms she dandled me,
"And those who called me brother.

"Shrank the rest from her strong embrace,
"But with me she has hither glided;
"And I thank her love, which this fair broad land
"For the Son of the Sea provided."

IV.
FISHERMAN.
"Why watchest thou thy line
"From morn to close of day,
"And yet, with all thy toil,
"Missest the finny prey?"

PRINCE.
"I watch not for such captures.―
"In the deep shaft of the brine
"I see th' untrodden store-house
"Of royal treasure shine."

V.
PRINCE.
"The lion stalks in gloomy state
"Beside the forest fountain,
"He roars aloud his stern command
"Over the wood-clad mountain.

"But in this hand a burly brand
"To quell his might is beaming;
"The golden hide that decks his side
"Round me shall soon be gleaming.

"The kingly eagle floats aloft
"In the pride of his rustling pinion,
"With longing gaze he eyes the sun
"As a crown for his high dominion.

"His path is proud above the cloud,
"But a shaft more proudly flying
"From my good bow-string shall check his wing,
"And hurl him downward dying."

VI.
In the wood's dark rounds a wild horse bounds,
Unbridled yet his head,
Of golden grain his long thick mane,
Earth sparkles at his tread.

The King's Son lightly swung him on,
The horse the rider cheereth,
With puff'd-out breast the snorting beast
And lashing tail careereth.

And all that dwell within the dell
Are lost in list'ning wonder,
To hear that steed from the mountain speed
Adown like storm and thunder.

The Son of the King came galloping
In his lion-hide attire;
On as he rode, the wild mane flowed,
And the wild hoofs scatter'd fire.

And all the nation throng'd around,
With jubilee and song—
"'Tis he! 'tis he! it is the King,
"For whom we've stayed so long!"

VII.
There stands a high and rugged rock,
The eagles round it flying
Ne'er venture down amid its crags,
Where they see the Dragon lying:

For there the Breather of the Flame
Its fearful form lay coiling,
With glittering crest, and scale-clad breast
With fiery venom boiling.

All all unarm'd—all all alone—
The Prince o'er the crags has past;
His arms are wound the Dragon around,
And he gripes it to him fast.

Thrice has he kist its threatening mouth;
The spell is snapt asunder;—
A maid is folded to his breast,
The wide world's beauteous wonder.

He has a glorious crowned bride
Upon his heart to pillow.
Where frown'd the rock, a royal dome
O'erlooks the ocean billow.

VIII.
The King has placed him on his throne,
His youthful Queen's beside him:
The throne shone bright, like morning's light,
And gallant subjects eyed him.

For many a knight of proof was there,
On his monarch's splendour gazing:
The golden crown shot lustre down,
Like the sun's own circle blazing.

A blind old Bard lean'd on his harp,
Amid the martial throng;
He felt the time had come at last
For which he'd sighed so long.

The veil of darkness leaves his eyes,
The veil that long had bound him;
He looks insatiate on the glow
Of glory flashing round him.

With dying fire he swept his lyre,
Oh! loud its numbers rang;
And full of light and happiness
The Bard his last lay sang.