German Faith

Friedrich Schiller 1759 (Marbach am Neckar) – 1805 (Weimar)



Once for the sceptre of Germany, fought with Bavarian Louis
      Frederick, of Hapsburg descent, both being called to the throne.
    But the envious fortune of war delivered the Austrian
      Into the hands of the foe, who overcame him in fight.
    With the throne he purchased his freedom, pledging his honor
      For the victor to draw 'gainst his own people his sword;
    But what he vowed when in chains, when free he could not accomplish,
      So, of his own free accord, put on his fetters again.
    Deeply moved, his foe embraced him,--and from thenceforward
      As a friend with a friend, pledged they the cup at the feast;
    Arm-in-arm, the princes on one couch slumbered together.
      While a still bloodier hate severed the nations apart.
    'Gainst the army of Frederick Louis now went, and behind him
      Left the foe he had fought, over Bavaria to watch.
    "Ay, it is true!  'Tis really true!  I have it in writing!"
      Thus did the Pontifex cry, when he first heard of the news.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

51 sec read
110

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABCDEFGHDIEJKLMN
Closest metre Iambic heptameter
Characters 1,008
Words 172
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 16

Friedrich Schiller

Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet philosopher historian and playwright During the last seventeen years of his life Schiller struck up a productive if complicated friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang Goethe with whom he frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics and encouraged Goethe to finish works he left merely as sketches this relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism They also worked together on Die Xenien The Xenies a collection of short but harshly satirical poems in which both Schiller and Goethe verbally attacked those persons they perceived to be enemies of their aesthetic agenda. more…

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