Ludwig Uhland, 'The Minstrel’s Curse'

[duathir.livejournal.com]

The Minstrel’s Curse

IN olden times a castle stood towering high and free:
It gleamed far over the country, unto the deep blue sea;
The gardens round were fragrant, in glowing bloom arrayed,
And glistening like the rainbow, the limpid fountains played.

There sat a mighty monarch with many lands his own,
He sat so pale and threatening upon his mighty throne.
For what he thinks is terror and what he sees is rage
And what he speaks is torture and blood his written page.

There travelled to this castle a noble minstrel pair,
The one with locks of gold and the other grey of hair;
And with his harp the old man a comely charger rode.
While merrily beside him his young companion strode.

The old man to the young said: “My son, take ample care!
Our deepest songs remember, and strike thy note most rare.
With all thy might put sorrow and joy into thy tone!
To-day we both must conquer this monarch’s heart of stone.”

Before the lofty pillars the minstrel pair is seen;
Upon the throne are sitting the monarch and his queen.
The king is fiercely splendid, like bloody northern light,
The queen is mild and lovely, like full moon in the night.

The old man touched his harp strings, and—wonderful to hear!—
Chords fuller, ever fuller, were rising to the ear;
Then high the young man’s singing most heavenly limpid streamed,
The old man’s voice sonorous a ghostly chorus seemed.

They sing of love and springtime, of golden days to bless,
Of freedom, manly honour, of faith and holiness.
They sing of all the sweetness that trembles through the breast,
They sing of all that’s lofty and fills the heart with zest.

( The courtiers round about them forget to mock and sneer; )