The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1880-01-30
Tue cCRSE OF THE NINsIREL.
English version of INLAND German poem.
BY e. y. GIEssELER

Where played sparkling fountains in rain
bow eolOred spray.
There dwelt haughty king in land an,
conquest great,
lie sat upon his throne dark lowering pal
as death,
For all he thinks is terror, and all his look
are wrath,
And all he speaks is seourges, and all b
writes is blood.
Once jourueyrd to this castle charmin,
minstrel-pair,
One shone in golden tress"s, gray was tn,
others hair;
The old man with his harp a stately hors'
did ride,
His blooming young companion marched
bIiskly at his side.
Said the old man to the youth, now b,
prepared my son,
Think Of our deepest songs ring with You
fullest tone,
And master all your strength, grief, JOY
aud bliss impart
To-day we'll try to soften this bad king
heart.
And quietly both bards stand in the lofty
hall,
And ca the throne are seated the king and
queen witbal;
The king IN fearful splendor like bloody
dorthlight glare,
The queen most sweet and gentle lik,
moonlight shining there.
The old man touched the chords, with won.
drous skill he played
Aud mighty and still mightier the sound
the hearers swayed,
Then scared heavenly pure the youth IA
charming air,
The old man'svoice among like sound FROM
ghostIy choir.
They sing of spring and love of golden
time aud bliss,
OF freedom, manly pride, of faith aud holi
less
They sung of all the great which moves
human breast
They sung of all the sweet which human
heart has blessed.
The eonrtiers throug forgot what raillery
they wot,
The king'srougb, surly warriors bow down
before their God,
The queen enraptured charmed with feel
Jugs godlike blessd',
Down to the minstrels, throws rosebud
from her breast.
"You led astray my people! would ye
delude my damef"
The king thus shouts with fury,it shook
bis very frame.
Into the youths bosom be throws his
flashing sword,
From whence Instead Of song, a jet of blood
streams forth.
As scattered by storm is all the hearers
swarm,
The young bard did expire in bis old mas
ter's arms.
lie seats him on the horse, wraps round
his cloak as pail.
He buds him upright fast, then leaves the
castle hall.
And at the arched gate there halts the
minstrel old,
Tnere grasps his harp, of all the harps
more priced for than for gold,
And on marble pillar he shattered it
and broke,
Then through the hall loud rang his voice,
as ieariully he spoke
" Woe unto you, proud halls May never
charming play
Ring through your lofty rooms, nor song,
nor minstrel lay.
No only signs and moaning, and slaves
steps slyly hnshed,
Till you By vengeance breath to waste
and dust are crushedl
"wo to ye, fragrant gardens in May.
lights golden ray
To you | show this corpse-distigu
That thereat you dry up, that every spring
give out,
And lay in future days stony waste
about.
wo to you, damned murderer Curse of
the miustrels uamel
In vain be all your striving for wreaths of
bloody fame;
Your name be all forgotten, in endless
night he cast out,
BE like the last dead rattle in empty space
thrust out p
The aged bard had spoken, and heaven
heard it all.
The walls are down in ruin, destroyed the
lofty hall
A solitary column, part spleudor shows
aud blight,
Which, rent from top to bottom, may fall
down any night.
Instead of fragrant gardens heath covers
all the land;
No tree gives cooling shade, no spring runs
through the sand,
The kings name siugs no epic lay as histo-
ry's noblest source,
Sunk down TO be- forgotten That Is the