Norwich bulletin., 1922-08-26
FAMOUS McKNAMES
"THE swAN oF E1sLERnN.


 To Martin Luther was given the nick l name of "The Swan of Esleben. "Huss | is the BohAmtan word for .eoosa, and | this fact furnished both Huss and h.. | enemies with many pleasantries he using it In the enhancement of his hu- ntlity. and they as q term of rsproach. L Enfant gravely relates from an old author that, when his mother took Huss | to Prague, to enter him at the unaver- 1 Ety, she carried a geosA and cake \ with her as prasents to the rector. an incident regarded as an omen of evil at which the poor woman fell on her knees ] to- recommend her son to the divine pro- lection and continued her journey with a heavy heart.
 It Is said that when the Bohemian re- former. who was burned at the stake July 6, 14i5, was on hls way to the place of execution, he uttered this mo- roasting lean goose, but after a hun dred years you will hear the song of a swan which will arise from my aeaes,
 whom you will not be able to roast"
 This was afterward interpreted to mean Luther and Gaesle gives this as
 the reason why tn the pictures of Lu-
 tAer he Is 50 often accompanied by q
 swan. In letter sent by Hvss from
 Constance to Prague. he had also writ- : ten that he was a poor dumb fowl"
 and easily caught, but that there would come one. in few seasons, who would , he rarer bird than he, whom they would not be able to ensnare
 Thereafter 1t ts that Luther va. known as The Swan of EislsDen. n named for the town in Prusian Sax , eny where he was born in 14ss and died , in 1s4s. It will be noted that all full
 length portraits Of Luther have tn.
 swan At his feet and many supposed al one time that it must be in some man, . ner intended to represent his coat oi 2 arms, but Investigation shows that, al s : though his wife's arms are displayed his own are not.
 Just century after, as tiuss predict 5 ed came Luther. "the Swan of Elsie
 ben" and Pope Adrian in l5as, in . hrief addrsss Ao the diet of NurenberI wrote: ,''The heretics, Hues and Jerome seem to be living again In the person O . Luther"
 e Iznss although his prAsursor. by hundred years. was the savior of Huss
 for Charles v's beeroks for the sat n conduct gua+srteed to the latter on hi f journey to Worms was undoubtedly tn y oufgrowth of the Hc4ndAl which hat y arisen from StSisnund's violation e
 that guarantee previously to Eiu4s a : the Council of Constance. Charles AAid II A1S AoNl ilO hdrtl NB DFlctl llke nlS OLeQe $ eAssnr." in alhuston to. the story tha ii Sietsmpnd had manifested that arr, d ganoe when Huks spoke of his Ueach I. cry.
 d Dipped in hRs fsnow's blood e The Avins bird went feee'
 The nickname Swan of E1slAber
 seems strangely proper to Luther whe
 we regard him in another light than tA reforner-as a maker of hymns HI
 love for music Is we'll known "ft 1.
 he said. "a sdft and present offered (
 God and not of man. It drives arra the devil and makes people joyous afte q theology. gave to music the next plac O. and the highest honor"
 let Of that grand song. "Eine feste Bur h. ist unser Gott,' Carlyle says: '"Thel ip Is something in it like the song of A 10 pine avalanehes, CT the first nnur1ninr n- earthquakes" Heine too says in n Is Epeot to his hymns, "Luther well meri or the name of The Swan Of Eisleber sd ofttimes they resemble a flower on hs rock ofttines they are Nike mooAbea, oi sai1nmsring across c tossing sea" h. We are not told that Luther sar re hynns on his deathbed, but one is a h. ways reminded of this swan when req. te ing of Whattier's "ParSoE Avery of whose soul went singing to its roost