Heinz von Stein. Joseph Victor von Scheffel (1826-1886). Nassau. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. 1876-79. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes. Germany: Vols. XVII-XVIII

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Germany: Vols. XVII–XVIII. 1876–79.

Nassau

Heinz von Stein

Joseph Victor von Scheffel (1826–1886)


Translated by C. G. Leland OUTRODE from his wild dark castle
The terrible Heinz von Stein:
He came to the door of a tavern,
And gazed at the swinging sign.

He sat himself down at a table,	5
And growled for a bottle of wine;
Up came, with a flask and a corkscrew,
A maiden of beauty divine.

Then, seized with a deep love-longing,
He uttered, “O, damosell mine,	10
Suppose you just give a few kisses
To the valorous Ritter von Stein.”

But she answered, “The kissing business
Is entirely out of my line;
And I certainly will not begin it	15
On a countenance ugly as thine.”

O, then the bold knight was angry,
And cursed both coarse and fine;
And asked, “How much is the swindle
For your sour and nasty wine?”	20

And fiercely he rode to the castle,
And sat himself down to dine;
And this is the dreadful legend
Of the terrible Heinz von Stein.