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Translated by H. W. Dulcken
ALL their wealth and vast possessions | |
| Vaunting high in choicest terms, | |
| Sat the German princes feasting | |
| In the knightly hall of Worms. | |
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| “Mighty,” cried the Saxon ruler, | 5 |
| “Are the wealth and power I wield: | |
| In my country’s mountain gorges | |
| Sparkling silver lies concealed.” | |
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| “See my land with plenty glowing,” | |
| Quoth the Palsgrave of the Rhine; | 10 |
| “Beauteous harvests in the valleys, | |
| On the mountains noble wine.” | |
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| “Spacious towns and wealthy convents,” | |
| Lewis spake, Bavaria’s lord, | |
| “Make my land to yield me treasures | 15 |
| Great as those your fields afford.” | |
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| Würtemberg’s belovéd monarch, | |
| Eberhard the Bearded, cried: | |
| “See, my land hath little cities, | |
| ’Mong my hills no metals bide; | 20 |
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| “Yet one treasure it hath borne me,— | |
| Sleeping in the woodland free, | |
| I may lay my head in safety | |
| On my lowliest vassal’s knee.” | |
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| Then, as with a single utterance, | 25 |
| Cried aloud those princes three: | |
| “Bearded count, thy land hath jewels! | |
| Thou art wealthier far than we!” | |
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