[Footnote 45: The Austrian knights were in the habit of wearing a plum of peac.o.c.ks" feathers in their helmets. After the overthrow of the Austrian dominion in Switzerland, it was made highly penal to wear the peac.o.c.k"s feather at any public a.s.sembly there.]
[Footnote 46: The bench reserved for the n.o.bility.]
[Footnote 47: The Landamman was an officer chosen by the Swiss Gemeinde, or Diet, to preside over them. The Banneret was an officer intrusted with the keeping of the State Banner and such others as were taken in battle.]
[Footnote 48: According to the custom by which, when the last male descendent of a n.o.ble family died, his sword, helmet, and shield, were buried with him.]
[Footnote 49: This frequently occurred. But in the event of an imperial city being mortgaged for the purpose of raising money, it lost its freedom, and was considered as put out of the realm.]
[Footnote 50: An allusion to the circ.u.mstance of the Imperial Crown not being hereditary, but conferred by election on one of the Counts of the Empire.]
[Footnote 51: These are the cots, or shealings, erected by the herdsmen for shelter while pasturing their herds on the mountains during the summer. These are left deserted in winter, during which period Melchthal"s journey was taken.]
[Footnote 52: It was the custom at the meetings of the Landes Gemeinde, or Diet, to set swords upright in the ground as emblems of authority.]
[Footnote 53: The Heribann was a muster of warriors similar to the _arriere ban_ of France.]
[Footnote 54: A The Duke of Suabia, who soon afterward a.s.sa.s.sinated his uncle for withholding his patrimony from him.]
[Footnote 55: A sort of national militia.]
[Footnote 56: Rocks on sh.o.r.e of Lake Lucerne.]
[Footnote 57: An allusion to the gallant self-devotion of Arnold Struthan of Winkelried, at the battle of Sempach [9th July, 1386], who broke the Austrian phalanx by rushing on their lances, grasping as many of them as he could reach, and concentrating them upon his breast. The confederates rushed forward through the gap thus opened by the sacrifice of their comrade, broke and cut down their enemy"s ranks, and soon became the masters of the field. "Dear and faithful confederates, I will open you a pa.s.sage. Protect my wife and children," were the words of Winkelried, as he rushed to death.]
[Footnote 58: The URPHEDE was an oath of peculiar force. When a man, who was at feud with another, invaded his lands and was worsted, he often made terms with his enemy by swearing the _Urphede_, by which he bound himself to depart, and never to return with a hostile intention.]
THE HOMAGE OF THE ARTS
A MASQUE
Dedicated in all reverence to her Imperial Highness, the Crown Princess of Weimar, MARIA PAULOWNA, Grand-d.u.c.h.ess of Russia, and produced at the Court Theatre in Weimar, November 12, 1804.
DRAMATIS PERSONae.
A FATHER.
A MOTHER.
A YOUTH.
A MAIDEN.
CHORUS OF COUNTRY PEOPLE.
GENIUS.
THE SEVEN ARTS.
The scene is laid in a country place. In the centre of the stage, an orange-tree, laden with fruit and bedecked with ribbons. The country people are setting it firmly in the earth, while maidens and children, on each side, hold it erect by means of garlands of flowers.
THE HOMAGE OF THE ARTS (1804)
TRANSLATED BY A. I. DU P. COLEMAN, A.M.
Professor of English Literature, College of the City of New York
THE FATHER
Blossom, blossom, bountiful tree With thy golden apples gay, Which from lands so far away We have brought for ours to see!
Fullest fruitage ever bearing, May thy branches ne"er decay!
ALL
Blossom, blossom, bountiful tree, Shooting upward strong and free!
THE YOUTH
With the fragrant bloom united, Proudly hang the golden store!
May it stand by storms unblighted, May it grow from more to more!
ALL
May it stand by storms unblighted, May it grow from more to more!
THE MOTHER
Mother Earth, O hear my word!
Guard the tender nursling now.
Thou that lead"st the speckled herd, G.o.d of the fields, to thee we bow!
THE MAIDEN
Gentle Dryads, guard its growing, Guard it, guard it, Pan most high!
Mountain nymphs, your gifts bestowing, Shield it when the storms are blowing-- Bid their fury pa.s.s it by!
ALL
Gentle Dryads, guard its growing, Guard it, guard it, Pan most high!
THE YOUTH
May kind skies smile down upon it, Always clear and always blue!
Sun, send out thy softest radiance!