Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Switzerland and Austria: Vol. XVI. 1876–79. | | | | Austria: Munkacs, Hungary | | Alexander Ypsilanti | | Wilhelm Müller (1794–1827) |
| | Translated by C. T. Brooks
ALEXANDER YPSILANTI sate in Muncacs’ lofty tower, | |
| And the rotten casement rattled in the wind that midnight hour; | |
| Black-winged clouds, in long procession, hiding moon and stars, swept by, | |
| And the Greek prince whispered sadly: “Must I here, a captive, lie?” | |
| On the distant south horizon still he gazes, half unmanned: | 5 |
| “Were I sleeping in thy dust, now, my belovéd Fatherland!” | |
| And he flung the window open, ’t was a dreary scene to view; | |
| Crows were swarming in the lowlands, round the cliff the eagle flew. | |
| And again he murmured, sighing: “Comes there none good news to tell | |
| From the country of my fathers?” And his heavy lashes fell,— | 10 |
| Was ’t with tears, or was ’t with slumber? And his head sank on his hand;— | |
| Lo! his face is growing brighter,—dreams he of his Fatherland? | |
| So he sate, and to the sleeper came a slender arméd man, | |
| Who, with glad and earnest visage, to the mourner thus began: | |
| “Alexander Ypsilanti, cheer thy heart and lift thy head! | 15 |
| In the narrow rocky passage where my blood was freely shed, | |
| Where the brave three hundred Spartans slumber in a common grave, | |
| Greece to-day has met the oppressor, and her conquering banners wave. | |
| This glad message to deliver was my spirit sent to thee: | |
| Alexander Ypsilanti, Hellas’ holy land is free!” | 20 |
| Then awoke the prince from slumber, and in ecstasy he cries: | |
| “’T is Leonidas!” and glistening tears of joy bedewed his eyes. | |
| Hark! above his head a rustling; and a kingly eagle flies | |
| From the window, and in moonlight spreads his pinions to the skies. | | | | |
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