Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Germany: Vols. XVII–XVIII. 1876–79. | | | | Thuringia | | The Battle of the Bards | | Robert, Lord Lytton (1831–1891) |
| | | THIS is the land, the happy valleys these, | |
| Broad breadths of plain, blue-veined by many a stream, | |
| Umbrageous hills, sweet glades, and forests fair, | |
| O’er which our good liege, Landgrave Herman, rules. | |
| This is Thuringia: yonder, on the heights, | 5 |
| Is Wartburg, seat of our dear lord’s abode, | |
| Famous through Christendom for many a feat | |
| Of deftest knights, chief stars of chivalry, | |
| At tourney in its courts; nor more renowned | |
| For deeds of prowess than exploits of art, | 10 |
| Achieved when, vocal in its Muses’ hall, | |
| The minstrel-knights their glorious jousts renew, | |
| And for the laurel wage harmonious war. | |
| On this side spreads the chase in wooded slopes | |
| And sweet acclivities; and, all beyond, | 15 |
| The open flats lie fruitful to the sun | |
| Full many a league; till, dark against the sky, | |
| Bounding the limits of our lord’s domain, | |
| The Hill of Hörsel rears his horrid front. * * * * * | | | | |
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