Barbarossa
The ancient Barbarossa, the Kaiser Frederick old,
In subterranean castle ensorcelled state doth hold.
Dead was the Kaiser never, he lives in mystic sleep.
Long has he slumbered lonely in that enchanted keep.
The glory of the Empire with him has passed away;
But Emperor and Empire shall have one wakening-day.
The throne is all of ivory where sits the Kaiser dread,
Of porphyry the table whereon he leans his head.
Like fire not flax the beard is, that thick and long has grown
Right through the propping table that is of marble stone.
He nods as if a-dreaming, half-closed his eye of fire.
After long space of silence he beckons to a squire.
To him in sleep he mutters, " Around the castle-hill
See if the ravens flutter, and soar in circles still.
" And if the ancient ravens still circle far and near,
So must I sleep enchanted another hundred year. "
In subterranean castle ensorcelled state doth hold.
Dead was the Kaiser never, he lives in mystic sleep.
Long has he slumbered lonely in that enchanted keep.
The glory of the Empire with him has passed away;
But Emperor and Empire shall have one wakening-day.
The throne is all of ivory where sits the Kaiser dread,
Of porphyry the table whereon he leans his head.
Like fire not flax the beard is, that thick and long has grown
Right through the propping table that is of marble stone.
He nods as if a-dreaming, half-closed his eye of fire.
After long space of silence he beckons to a squire.
To him in sleep he mutters, " Around the castle-hill
See if the ravens flutter, and soar in circles still.
" And if the ancient ravens still circle far and near,
So must I sleep enchanted another hundred year. "
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