HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories

HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories

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32 ^tint. in these sat the damned, and were cooked. In one row Avere placed Christian sinners, and, incredible as it may seem, their number was anything but small, and the devils poked the fire under them with special good-will. In the next row were Jews, who continually screamed and cried, and were occasionally mocked by the fiends, which sometimes seemed very amusing, as, for instance, when a fat, wheezy old pawnbroker complained of the heat, and a little devil poured several buckets of cold water on his head, that he might realise what a refreshing benefit baptism was. In the third row sat the heathen, who, like the Jews, could take no part in salvation, and must burn forever. I heard one of these, as a burly devil put fresh coals under his kettle, cry out from his pot, " Spare me ! I was Socrates, the wisest of mortals. I taught Truth and Justice, and sacrificed my life for Virtue." But the stupid, burly devil went on with his work, and grumbled, " Oh, shut up, there ! All heathens must burn, and we can't make an exception for the sake of a single man." I assure you, Madame, the heat was terrible, with such a screaming, sighing, groaning, quacking, grunting, and squealing.

^tint, 33 THE MESSAGE. Up, boy! arise, and saddle quick, And mount your swiftest steed, And to King Duncan's castle ride O'er bush and brake with speed. There slip into the stable soft, Till one shall see you hide, Then ask him: Which of Duncan's girls Is she that is a bride ? And if he say, The dark-haired one, Then give your mare the spur; But if he say. The fair-haired one, You need not hurry her. You only need, if that's the case, Buy me a hempen cord. Ride slowly back and give it me, But never speak a word. HUMANITY. Outlawed criminals often bear more humanity in their hearts than those cold, blameless citizens of virtue, in whose white hearts the power of evil is quenched; but also the power of good. I have seen women on whose cheeks red vice was painted, and in whose hearts dwelt heavenly purity.

^tint, 33<br />

THE MESSAGE.<br />

Up, boy! arise, and saddle quick,<br />

And mount your swiftest steed,<br />

And to King Duncan's castle ride<br />

O'er bush and brake with speed.<br />

There slip into the stable soft,<br />

Till one shall see you hide,<br />

Then ask him: Which of Duncan's<br />

girls<br />

Is she that is a bride ?<br />

And if he say, The dark-haired one,<br />

Then give your mare the spur;<br />

But if he say. The fair-haired one,<br />

You need not hurry her.<br />

You only need, if that's the case,<br />

Buy me a hempen cord.<br />

Ride slowly back and give it me,<br />

But never speak a word.<br />

HUMANITY.<br />

Outlawed criminals often bear more<br />

humanity in their hearts than those<br />

cold, blameless citizens of virtue, in<br />

whose white hearts the power of evil is<br />

quenched; but also the power of good.<br />

I have seen women on whose cheeks red<br />

vice was painted, and in whose hearts<br />

dwelt heavenly purity.

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