FRIEDRICH SCHILLER - THE RING OF THE POLYCRATE
Poem / Ballad by Friedrich Schiller, written 1797 /
Recitation: Ulrich Matthes (photo) /
Note: Freedom in all its moral contradictions and physical evils is for noble minds an infinitely more interesting spectacle than prosperity and order without freedom [...]. (F. Schiller)
He stood on his roof's battlements,
He gazed with contented senses
Upon the ruled Samos.
"All this is subject to me,"
He began to the King of Egypt,
"Admit that I am happy."
"You have experienced the gods' favor!
Those who were formerly your equals,
The power of your scepter now compels them.
But one still lives to avenge them,
My mouth cannot speak happiness to you,
As long as the enemy's eye watches."
And before the king had finished,
A messenger, sent from Miletus,
presented himself to the tyrant:
"Leave, lord!" The scent of sacrifice rises
And with the laurel's cheerful branches,
crown your festive hair.
Struck by the spear, your enemy fell,
Your faithful general Polydor sends me with the joyful tidings—
And from a black basin,
still bloody, to the terror of both, brings forth
A well-known head.
The king steps back in horror:
"But I warn you not to trust in fortune,"
he replies with a worried look.
"Remember, on treacherous waves,
How easily the storm can shatter them,
Your fleet's fortune floats in doubt."
And before he had even spoken,
He was interrupted by the jubilation,
That resounds joyfully from the roadstead.
Richly laden with foreign treasures,
The forest of ships' masts returns to its native shores.
The royal guest was astonished:
"Your fortune is good today,
But fear its fleeting nature.
The Cretans' armed hordes
Threaten you with the dangers of war,
They are already near this shore."
And before he could even finish his words,
They were seen billowing from the ships,
And a thousand voices cried: "Victory! We are freed from the enemy's distress,
The storm has scattered the Cretans,
The war is over, it is ended."
The guest listened with horror:
"Truly, I must consider you fortunate,
But," he said, "I tremble for your safety.
I am filled with dread at the gods' envy,
The unadulterated joy of life
Has never been granted to any mortal.
" All has gone well for me too,
In all my deeds of rule,
Heaven's grace accompanies me,
But I had a dear heir,
God took him from me; I saw him die.
To fortune I paid my debt.
Therefore, if you wish to protect yourself from sorrow,
Pray to the unseen ones,
That they may bestow pain as well as happiness.
Never have I seen one end happily,
Upon whom the gods scatter their gifts with ever-full hands.
And if the gods do not grant it,
Heed a friend's teachings,
And summon misfortune yourself,
And whatever of all your treasures
That may most gladden your heart,
Take it and cast it into this sea."
And he speaks, moved by fear:
"Of all that the island holds,
This ring is my greatest treasure."
``` "I will dedicate it to the cherubs,
May they then forgive my good fortune."
And he throws the jewel into the flood.
And by the next morning's light,
A fisherman with a cheerful face appears before the prince:
"Sir, this fish I have caught,
The likes of which none have ever been caught in the net,
I bring it to you as a gift."
And when the cook cuts up the fish,
He comes rushing up, dismayed,
And cries out with a look of utter astonishment:
"Look, sir, the ring you wore,
I found it in the fish's stomach,
Oh, your good fortune knows no bounds!"
Here the guest turns away in horror:
"I cannot dwell here any longer,
You can no longer be my friend.
The gods will your ruin,
I hasten away, lest I die with you."
And with that, he quickly embarked.
... See also: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedri...
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Rin...
https://www.friedrich-schiller-archiv...
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulrich_...