phantoms which Popery substitutes for the living Christ—then also will my little book indeed have done its work. C. K.

1848.

CHARACTERS

Elizabeth, daughter of the King of Hungary,Lewis, Landgrave of Thuringia, betrothed to her in childhood.Henry, brother of Lewis.Walter of Varila, }Rudolf the Cupbearer, }Leutolf of Erlstetten, }Hartwig of Erba, } Vassals of Lewis.Count Hugo, }Count of Saym, etc. }Conrad of Marpurg, a Monk, the Pope’s Commissioner for the suppression of heresy.Gerard, his Chaplain.Bishop of Bamberg, uncle of Elizabeth, etc. etc.Sophia, Dowager Landgravine.Agnes, her daughter, sister of Lewis.Isentrudis, Elizabeth’s nurse.Guta, her favourite maiden.Etc. etc. etc

The Scene lies principally in Eisenach, and the Wartburg; changing afterwards to Bamberg, and finally to Marpurg.

PROEM

(EPIMETHEUS)

I

Wake again, Teutonic Father-ages,   Speak again, beloved primæval creeds;Flash ancestral spirit from your pages,   Wake the greedy age to noble deeds.

II

Tell us, how of old our saintly mothers   Schooled themselves by vigil, fast, and prayer,Learnt to love as Jesus loved before them,   While they bore the cross which poor men bear.

III

Tell us how our stout crusading fathers   Fought and died for God, and not for gold;Let their love, their faith, their boyish daring,   Distance-mellowed, gild the days of old.

IV

Tell us how the sexless workers, thronging,   Angel-tended, round the convent doors,Wrought to Christian faith and holy order   Savage hearts alike and barren moors.

V

Ye who built the churches where we worship,   Ye who framed the laws by which we move,Fathers, long belied, and long forsaken,   Oh! forgive the children of your love!

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