Das Lied vom blöden Ritter

Es war wohl ein Ritter trübselig und stumm,
Mit hohlen schneeweißen Wangen;
Er schwankte und schlenderte schlotternd herum,
In dumpfen Träumen befangen.
Er war so hölzern und täppisch und links,
Die Blümlein und Mägdlein die kicherten rings,
Wenn er stolpernd vorbey gegangen.

Oft saß er im finstersten Winkel zu Haus;
Er hatt' sich vor Menschen verkrochen.
Da streckte er sehnend die Arme aus,
Doch hat er kein Wörtlein gesprochen.
Kam aber die Mitternachtstunde heran,
Ein seltsames Singen und Klingen begann,
An die Thüre da hört er es pochen.

Da kommt seine Liebste geschlichen herein,
Im rauschenden Wellenschaumkleide.
Sie blüht und glüht wie ein Röselein,
Ihr Schleyer ist eitel Geschmeide.
Goldlocken umspielen die schlanke Gestalt,
Die Auegelein winken mit süßer Gewalt, –
In die Arme sinken sich beide.

Der Ritter umschlingt sie mit Liebesmacht,
Der Hölzerne steht jetzt in Feuer;
Der Blasse erröthet, der Träumer erwacht,
Der Blöde wird kühner und freyer.
Sie aber sie hat ihn gar schalkhaft geneckt,
Sie hat ihm ganz leise den Kopf bedeckt,
Mit dem weißen, demantenen Schleyer.

In einen kristallenen Wasserpalast
Ist plötzlich gezaubert der Ritter.
Er staunt, und die Augen erblinden ihm fast,
Vor alle dem Glanz und Geflitter.
Doch hält ihn die Nixe umarmet gar traut
Der Ritter ist Bräut'gam, die Nixe ist Braut;
Ihre Jungfraun die spielen die Zither.

Sie spielen und singen; es tanzen herein
Viel winzige Mädchen und Bübchen.
Der Ritter der will sich zu Tode freu'n,
Und fester umschlingt er sein Liebchen, –
Da löschen auf einmal die Kerzen aus,
Der Ritter sitzt wieder ganz einsam zu Haus,
In dem düstern Poetenstübchen.

Jugendgedicht, nach Heines eigenhändiger Niederschrift im Besitz der Königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin.

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Das Lied vom blöden Ritter.

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