Based on Schiller's "Der Handschuh"... Not to be compared to the original, just a bit of fun.
Lady Kunigund smirked at the brave knight.
" If you're so brave, oh knight, why don't you fight?
Fetch me yonder glove. Prove your love to me,
Show your courage for all of us to see."
She giggled haughtily at her own jest
As she gave him this impossible test,
But the courageous knight rose to his feet,
Jumped into the pit with enormous speed
Amidst God's fiercest creatures he then stood,
Lions and tigers with a thirst for blood.
Yet very calmly he picked up the glove
And he smiled at the pale faces above
He waved at noblemen and ladies fair,
Who looked at him with fright and with despair
The beasts encroached upon the brave knight.
They were more than willing to take a bite.
But out he climbed again, glove in hand
And walked over to his fair lady friend.
She no longer laughed or challenged his,
But she instead leant forward for a kiss.
" My love you have earned, oh, brave, fearless sir."
But then the great knight threw the glove at her.
" I no longer want your love, oh pretty miss
nor do I long for your sweet lips to kiss."
|
The Glove
Written by embro (126 comments posted) 6th January 2008 |
I enjoyed this very much... A good fun read and nicely laid out, leading to a good ending. Well Done Sir !
All the best
embro |
Written by punchy (493 comments posted) 6th January 2008 |
| Funny, I liked. |
Written by Hellcat (57 comments posted) 6th January 2008 |
Just beautiful  Enjoyed, thanks |
Written by Phil (6645 comments posted) 6th January 2008 |
I'm glad he gave her the elbow! Nice story. A bit bumpy in places - but it tells the tale well.
Phil |
HI Fledermaus
Written by jean.day (2257 comments posted) 6th January 2008 |
| I was anticipating the end, but was glad that it came out that way. I enjoyed reading it. |
Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 6th January 2008 |
Thanks everyone.
The story itself is of course made up by Schiller, unless he himself borrowed it from someone else. "Der Handschuh" is one of the few German poems I remember from German classes in high school. A translation probably wouldn't do, so I tried to write a little thing about the same story myself here.
Here's Schiller's poem:
Vor seinem Löwengarten,
Das Kampfspiel zu erwarten,
Saß König Franz,
Und um ihn die Großen der Krone,
Und rings auf hohem Balkone
Die Damen in schönem Kranz.
Und wie er winkt mit dem Finger,
Auf tut sich der weite Zwinger,
Und hinein mit bedächtigem Schritt
Ein Löwe tritt,
Und sieht sich stumm
Rings um,
Mit langem Gähnen,
Und schüttelt die Mähnen,
Und streckt die Glieder,
Und legt sich nieder.
Und der König winkt wieder,
Da öffnet sich behend
Ein zweites Tor,
Daraus rennt
Mit wildem Sprunge
Ein Tiger hervor.
Wie der den Löwen erschaut,
Brüllt er laut,
Schlägt mit dem Schweif
Einen furchtbaren Reif,
Und recket die Zunge,
Und im Kreise scheu
Umgeht er den Leu
Grimmig schnurrend;
Drauf streckt er sich murrend
Zur Seite nieder.
Und der König winkt wieder,
Da speit das doppelt geöffnete Haus
Zwei Leoparden auf einmal aus,
Die stürzen mit mutiger Kampfbegier
Auf das Tigertier,
Das packt sie mit seinen grimmigen Tatzen,
Und der Leu mit Gebrüll
Richtet sich auf, da wird's still,
Und herum im Kreis,
Von Mordsucht heiß,
Lagern die greulichen Katzen.
Da fällt von des Altans Rand
Ein Handschuh von schöner Hand
Zwischen den Tiger und den Leu'n
Mitten hinein.
Und zu Ritter Delorges spottender Weis'
Wendet sich Fräulein Kunigund:
"Herr Ritter, ist Eure Lieb so heiß,
Wie Ihr mir's schwört zu jeder Stund,
Ei, so hebt mir den Handschuh auf."
Und der Ritter in schnellem Lauf
Steigt hinab in den furchtbar'n Zwinger
Mit festem Schritte,
Und aus der Ungeheuer Mitte
Nimmt er den Handschuh mit keckem Finger.
Und mit Erstaunen und mit Grauen
Sehens die Ritter und Edelfrauen,
Und gelassen bringt er den Handschuh zurück.
Da schallt ihm sein Lob aus jedem Munde,
Aber mit zärtlichem Liebesblick ?
Er verheißt ihm sein nahes Glück ?
Empfängt ihn Fräulein Kunigunde.
Und er wirft ihr den Handschuh ins Gesicht:
"Den Dank, Dame, begehr ich nicht",
Und verläßt sie zur selben Stunde.
|
PS. Friedrich von Schiller
Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 6th January 2008 |
| I suppose that as he hasn't been around for more than 200 years, I am allowed to post his German poem above ;-) |
A Glove?
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 6th January 2008 |
| He said exactly the right thing Fledermaus. No man should be made to grovel. If she didn't really want him in the first place, she should have said so. ha ha Don't you fall for this sort of trick. |
Written by petetheverse (164 comments posted) 8th January 2008 |
A nice tale.
I'm sure that you could REALLY make something of this in English, were you to set about it seriously; as you say, it's a light-hearted piece the way you have written it; and as Phil points out, a bit lumpy here and there.
If you could find the time to give it a more serious theme, then you could have something - for there is undoubtedly a moral to be had.
PTV |
Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 15th January 2008 |
Thanks Josie and Pete,
I think maybe I might come back to this one day. It's a nice theme. Might do a little more literal translation some day. |
me. too .....
Written by Bagheera (680 comments posted) 15th January 2008 |
I enjoyed your version for itself, and my German might be a bit rough and ready but I enjoyed reading the original, too!
Yours concentrates on the main points of the tale (which is obvious, as it's much shorter!!) but that doesn't in any way spoil it!
You've given me the itch to share one of my favourite Danish folk songs with GW, I may well have a go at it fairly soon ....
thanks again, fledermaus!  |
Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 15th January 2008 |
Thanks Bagheera.
That's be great! So many things are just waiting to be translated and edited  |
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllll .........!
Written by Bagheera (680 comments posted) 15th January 2008 |
maybe I'll take that challenge - in today's mucky weather, a drop of sunshine would work almost as many wonders as a Double Diamond (showing my age .....!!)  |
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