Mannheim/Heidelberg

Joseph von Eichendorff

Entry into Heidelberg

But now as round a rocky pile they rode
there suddenly appeared a marvellous sight,
church towers, meadows, rocks and treetops glowed,
and far into the scene, in colours bright,
with showers of sparks there wound a stream of fire,
as if Heaven would consume the world entire.

Among the slopes they saw as in a dream
a town with blossom covered, snowy white,
that with its vines was mirrored in the stream,
from the solitary wood, shot through with gleams of light,
and high above the river and the roads
the ruins of an ancient castle rose.

And as they reached the town gate before long
the streams run babbling through the narrow lanes,
and distant herdsmen sang their mountain songs,
and joyful lads in costumes passing strange,
that they in the scented air of the gardens wore,
sang serenades before their darlings' doors.

Meanwhile the woods are abuzz with ancient tales,
and from the castle towers across the bight,
that rose up as if from another age,
the spirit of the castle gives each night,
and has for many hundred years, his blessing
on the town and crews of ships there passing.

Enchanted by the spell of this old myth
the travellers stand – Go further if you dare!
In dreams they all had seen it just like this,
and each one thinks his home must be right here,
and the magic did not lie to anyone,
for Heidelberg was their chosen destination.