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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE WOUNDED KNIGHT by HEINRICH HEINE

First Line: I KNOW A STORY OF ANGUISH
Last Line: ACCUSING BOSOM MUST TURN.
Subject(s): KNIGHTS & KNIGHTHOOD; SUICIDE; UNFAITHFULNESS; INFIDELITY; ADULTERY; INCONSTANCY;

I KNOW a story of anguish,
A tale of the times of old;
A knight with love doth languish,
His mistress is faithless and cold.

As faithless must he esteem now
Her whom in his heart he adored;
His loving pangs must he deem now
Disgraceful and abhorr'd.

In vain in the lists would he wander,
And challenge to battle each knight;
"Let him who my mistress dares slander
"Make ready at once for the fight!"

But all are silent, save only
His grief, that so fiercely doth burn;
His lance he against his own lonely
Accusing bosom must turn.



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