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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE LEGEND OF HEINZ VON STEIN by CHARLES GODFREY LELAND

Poet Analysis

First Line: OUT RODE FROM HIS WILD, DARK CASTLE
Last Line: OF THE TERRIBLE HEINZ VON STEIN.
Subject(s): LEGENDS;

OUT rode from his wild, dark castle
The terrible Heinz von Stein;
He came to the door of a tavern
And gazed on its swinging sign.

He sat himself down at a table,
And growled for a bottle of wine;
Up came with a flask and a corkscrew
A maiden of beauty divine.

Then, seized with a deep love-longing,
He uttered, "O damosel mine,
Suppose you just give a few kisses
To the valorous Ritter von Stein!"

But she answered, "The kissing business
Is entirely out of my line;
And I certainly will not begin it
On a countenance ugly as thine!"

Oh, then the bold knight was angry,
And cursed both coarse and fine;
And asked, "How much is the swindle
For your sour and nasty wine?"

And fiercely he rode to the castle
And sat himself down to dine;
And this is the dreadful legend
Of the terrible Heinz von Stein.



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