At Dusseldorf castle on the Rhine
They’re gaily masquerading;
The waxlights sparkle, the company dance,
The music their nimbleness aiding.
The beauteous Duchess dances too,
And ceases laughing never;
Her partner is a slender youth,
Who seems right courtly and clever.
He wears a mask of velvet black,
Whence merrily is peeping
An eye just like a shining dirk
From out of its sheath half creeping.
The carnival throng exultingly shout
As they whirl in the waltz’s embraces,
While Drickes and Marizzebill
Salute with loud noise and grimaces.
The trumpets crash, and the merry hum
Of the double-bass increases,
Until the dance to an end has come,
And then the music ceases.
“Most excellent Lady, thy pardon I beg,
“’Tis time for me to go now—”
“The Duchess said smiling: “You shall not depart,
“Unless your face you show now.”
“Most excellent Lady, thy pardon I beg,
“My face is a hideous creature’s—”
“The Duchess said smiling: “I am not afraid,
“I insist upon seeing your features.”
“Most excellent Lady, thy pardon I beg,
“For night and death are my portion—”
“The Duchess said smiling: “I’ll not let you go
“I’ll see you, despite all your caution.”
In vain he struggled with gloomy words
To change her determination;
At length she forcibly tore the mask
From his face for her information.
“’Tis the headsman of Bergen!” the throng in the hall
Exclaim with a feeling of terror,
And timidly shrink;—the Duchess rush’d out,
Her husband to tell of her error.
The Duke was wise, and all the disgrace
Of the Duchess straightway effac’d he;
He drew his bright sword and said: “Kneel down,
Good fellow!” with accents hasty.
“With this stroke of the sword I make you now
“A limb of the order knightly;
“And since you’re a knave, you’ll hereafter be call’d
“Sir Knave of Bergen rightly.”
So the headsman became a nobleman proud,
Of the Bergen Knaves’ family founder;
A haughty race! they dwelt on the Rhine,
Though now they all underground are!