Ludwig Tieck's The Wild Huntsman

I have published the famous Wild Huntsman of Burger, as translated by Sir Walter Scott, and I have also adapted a Wild Huntsman poem by Victor Hugo. Here is another retelling of the legend, by German Romantic poet Ludwig Tieck:

The “ Wild Huntsman" of the Harz Mountains was also a cruel and profligate lord , who indulged in his passion for the chase without regard to the crops or even the lives of his vassals, or of the holy days set apart by the Church. He is firmly believed in by the peasant of the Black Forest, and many ballads have been written on this legend. The following is a translation of one of Tieck's poems:

 

THE WILD HUNTSMAN

 

By Ludwig Tieck

 

At the dead of the night the wild huntsman awakes

In the deepest recess of the forest's dark brakes;

He lists to the storm and arises in scorn,

He summons his hounds with his far -sounding horn.

He mounts his black steed; like the lightning they fly,

And sweep the hush'd forest with snort and with cry.

Loud neighs his black courser;  hark! his horn how 'tis swelling;

He chases his comrades, his hounds wildly yelling

Speed along! Speed along! for the race is all ours;

Speed along! Speed along! while the midnight still lowers;

The spirits of darkness will chase him in scorn

Who dreads our wild howl and the shriek of our horn.

Thus yelling and belling they sweep on the wind,

The dread of the pious and reverent mind;

But all who roam gladly in forests at night,

This conflict of spirits will strangely delight.”

 

Unattributed translation, found in: From “Dogs of Legend and Romance.” M.F. O’Malley. Aunt Judy’s Christmas Volume for 1879. Edited by H.K.F. Gatty. 1879. London: George Bell & Son.