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The Richest Prince

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Justinus Kerner
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Der reichste Fürst
by Justinus Kerner

Preisend mit viel schönen Reden
Ihrer Länder Wert und Zahl,
Saßen viele deutsche Fürsten
Einst zu Worms im Kaisersaal.

»Herrlich«, sprach der Fürst von Sachsen,
»Ist mein Land und seine Macht,
Silber hegen seine Berge
Wohl in manchem tiefen Schacht.« –

»Seht mein Land in üpp'ger Fülle,«
Sprach der Kurfürst von dem Rhein,
»Goldne Saaten in den Tälern,
Auf den Bergen edlen Wein!« –

»Große Städte, reiche Klöster!«
Ludwig, Herr zu Bayern, sprach,
»Schaffen, daß mein Land dem euren
Wohl nicht steht an Schätzen nach.«

Eberhard, der mit dem Barte,
Württembergs geliebter Herr,
Sprach: »Mein Land hat kleine Städte,
Trägt nicht Berge silberschwer;

Doch ein Kleinod hält's verborgen:
Daß in Wäldern, noch so groß,
Ich mein Haupt kann kühnlich legen
Jedem Untertan in Schoß.«

Und es rief der Herr von Sachsen,
Der von Bayern, der vom Rhein:
»Graf im Bart! Ihr seid der reichste,
Euer Land trägt Edelstein!«

The Richest Prince

In the Hall at Worms were sitting
('Tis a tale of bygone days)
Many noble German princes —
Each his own domains did praise.

Spake the Saxon Prince, "Eight noble,
Is the country I call mine;
In the caverns of its mountains
Ores of precious silver shine."

"See my country's rich abundance,"
Spake the Palsgrave of the Rhine;
"Golden harvests bear the valleys,
And the mountains generous wine."

"Stately cities, wealthy cloisters,"
Ludwig of Bavaria cried,
"Make my land so rich, your countries
Cannot rival it in pride."

Wurtemberg's beloved master,
Bearded Eberhardt, replies,
"But small towns can boast my country,
In its caves no silver lies;

"Yet a jewel there is hidden:
I can boldly lay my head
On the lap of every subject
In its woods, nor treason dread."

Then the Saxon Prince, the Palsgrave,
And Bavaria's ruler, cried,
"Count, thy land is far the richest,
Precious gems thy forests hide."

Translated by Lady John Manners
Gems of German Poetry, (page 32) 
By Janetta Manners, John Manners
(Pub. by W. Blackwood & Son, 1865)

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Justinus Kerner was a German poet and physician, born on in 1786, at Ludwigsburg, Würtemberg. Kerner studied medicine at Tübingen and practiced as a physician at Wildbad. In addition to his books of poetry, he authored Die Seherin von Prevorst, a remarkable record of supernormal phenomena. Learn more

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