ENGELS TO CARL SIEBEL
IN BARMEN
Manchester, 4 June 1862
Dear Siebel,
You're a fine OrT», you are, notifying me of your daughter's birth after the same fashion as I [use] to acknowledge your various letters and packages. My heartiest congratulations. I hope you'll have a lot of fun with her. Is your wife all right?
Here things trundle along as always. All the same, I'm gradually beginning to notice how demoralising this quiet routine is; one is drained of all one's energy and becomes thoroughly indolent. I even read another novel recently.
The so-called—salva venia[1] —Schiller Institute[2] (also known as the Jerusalem Club) has become a purely Jewish institution and, between 1:30 and 3, the din there is enough to drive one out of one's mind. In fact, I very seldom visit the noble institution now. What's happening is typically Jewish. To start off with they thank God for having a Schiller Institute, and barely are they installed than, apparently, it's not good enough for them, and they want to put up a large building, a veritable temple of Moses, and to move the thing there. That, of course, is the shortest road to bankruptcy. And it's for that you had to write a prologue and act as producer! And that's what they call a German national institution! Mark my words, in a couple of years you'll be sent a circular: Re the bankruptcy of the late Schiller Institute', etc.
'Re' your letters, let me reply very briefly as follows. So far as the affair with Marx is concerned, he would certainly not have turned to you if my resources hadn't already been exhausted, as was indeed the case, which meant that I could do nothing just then. As for red Becker (whose pamphlet[3] was of great interest to me, partly because it contains a RECANTATION of his former 'wild' opinions, and also because the Prussian government has forcibly turned the chap into a local bigwig again, and hence into a Deputy), the fellow is no immediate concern of ours. He has never belonged to our party as such, has always been a mere democrat, and he only became involved in the business of the Communist trial in Cologne2 because he regarded the affair as an opportunity for agitation. In fact, during the trial he disassociated himself completely from the rest of the accused and enjoyed a special position. Since then he has avowedly become a royal Prussian democrat, has come out in favour of the monarchy, etc. So, politically we have no connections whatever with the man, which would not, of course, preclude my being on a personally friendly footing with him until such time as we came into direct political conflict with his people. He will do well enough for the present Prussian Chamber.
I believe that, when I was in Barmen,[4] I mentioned to you a little Danish folk-song I had discovered in the Kjämpeviser and had translated into German verse specially for your benefit.[5] I enclose it. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do anything like justice to the lively, defiantly cheerful tone of the original—it's the liveliest I know. However, you'll have to content yourself with the translation (almost literal, by the way). I don't think the thing has been translated into German before.
Please convey my compliments and good wishes to your wife.
Your
F. E.
- ↑ if one may refer to it thus
- ↑ The Schiller Institute was set up in Manchester in November 1859 in connection with the centenary of Friedrich Schiller's birth. Its founders intended it as a cultural and social centre for Manchester's German community. Initially, Engels took almost no part in the Institute's activities, but in January 1864 he became a member of its Directorate, and eventually its chairman.
- ↑ H. Becker, Meine Candidatur zum Abgeordnetenhause (Wahlkampf am 6. Dezbr. 1861), Dortmund, 1862.
- ↑ Engels went on holiday to Germany on about 3 October 1861 and stayed with his family in Barmen till the end of the month.
- ↑ Engels presumably means his translation of the old Danish song Herr Jon, contained in the collection Et Hundrede udvalde Danske Viser, om allehaande moerkelige Krigs-Bedrivt og anden selsom Eventer, soin sig her udi Riget ved garnie Kaemper, navnkundige Konger, og ellers fornemme Personer begivet haver, af Arilds Tid til demie naervaerende Dag..., published by P. Syv.
The text of Engels' translation follows: Herr Lave, der ritt zum Inselstrand Herr Lave rode to the island strand Zu frein um des schönsten Mädchens To sue for the loveliest maiden's Hand. hand. Ich reite mit, sagte Jon. I'll ride with you, said jon. Er freite die Braut und führt' sie He took her home, his new-won nach Haus, bride, Ritter und Knappen kamen heraus. The knights and squires all came Hier reite ich, sagte Jon. outside. I'm coming too, said Jon. Sie setzten die Braut auf den braut- They sat the bride on the bridal lichen Thron, throne, Den Herren Hess brav einschenken The cups were filled by request of Herr Jon. Herr Jon. Trinkt drauf los, sagte Jon. Now drink away, said Jon. Sie führten die Braut zum Brautbett They led the bride to the bridal herfür, chamber, Sie vergassen den Schnürleib zu Risen But to loosen her stays did not ihr. remember. Will's schon lösen, sagte Jon. I'll loosen them, said Jon. Herr Jon der schloss so rasch die Herr Jon locked upright speedily! Tür! Jetzt sagt Herrn Lave gut' Nacht von Now bid Herr Lave goodnight for mir. me. Ich liege hier, sagte Jon. I'll lie down here, said Jon. Kam die Botschaft zu Herrn Lave Then with the news to Herr Lave hinein: they hied: Herr Jon schläft bei der jungen Braut Herr Jon is sleeping beside your bride. dein. I am indeed, said Jon. Das tu ich, sagte Jon. Herr Lave pocht ans Kämmerlein: Outside, Herr Lave began to knock! Steht auf Herr Jon und lasst uns ein. Get up, Herr Jon, unfasten the lock. Bleibt draussen, sagte Jon. You stay out there, said Jon. Er stiess mit Schild und Speer an die He banged on the door with shield Tür: and spear. Steht auf Herr Jon und kommt Get up, Herr Jon, and come out here. No, you must wait, said Jon. herfür. Da könnt Ihr warten, sagte Jon. Und kann meine Braut nicht sein If my bride must be molested so, ungeschoren, Then to the King's ear it must go. Of course it must, said Jon. So trag ich das zu des Königs Ohren. Jawohl, sagte Jon. In the early morning, at break of day, Früh am Morgen, da war es Tag, Herr Lave set out for His Majesty. Herr Lave bringt zum König die I'm coming too, said Jon. Klag. Ich will mit, sagte Jon. I married myself a fair young bride. Ich hatte gefreit eine Jungfrau mir, Jetzt hat Jon geschlafen bei ihr. All night Herr Jon has lain by her Das tat ich, sagte Jon. side. I have indeed, said Jon. Und liebt Ihr beide die Jungfrau If you both love the maiden fair, sosehr, Then you must break a spear for her. So müsst Ihr brechen um sie einen I'll go with that, said Jon. Speer. Ist mir recht, sagte Jon. Als die Sonn' am Morgen tat auf Later that clay, when the sun was gehen, bright, The knights came out to watch the Da kamen die Ritter den Kampf anzusehen. fight. Hier bin ich, sagte Jon. Well, here I am, said Jon. Den ersten Gang den ritten sie, The first pass of the joust rode they, Herrn Jon's Ross fiel nieder auf die Herr Jon's horse knelt as if to pray. Knie. God, help me now, said Jon. Hilf jetzt Gott, sagte Jon. Zum zweiten Gang anrannten die The horses charged in the second Pferd', pass, Herr Lave fiel nieder auf die Erd'. Herr Lave fell down upon the grass. Da liegt er, sagte Jon. Now there he lies, said Jon. Herr Jon nach seinem Hofe geht, Back to his castle Herr Jon did ride, Draussen sein Mädchen wartend His maid was waiting for him outside. steht. Now you are mine, said Jon. Du bist mein, sagte Jon. |etzt hat Herr Jon verwunden seinen Herr Jon has righted a grievous Harm, wrong, Jetzt schläft er in seines Mädchens He sleeps in his maid's arms all night Arm, long. Jetzt hab' ich sie, sagte Jon. I have her now, said Jon.
(Translated by Alex Miller)