sábado, 28 de diciembre de 2013

GENERAL TILLY'S THREE VIRTUES TURNED TO VICES

In a previous post on "Saxon candy", I added for the first edit a partial translation of a satirical post-Breitenfeld poem:
"General Tilly's Three Virtues Turned to Vices", which puts particular emphasis on nothing less than the old Walloon's legendary three virtues: chastity, temperance, and invincibility.
 Here is my full translation of the same poem, written by Georg Gloger in Leipzig after the battle:

GENERAL TILLY'S THREE VIRTUES TURNED TO VICES

Until today, the Catholic Faith's sword, Count Tilly,
was defined by three virtues (they left all others be):
Never with wench or maiden had he had a good cheer.
Neither had he lost reason through liquor, wine, nor beer.
Third and most renowned: never a battle did he lose...
when born, his destiny did him for victory choose.
I believe that, through virtues so powerful three,
from threat of brains and brawn of foes he sure was free.
For a reward will always be waiting for the chaste:
those who restrain themselves overcome foes with haste.
The same for temperance: who steers clear of the cup,
in front of enemies will always win and stand up.
Since he got drunk on blood, and his reason waylaid,
                            and, thus intoxicated, raped the Saxon Maid,                                     
he couldn't make a stand upon the battlefield,
and thus, he's forced to flee, to the foeman to yield.
Those who get drunk on blood have surely got no measure,
those who rape maidens don't have good fortune nor pleasure.
They now call him what he deserves, that's old Count Tilly:
a rapist, a drunkard, and a loser forced to flee.

(Remark by the translator: the "Saxon Maid" refers to either Leipzig or Magdeburg)      

I wonder what Gustavus would say after reading this poem. I also wonder what Wallenstein would say.
PS. Nowadays I have replaced my partial translation of the poem with a full one!

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