held high office in the government of Vienna and was therefore able to overcome the resistance which that government always opposed to all Bohemian enterprise. Many Bohemian nobles of the Klebelsberg, Kinský, Černin, Thun, Lützow, Waldstein, Wratislaw families immediately joined the new association. The acquaintance with the ancient history of their country contributed largely to revive the patriotism of the people. Many ancient songs were rediscovered, and—as happens so easily in a musical country—new ones treating of the old and glorious time of Bohemia were improvised and were soon in the mouths of all.
It is not my purpose to repeat here what I have previously written on the revival of the Bohemian language and literature. One point, however, deserves notice. The Germans were at that time free from that racial hatred of the Slav which has lately been so prominent. The great Göthe became a member of the Society of the Bohemian Museum. German poets rivalled the Bohemians themselves in celebrating the ancient glories of the nation.[1] It may, however, be suggested that this fairness was founded on the supposition that Bohemia, as a political individuality, was dead for ever; the fact is none the less noteworthy.
About the year 1840 we perceive the beginning of a political activity in Bohemia. It appeared at first only among the Estates, as indeed there only a semblance of independence still existed. After the end of the Napoleonic
- ↑ Thus the poet Meissner, a German who resided in Bohemia, describes the Bohemians of the Hussite time in these words:
"Ja eines grossen Volcks! Du fremdes Blut
Du kannst es freilich nicht in Liedern lesen
Wie gross dies Volck in alter Zeit, wie gut
Wie martyrheilig es im Tod gewesen
Kein Dichterherz hat solchen hohen Tag
Dass kund er's thäte ganz, wie du gelitten
Wie du da rings die Welt im Schlummer lag
Hochherz'ges Böhmen für das Licht gestritten.
Das weiss nur der den diese Flur gebar
Der diese heil'ge Scholle früh getreten …"Lenau, a German poet of Hungarian origin, describing the Hussites as early fighters for freedom writes:
"Denn es wird in späten Tagen
Unseren Leid und Kampfgenossen
Stärkend aus Hussitengräbern
Trost und grüner Muth entsprossen."It would be easy to quote many other examples.
