TYROLEAN ELEGIES
7
Afterwards I read the letter—
There ’tis on the shelf,
If you know official German,
Read it for yourself.
Bach advises as a doctor,
That the raw Czech air
Is not healthy, and ’tis better
That I move from there;
That the Czech clime is too sultry,
Full of steaming mists,
And ill smelling regulations,
Other ills he lists.
That is why he sent for me
A carriage in full haste,
That I travel as a state’s guest,
With no time to waste.
And the gendarmes have instructions
How to urge and nudge
If in my known modest nature
I’d refuse to budge.
IV.
What could I do in this instance?
Since it was my way
To obey the well-armed gendarmes
And do as they’d say.
