Bonaventura Andres’s
Prologue
at the joyful arrival of His Royal Highness
Archduke Ferdinand
Prince Elector of Würzburg
Spoken at the Theater on 2 May 1806 [*]
Now He is here,
The ruler of Franconia,
He who has been longingly — anxiously awaited!
Now He is ours,
Leopold’s son — Franz’s brother — MariaTheresia’s grandson —
The much beloved!
Now do you see Him, O Franconians, now do you have Him,
Your favorite.
His countenance the reflection of the gracious springtime sun,
His eyes full of heart turned to those with greetings;
Now do you hear Him speak words of wisdom and goodness;
You are astonished; when in the halls of the Eternal
He, as ruler, bends His believing knees,
You wish all nations such a ruler
as FERDINAND;
And feel — proud in your knowledge:
He is ours!
Muse! Strike the music of this noble Franconian pride,
Strike the music of the enchanting, bliss-intoxicated realization:
FERDINAND is now in His inheritance!
And His new people rejoices to heaven:
He is ours!
Chorus:
Up brothers! sing in joyful choruses A welcoming roundelay. Let your neighbors, let distant nations hear In joyful voice and sounds of lyres, He is now ours! And may he also remain such: be our Father, As joyously as we are His people; Thus cries the Franconian into the farthest regions, Thus cries the old man, the woman, the child: Yes, yes: He is — may He also remain ours!
Fortunate Würzburg
Raise your head high!
Your guardian spirit has now entered the town walls.
Coming years will full of blessings be for you.
Homage such as has already been offered
From golden Ceres with her garland of stalks;
Pomona with blossoms and fruits adorned,
The shepherds’ guide Pan, and the dispeller of care,
The ruler of your hills,
The father of your wine.
The gracious Castalians have already paid Him homage;
Apollo dedicated his lyre to Him,
The admirer of the arts.
Your gates will become those of the arts, your houses stone,
Your meadow the Garden of Eden:
Now His line,
Originating in the gentle fields of Hesperia, transplanted to noble Franconia,
O that no storm may now ever uproot It again!
May It flourish toward heaven itself, and expand round about,
And after eons live on in Its descendants!
Hail also to you, O noble sprouts of this venerable ducal line,
You amiable children of an excellent father!
Grow up, flourish among us — be your father’s support
And our hope!
Love live FERDINAND! — May His royal house flourish!
May peace and blessing be upon Him;
Lofty friend of humanity, accept these small gifts from the hands
Of innocence;
For they are the surety of our hearts.
Aria:
Recline upon His heart, O small ones, Rest upon His breast: Speak out loud, if for weeping You still can speak, and heartily: Welcome: our stalks of grain Are our joyous song Wept on altars of gratitude, As love commands us. Welcome, let us kiss His gracious countenance, And speak to greet and Welcome Him: and no more.
Concluding chorus:
Join the joyful song of these innocent souls, From thousands of rejoicing throats Let now resound toward heaven itself: "May He whom we, His people, call Father, Acknowledge us as His."
Notes
[*] “StaatsBegebenheiten. Der zweyte May,” Chronik des Churfürstenthums Würzburg, ed. Bonaventura Andres, 1 (1806), 8 (5 May 1806), 93–96. Text layout as in original. The choral parts of this theatrical prologue were set to music by Würzburg music director Friedrich Witt (1770–1836) (J. G. Wenzel Dennerlein, Geschichte des Würzburger Theaters von seiner Entstehung im Jahre 1803–4 bis zum 31. Mai 1853 [Würzburg 1853], 19).
The new prince elector, Ferdinand III, had arrived the previous day, 1 May 1806. Concerning that arrival, see Caroline’s letter to Schelling on 30 April–1 May 1806 (letter 405), note 45.
On the front page of this current issue of the Chronik, Andres provides an account of the prince elector’s activities on his first full day in Würzburg, namely, 2 May 1806. That account also relates the background to his prologue and begins as follows (Chronik des Churfürstenthums Würzburg, ed. Bonaventura Andres, 1 [1806], 8 [5 May 1806], 89–90:
The wishes of the entire nation have been fulfilled: the prince elector is now in our midst. Calmly and comforted, the farmer now returns to his plow, the tradesman to his workshop, the vintner resolutely cares for the sprouting vineyards, full of hope for rich blessings; — mothers raise their children for service to the fatherland, and Ferdinand’s tutelary genius hovers above them all. Springtime itself has entered with all its charms and adornment since the arrival of our new national father, and we find ourselves in the same situation as the Venetian poet who once cried out to his sublime patron: “Since we have known Him in person, our days are more beautiful, and the sun shines move favorably.”
The citizenry is alternating in keeping guard watch both in town and in the prince-electoral castle [Marienberg]. For the good prince was intent on not showing favor to any one corps, feeling instead loyally protected by them all and acknowledging in each class its zeal for service to the fatherland. At night, he posts no guard at his rooms.
On this day, the joyful arrival of His Royal Highness was also celebrated in the theater with a performance of The Abduction from the Seraglio [Mozart, K.384, premiered July 1782 in Vienna], with the performance itself being preceded by a prologue. The stage setting was that of a transparent garden in the middle of which stood an Altar of the Fatherland on which the name Ferdinand was enthroned. Madame Köhler spoke the prologue, in which alternating choruses also participated whose parts were set to music by our excellent Herr Music Director Witt.
The theater was full of spectators; indeed, many had to be turned away at the door. Madame Köhler delighted the public with her excellent sense of propriety, and her enchanting artistic performance captivated the entire audience and gave the action on stage a singular, solemn dignity. “Long live Ferdinand,” coming from her lips, acted as an electric spark for all who were present, who in their own turn chimed in with a joyous Vivat! and applause, airing thereby their most recent, wholly joyful feelings.
In response to repeated requests, we are herewith providing the text of this prologue as part of the documentation of our accounts, especially considering that the previously printed copies were incomplete and not entirely without mistakes. Back.
Translation © 2018 Doug Stott