Pandemic Poetry: Friedrich Schiller’s Die Pest. Eine Fantasie

Besides being the greatest dramatist in German literature, Friedrich Schiller was a trained physician.  By 1783 when he wrote the poem Die Pest, the plague or Black Death that had been ravaging Europe for centuries had subsided.  The pathogen had still not been discovered, but Schiller's reference to Gift’ger Nebel (poisonous mists) references the state of science of infectious diseases at the time.  Die Pest employs some of the common themes and images of baroque poetry, but the last line – Schröcklich preiset Gott die Pest – would seem to indicate a degree of ambivalence, or cynicism, with respect to religious faith.

            Friedrich Schiller: „Die Pest. Eine Fantasie“

Gräßlich preisen Gottes Kraft
   Pestilenzen würgende Seuchen,
Die mit der grausen Brüderschaft
   Durchs öde Tal der Grabnacht schleichen.

Bang ergreifts das klopfende Herz,
Gichtrisch zuckt die starre Sehne,
Gräßlich lacht der Wahnsinn in das Angstgestöhne,
   In heulende Triller ergeußt sich der Schmerz.

Raserei wälzt tobend sich im Bette –
Gift’ger Nebel wallt um ausgestorbne Städte
   Menschen – hager – hohl und bleich –
   Wimmeln in das finstre Reich.
Brütend liegt der Tod auf dumpfen Lüften,
Häuft sich Schätze in gestopften Grüften
   Pestilenz sein Jubelfest.
Leichenschweigen – Kirchhofstille
Wechseln mit dem Lustgebrülle,
   Schröcklich preiset Gott die Pest.

 

(Plague's contagious murderous breath
God's strong might with terror reveals,
As through the dreary valley of death
With its brotherhood fell it steals!

Fearfully throbs the anguish-struck heart,
Horribly quivers each nerve in the frame;
Frenzy's wild laughs the torment proclaim,
Howling convulsions disclose the fierce smart.

Fierce delirium writhes upon the bed
Poisonous mists hang o'er the cities dead;
Men all haggard, pale, and wan,
To the shadow-realm press on.
Death lies brooding in the humid air,
Plague, in dark graves, piles up treasures fair,
And its voice exultingly raises.
Funeral silence churchyard calm,
Rapture change to dread alarm.
Thus the plague God wildly praises!}