Category Archives: Eberhard II Graf von Württemberg
![Stuttgart_Stiftskirche_Grafenstandbilder_Figur_06_Eberhard_der_Greiner](https://i0.wp.com/www.poetsandprinces.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Stuttgart_Stiftskirche_Grafenstandbilder_Figur_06_Eberhard_der_Greiner.jpg?resize=463%2C651&ssl=1)
Eberhard II, called “der Greiner” Count of Württemberg 1344 –1392.
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Count Eberhard
The Weeper of Württemberg
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Ye !—ye, there, in the world without.
Lift not your heads so grand !
Men hath it borne, and heroes stout.
Alike for peace or battle-rout,—
Our gallant Swabian land !
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Boast of your Edward, Fred’ric, Charles,
And Ludwig as ye might,
Charles, Fred’ric, Ludwig, Edward too,
Was Eberhard, our count so true,—
A tempest in the fight.
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The county’s boy, young Ulrich, too,
Loved well the iron clang ;
The county’s boy, young Ulrich, too,
No footfall backward ever drew,
Where men to saddle sprang.
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The Reutlingers brew’d vengeance-pain
To see our names so bright;
And strove the victor’s wreath to gain,
And many a sword-dance dared maintain.
And drew their girdles tight.
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He gave them war,—beshrew the fight
Whence beaten home he came !
The father’s brow was black as night,—
The youthful warrior fled the light,
And wept for very shame.
![Ary_Scheffer_001_detail_01](https://i0.wp.com/www.poetsandprinces.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Ary_Scheffer_001_detail_01.jpg?resize=560%2C320&ssl=1)
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That gall’d him : ” Ah, ye knaves, beware !”
(And kept it in his soul)—
” Now by my father’s beard I swear
To grind the notch my sword doth bear
On many a townsman’s poll !”
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Nor long the time ere rose a feud:
Forth sallied horse and man ;
Toward Döffingen the army stood,
And brighter grew the younker’s mood,
And hot the fight began.
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The watchword to our men that day
Was given—”the ill-starr’d fight”—
That drove us like the storm away,
And lodged us deep in bloody fray,
And in the lances’ night.
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Our youthful Count, with lion’s wrath,
Swung high his hero-glaive ;
Wild battle-roar before his path.
Wailing and groans his feet beneath,
And all around—the grave.
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But woe ! ah, woe ! a ghastly sword
Fell heavy on his head;
The hero-band surround their lord
In vain ; young Ulrich on the sward
With glassy eyes lay dead.
![Eberhard der Greiner bei Döffingen 1388](https://i0.wp.com/www.poetsandprinces.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Eberhard-der-Greiner-bei-Döffingen-1388.jpg?resize=560%2C421&ssl=1)
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Then horror stayed the battle’s plan.
Tears from all eyes ‘gan flow;
But ho !—the count to charge began—
“My son is as another man ;
March, children, on the foe !”
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And fiercer rageth now the fight.
For vengeance spurs them well ;
Forth o’er the corpses went their might,
And townsmen flying left and right
O’er forest, hill, and dell.
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And blythely all our clarions rang
When to our camp hied we ;
And wives and children gaily sang,
‘Mid dances’ whirl and beaker-klang,
To praise our victory.
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But Eberhard, what doth he here ?
Before him lies his son ;
Within his tent, no mortal near.
The Count hath dropt one sparkling tear
That silent form upon.
![1-E1834-E1388-1DE:"Eberhard II. Graf von Wrttemberg beweint seinen Sohn, derEberhard II. von Wttbg. beweint s. SohnEberhard II.,der Greiner,Graf v.Wrttem- berg (1344-92);1315-1392. / - "Eberhard II. Graf von Wrttemberg beweint seinen Sohn, der in der Schlacht bei Dffingen starb". - (Erster Stedtekrieg 1388/89; Schlacht b.Dffingen,23.8.1388: Eberhard II. siegt ber d.Schwb. Stdtebund; Tod seines Sohnes Ulrich). / Gem.,1824,v.Ary Scheffer(1795-1858). /
l/Lwd,22x28,5cm.St.Petersburg, Staatliche Ermitage.Photo: akg-images](https://i0.wp.com/www.poetsandprinces.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/AryScheffer.jpg?resize=560%2C441&ssl=1)
Therefore, with love so true and warm.
Around the Count we stand;
Alone, he is a hero-swarm—
The thunder rageth in his arm,—
The star of Swabian land.
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Then, ye there in the world without.
Lift not your heads so grand !
Men hath it borne, and heroes stout.
Alike in peace and battle-rout.
Our gallant Swabian land.