In two words

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In two words is a ballad by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer from 1883.

background

The historical reference is the love between Gilbert Becket and a Saracen princess whom he met as a prisoner during a crusade and who later followed him to London. There they married. Their son was Thomas Becket , who later became Archbishop of Canterbury .

content

A Saracen woman is looking for a ship on the coast of Palestine that is going to London and just calls out the word "London". She actually manages to get on board a ship that she is taking to England. In London she wanders through the city and keeps calling the name "Gilbert". She is laughed at because this name is very common in London. Until someone realizes that the Jerusalem pilgrim Gilbert Becket was meant. You get him and he recognizes the Saracen woman who saved him.

The first verses of the poem are as follows:

On the shores of Palestine, up and down, day after day,
"London?" Asked the Saracen woman where a ship was at anchor.
"London!" She begged in vain for a long time, never tired, never hesitant,
until the very end she brought a boat on board.

comment

The title "In Two Words" alludes to the two words the Saracenin needs to find her lover again: "London" and "Gilbert".

literature

  • Edgar Neis: interpretations of 66 ballads, moritats and chansons. Analysis and Comments. Bange-Verlag, Hollfeld 1978, ISBN 3-8044-0590-8 .

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