The bearer of this certificate, one-year Volunteer Bombardier 
Friedrich Engels of the 12th Foot Company of the Guards Artillery 
Brigade, born in Barmen, Elberfeld Division, Dtisseldorf Govern- 
ment District, aged twenty-one years and ten months, having 
served one year, has conducted himself very well during his period 
of service in respect both of morals and service, as is herewith duly 
certified by 

v. Wedell, 
Captain and Company Commander 
Berlin, October 8th, 1842 

Gesamtausgabe, Abt. 1, Bd. 2, 1980 Published in English for the first 

time 

NOTES 
AND 
INDEXES 

NOTES 

1 The Bedouin was Engels’ first work to appear in print. He wrote it at the 
beginning of his stay in Bremen, where he worked as a clerk in a trading 
company from July 1838 to March 1841. When preparing this poem for the 
press the editors of the Bremisches Conversationsblatt changed the last stanza 
without the author’s permission. The original text is cited by Engels in his letter 
to the Graeber brothers dated September 17-18, 1838 (see this volume, 
pp. 395-96). p. 3 

In this poem Engels ridiculed the heated polemic between the weekly Der Bremer 
Stadtbote and the newspaper Bremisches Unterhaltungsblatt (see Engels’ letters to his 
brother Hermann of March 11-12, 1839, and to his sister Marie of March 12, 
1839, in this volume, pp. 417-20). For fun Engels sent this poem to Der Bremer 
Stadtbote under the pen-name of Theodor H. (Hildebrand). Not realising its 
ironical character, the editors published the poem as a regular item against the 
rival newspaper. The editors of the Bremisches Unterhaltungsblatt, however, 
perceived the poem’s irony directed against Der Bremer Stadtbote and reprinted it 
with appropriate comments. 

In this volume the poem is given according to the Bremisches Unterhaltungsblatt 
since the Publishers do not possess a copy of Der Bremer Stadtbote. p. 5 

n 

we 

As can be seen from Engels’ letter to his sister Marie of March 12, 1839 (see this 
volume, pp. 419-20), this poem was sent to Der Bremer Stadtbote in a fuller version. 
The publication of Th. Hildebrandt’s poem Book Wisdom was mentioned in the 
Bremer Wochentliche Nachrichten No. 36, 2. Beilage, S. 2, for March 25, 1839. 
However, the Publishers do not possess a copy of Der Bremer Stadtbote containing 
this poem. p. 6 

>» 

“Letters from Wuppertal” is Engels’ first journalistic work with which he started 
his contributions to the Telegraph für Deutschland, a progressive Hamburg journal 
published by the Young Germany literary group. In November 1839 Engels’ 
articles began to appear there under the pseudonym of Oswald (first S. Oswald, 
then Friedrich Oswald). 

The “Letters” evoked a lively response in Barmen and Elberfeld, two 
neighbouring towns situated in the Wupper valley (in 1930 they merged to form 
one town, Wuppertal). Wilhelm Blank, a friend of Engels’, wrote to Wilhelm 

592 Notes 

Graeber on May 24, 1839, that all copies of the journal containing the article had 
been bought up immediately. The Wuppertal philistines were furious with the 
anonymous author (many believed that the article had been written by some local 
celebrity, the poet Ferdinand Freiligrath in particular). For the reaction of the 
Wuppertal bourgeois to the article see also Engels’ letter to Wilhelm Graeber 
written about April 28-30, 1839, in this volume, p. 446. p.7 

a 

Friends of Light—a religious trend opposed to pietism (see Note 7), which 
dominated in the official Lutheran Church. This opposition was one of the 
expressions of the dissatisfaction of the German bourgeois with Germany’s 
monarchic regime, based on the estates system, in the 1830s and 1840s. p. 7 

on 

After 1817, when the Lutherans were united with the Reformists (Calvinists) in a 
compulsory union, its opponents, the Old Lutherans, split away to form a 
separate trend defending the “true” Lutheran Church. p. 9 

~ 

This refers to pietism, a trend in the Lutheran Church that emerged in Germany in 
the 17th century. Distinguished by extreme mysticism, it rejected rites and attached 
special importance to personal religious experience. p. 10 

Cc 

An allusion to the dispute in 1075-76 between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV, 
Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, the two protagonists in the struggle for 
supremacy between ecclesiastical and temporal power. p. 13 

After the Vienna Congress (1814-15), many members of the student gymnastic 
associations, which emerged in the course of the struggle against Napoleonic rule, 
opposed the reaction of the monarchist landowners and called for the unification 
of Germany. On October 18, 1817, on the occasion of the tercentenary of the 
Reformation and the fourth anniversary of the battle of Leipzig, the German 
students organised the Wartburg festival, which turned into a demonstration 
against the Metternich regime. In 1819, the student opposition and other 
free-thinking intellectuals were accused of “demagogy” by the Karlsbad Confer- 
ence of Ministers of the Chief German States and subjected to reprisals. p. 13 

10 Hermann (Arminius)—chief of the Cherusci and other German tribes which 
defeated the Romans in the Teutoburg Woods (9 A. D.). p. 15 

11 Evangelische Kirchen-Zeitung Nos. 76-80, September 22-October 6, 1838. p. 16 

a Engels is referring to the review of J. Ch. F. Winkler’s book Harfenklange 
printed in the Telegraph für Deutschland No. 208 in December 1838 under the 
title “Zeichen der Zeit”. p. 17 

18 Barmen and Elberfeld were incorporated in the Kingdom of Prussia along with 
the other territories of the former Dukedom of Berg by decision of the Vienna 
Congress of 1814-15 and became parts of her Rhine Province. p- 18 

14 Késter’s article entitled “Kurze Darstellung der Dichtungsarten” was published 
in the Neunter Bericht tiber die höhere Stadtschule in Barmen, Barmen, 1837.p. 19 

15 ¥ Haase’s review “Ubersicht tiber 9 lateinische Grammatiken” was printed in the 
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung Nos. 65-70, August 1838, Jena and Leipzig, Ergan- 
zungsblatter. p- 20 

" J. C. H. Clausen’s “Pindaros der Lyriker” was published in the Programm des 
Gymnasiums Elberfeld, 1834. p. 20 

Notes 593 

7 Rektoratsschulen was the name given to elementary five-class schools in the Rhine 

Province and Westphalia. p. 20 

Young Germany (Junges Deutschland) —a literary group that emerged in Germany in 
the 1830sand was under the influence of Heinrich Heine and Ludwig Bérne. In 
their fiction and journalistic works, the writers of this group (also known as Young 
Literature), Gutzkow, Wienbarg, Mundt, Laube, Jung and others, expressed the 
opposition sentiments of the petty bourgeois and intellectuals who advocated 
freedom of conscience and the press, the introduction of a constitution, the 
emancipation of women, and so on. Their political views were vague and 
inconsistent; many of them soon became ordinary liberals. 

For the demagogues see Note 9. p. 21 
Engels is referring to the owners of the Barmen trading company J. P. von 
Eynern & Söhne, where Ferdinand Freiligrath worked as a clerk in 1837-39. 

p. 21 

Engels is referring to the following reviews: Dr. F. Dingelstedt, “Ferdinand 
Freiligrath. Ein Literaturbild”, published in the Jahrbuch der Literatur, 1. Jg., Ham- 
burg, 1839, and Moritz Carriére, “Gedichte von Ferdinand Freiligrath, 
Stuttgart und Tubingen, 1838”, published in the Jahrbiicher fir wissenschaftliche 
Kritik No. 8, January 1839, Berlin. p. 21 

Allusions to the folk-tale Die Unkenkönigin (The Frog Queen) can be found in 
Freiligrath’s poem Schwalbenmärchen, and to the tale Schneewittchen (Snow- White) in 
his poem Meerfahrt. 

Below Engels mentions Freiligrath’s poems printed in the following publica- 
tions: Freiligrath, Gedichte, Stuttgart und Tübingen, 1838; Prinz Eugen, der edle 
Ritter in the Rheinisches Odeon. Hg. v. I. Hub, F. Freiligrath u. A. Schnezler, 
1. Jg., Coblenz, 1836; Freiligrath, Der ausgewanderte Dichter (Bruchstücke 
eines unvollendeten Cyklus). Sechs Gedichte ohne besondere Uberschriften, published in 
the Rheinisches Odeon, 2. Jg., Dtisseldorf, 1838; Freiligrath, Der ausgewanderte 
Dichter. Weitere Bruchstücke. Fünf Gedichte ohne einzelne Uberschriften, published in 
the Morgenblatt für gebildete Stande No. 218, September 10, 1836. p- 22 

A reference to the second instalment of Freiligrath’s cycle of poems Der 
ausgewanderte Dichter, published in the Morgenblatt für gebildete Stinde No. 218, 
September 10, 1836 (see Note 21). p. 22 

Engels gives this ironical name, Montanus Eremita (mountain hermit), to Vincenz 
Zuccalmaglio, a German writer who under the pen-name of Montanus pub- 
lished, in 1836, the book: Die Vorzeit der Lander Cleve-Mark, Jülich-Berg und 
Westphalen. p. 24 

Engels is referring to the following publication: Johann Pol, Gedichte, 1. Teil, 
Geistliche Gesänge und Lieder; 2. Teil, Vermischte Gedichte, Heedfeld, 1837. 

p. 25 
In this poem Engels expressed his attitude to the weekly Der Bremer Stadtbote, to 
which for fun he had sent several] months in succession his poems (including To the 
Enemies, see this volume, p. 5) under the signature of Theodor Hildebrand, 
passing himself off as its supporter. This poem is also quoted, with minor 
stylistic changes, in Engels’ letter to Wilhelm Graeber written about April 28-30, 
1839 (see this volume, pp. 444-45). p. 26 

Expressing the attitude of the local bourgeoisie to Engels’ “Letters from 
Wuppertal”, the Elberfelder Zeitung on April 12, 1839, published an article by 

594 Notes 

Martin Runkel, its editor, sharply attacking the “Letters” and their author. The 
“Open Letter to Dr. Runkel” was Engels’ reply to this article. 

The Elberfelder Zeitung published the “Open Letter” with the following 
footnote: “We found this article in our premises yesterday without knowing who 
had sent it in. We are printing it word for word since we wish to be impartial 
but, for our part, we would note that we shall defend our generally expressed 
statements in detail only if the Wuppertal letter-writer names himself, just as we 
have done.” p. 27 

27 An allusion to Martin Runkel’s poem Zu Grabbe’s Bildniss printed in the 
Rheinisches Odeon, 2. Jg., Düsseldorf, 1838. 
For the Young Germany writers see Note 18. p. 27 

8 “This item was published in the Telegraph für Deutschland in the “Kleine Chronik” 
section. Engels also wrote about the sermon in question by F. W. Krummacher 

in his letter to Wilhelm Graeber on April 30,1839 (see this volume, pp. 446-47). 

p. 29 

9 These are the following publications: Volksbiicher, hrsg. v. G. O. Marbach, 
Leipzig, 1838-39; Deutsche Volksbiicher nach den ältesten Ausgaben hergestellt v. Dr. 
Kari Simrock, Berlin, 1839; and Deutsche Volksbiicher, neu gereimt v. K. Simrock, 
Berlin, 1839. p. 33 

59 Besides the above-mentioned Marbach edition, the following publications are 
referred to here: Der hérnere Siegfried. Eine wunderschöne Historie von dem 
gehornien Siegfried. Was wunderliche Ebentheuer dieser theure Ritter ausgestanden, sehr 
denkwürdig und mit Lust zu lesen, Cdln (n.d.), and Buch der schonsten Geschichten 
und Sagen für Alt und Jung wiedererzählt von Gustav Schwab, 2 Teile, Stuttgart, 

1836-37. p. 34 
- The publication referred to is Leben und Thaten des grossen Helden Heinrich des 
Löwen, Herzog zu Braunschweig, Einbeck (n.d.). p. 35 

52 On December 10, 1835, the Federal Assembly banned the works by writers of 
the Young Germany group (see Note 18). Some of them, such as Gutzkow’s 
Wally, die Zweiflerin, raised the question of women’s emancipation. 

The Federal Assembly (Diet) of the German Confederation (1815-66) consisted 
of representatives of the German states and was a pillar of the conservative 
monarchical order in Germany. p. 37 

33 An allusion to Tieck’s comedy Kaiser Octavianus which was based on a German 
popular book of the same name and published in Ludwig Tieck’s Schriften, Bd. 1, 

Berlin, 1828. p. 37 
54 Gottfried von Strassburg’s poem Tristan und Isolde was written in the early 13th 
century. p. 38 

35 Die neue Bibel and Das junge Paldstina are the titles of the parts of Karl Beck's 
collection of poems Ndachte. Gepanzerte Lieder, which appeared in Leipzig in 1838. 
p. 41 

36 In his article “Der Schwabenspiegel” (in the Jahrbuch der Literatur, 1. Jg., Hamburg, 
1839), Heine criticised the “Swabian poetical school” which comprised a number 
of poets and literary critics representative of late romanticism, including Ludwig 
Uhland, Justinus Kerner, Gustav Schwab, Wolfgang Menzel and Gustav Pfizer. 

p- 42 

Notes 595 

Song of Ludwig—a poem by an unknown medieval poet written in the late 9th 
century in the Franconian dialect. It glorifies the victory of Ludwig UI, King of 
the Western Franks, over the Normans in 881. p. 42 

A reference to Gustav Ktihne’s book Weibliche und männliche Charaktere, 2 Teile, 
Leipzig, 1838; and to his article “Deutsche Lyrik. Karl Beck, Ferdinand 
Freiligrath” published anonymously in the Zeitung für die elegante Welt Nos. 223 
and 224, November 13 and 15, 1838. p. 42 

Engels is referring to the following passage from Ludolf Wienbarg’s article 
“Ludwig Uhland als Dramatiker”, included in his book Die Dramatiker der 
Jetztzeit, 1. Heft, Altona, 1839: “Gustav Pfizer has spoken in and out and 
round about on the character and talent of Uhland, as a pupil about his teacher, 
as a friend about his friend and not a word about Uhland the dramatist. What 
should one conclude from this? Simply that a certain younger writer is right in 
calling the latter mediocre. The pamphlet by Pfizer which I have in mind 
appeared about two years ago. It compares Uhland with Rickert, or rather, it 
weighs the talents of the two. Let us say it in passing, rather like a grocer” (p. 13). 

Pfizer’s pamphlet Uhland und Riickert. Ein kritischer Versuch was printed in 
1837. p. 42 

Beck’s poem Schlaf wohl! inclided in his collection Stille Lieder was originally 
published in the Zeitung für die elegante Welt No. 126, June 30, 1838. p. 45 

Act I of Beck’s Saul was published in the Zeitung für die elegante Welt Nos. 216-19 
for November 4, 5, 7 and 8, 1839.0n November 25, the Allgemeine Theater-Chronik 
(No. 143) printed a review by J. P. Lyser entitled “Episoden. Carl Beck als 
Dramatiker”, while the Telegraph ftir Deutschland, in its “Kleine Chronik” 
section, published an anonymous review of Act I with a note by Karl Gutzkow. 

p. 45 
A reference to Gutzkow’s tragedy Kénig Saul, which appeared in print shortly 
before the publication of Act I of Beck’s tragedy Saul. p. 45 

In its issue No. 203, immediately following Engels’ article, the Telegraph für 
Deutschland printed an article about Beck by Gutzkow entitled “Ergänzung” 
(“Supplement”) (the end of the article was published in No. 204 under the title 
“Karl Beck”). In this article Gutzkow subjected Beck’s Stille Lieder to even sharper 

criticism, emphasising the “childish nature” of his poetry. p. 46 
A reference to the bourgeois revolution of July 1830 in France, the main events 
of which took place between July 27 and August 2. p. 50 

The Second Silesian School—a literary trend in Germany in the second half of 
the 17th century that expressed the sentiments of the feudal nobility. Its main 
exponents were Christian Hofmannswaldau and Daniel Lohenstein. p. 51 

Engels is referring to the following publications: Gesammelte Werke des 
Grafen August von Platen. In Einem Band, Stuttgart und Tubingen, 1839; 
and Gedichte aus dem ungedruckten Nachlasse des Grafen August von Platen- 
Hallermünde. Als Anhang zu den bei Cotta erschienenen Gedichten Platens, 
Strassburg, 1839. p- 54 

Pentarchy— Europe’s political system in the period of the Restoration. It was 
based on the supremacy of the five Great Powers, England, France, Russia, 
Austria and Prussia. p. 54 

This is a translation into German of the poem A la invencién de la imprenta by 
Manuel José Quintana, a Spanish poet, politician and supporter of the 

18th-century French Enlightenment. The poem was first published in Madrid in 
1803 in Quintana’s book Poesias. Engels’ translation was published together with 
the original in the Gutenbergs-Album issued on the occasion of the quater- 
centenary of the invention of printing (the official date of the invention is 1440). 
The anniversary was widely celebrated in Germany in June 1840. 

Engels’ translation, which follows, was his first work to appear in print under 

Notes 

his own name. 

Wird denn allein des Dichters Stimme singen 

Von blut’gem Ehrgeiz und von stolzen Thronen, 
Wenn die Drommeten Fama’s um ihn klingen, 
Die Lippen schwellend, wo die Gétter wohnen? 
Ward euch so fremd die Scham? Des Preisens Gabe, 
Des Ruhmes Strahl mit seinem hellen Lichte 
Verschwendet ihr an Mannern, welchen ewig 
Fluch spendet und Verwünschung die Geschichte? 
Erwacht, erwacht! die Wolken tberfliege 

Der Sang, der scheugeword’ne, 

Mit nie geseh’ner Kraft in hehrem Siege! 

Und wollt ihr, dass die Welt euch wirdig halte 
Des Lorbeers, der um eure Stirne blüht, 

So sorgt, dass euer Lied 

Wardig der Welt und kraftig sich entfalte! 

In alter Zeit ward nimmermehr verschwendet 

Der Opferduft des Lobes; 

An dem Altar wohltätiger Erfindung, 

Wohltat’gen Geistes ward er stets gespendet. 

Einst kam Saturn, und mit dem macht’gen Pfluge 
Zerteilte er der Erde Mutterbusen, 

Da sah der Mensch sich breiten 

Lebend’ge Saat rings tber dürren Boden, 

Zum Himmel steigen seines Dankes Oden, 

Sie nennen ihn den Gott der goldnen Zeiten. 
Warst du nicht auch ein Gott, der dem Gedanken, 
Dem Wort du einen Leib einst hast gegeben, 

In Zeichen fesseltest der Rede Leben, 

Das sonst entfloh, gehemmt von keinen Schranken? 
Verschlungen immer wieder 

Hatt’ ohne dich sich selbst die Zeit, ins Grab 
Ew’gen Vergessens sinkend, tot, hernieder. 

Du kamst, und der Gedanke 

Sah rasch erweitert seine enge Sphare, 

Die ihn umgrenzt in seiner langen Kindheit. 

Ihn trug sein Fittich in die ferne Welt, 

Wo mit zukunft’ger Zeit die tatenschwere 
Vergangenheit gewalt’ge Zwiesprach halt. 
Erleuchter du der Blindheit! 

Erfreue dich, Unsterblicher, der Ehre, 

Des hohen Ruhmgesanges nun allein, 

Die dir gebuhren, dem erhabnen Geiste! 

Und die Natur, als hatte die Erfindung 

Notes 597 

Allein genügt, zu zeigen ihre Macht, 
Sie hat geruht seitdem, und, geizig, nicht 
Ein gleiches Wunder mehr der Welt gebracht. 

Endlich erhebt sie sich, ein neues Zeichen 

Sich zu erschaffen, und der eis’ge Rhein 

Sah Gutenberg erstehn.,,Vergebliche Mühen! 

Was hilft es euch, dass Leben ihr verleiht 

Eurem Gedanken, schreibend, 

Wenn er erstirbt, starr in der Dunkelheit 
Lethargischen Vergessens ferner bleibend? 

Kann ein Gefass die breiten Wogen alle 

Des Ozeans, des tosenden, enthalten? 

So können nicht in einem Buch allein 

Des Menschengeistes Gaben sich entfalten! 

Was fehlt? die Kunst des Flugs? Doch wenn Natur 
Nach einem Bilde unzählbare Wesen 

Erschuf, wohlan, ihr nach, meine Erfindung! 

Dass tausendfach im Echo eine Wahrheit 

Erschalle in gewaltiger Verkündung, 

Empor sich schwingend mit dem Flug der Klarheit!“ 

Er sprach’s—da ward der Druck, und sieh, Europa 
Erstaunt, bewegt, erhebt sich alsobald 

Mit lautem Brausen, wie vom Sturmeswinde 
Emporgefacht, erschallt 

Das grimme Feuer, dessen Flammen schliefen 
Verschlossen in der Erde finstern Tiefen.— 

O schlimme Burg, dem Irrtum aufgemauert 
Durch schnöde Rohheit und Tyrannenwiten! 
Es platzte der Vulkan, die Felsen glühten, 

Da bebten deine Gründe, schreckdurchschauert! 
Wer ist das Ungetüm, des bösen Geistes 
Unreine Missgeburt, die ohn’ Erröten 

Auf dem verfallnen Kapitol den Thron, 

Den scheusslichen, sich gründet, und zu toten, 
Ja, zu verschlingen drohet alles schon? 

Wohl lebt es noch, doch seiner Macht Gebaude 
Bricht langsam ein; einst aber stürzt der Wipfel, 
Und weithin breiten rings sich die Ruinen. 

Also beherrscht den hohen Bergesgipfel 

Ein starker Turm auf hoher Felsenzinne; 

Des Krieges S6hne haben aufgeschlagen 

Die feste Wohnung drinne, 

Dort herrschen sie mit der geraubten Macht, 
Laut brillend stürzen sie von da zur Schlacht; 
Verlassen bleibt er stehen, 

Der Turm, einsam im Wald, und ungesehen. 
Noch schaut er, auch gebrechlich, wie vor Zeiten, 
Mit droh’ndem Antlitz rings nach allen Seiten. 

Notes 

Einst aber kommt die Zeit, da fallt er nieder, 
Er falit, die Felder ächzen, 

Trümmerbedeckt; bis dahin bleibt er freilich 
Popanz und Vogelscheuche aller Leute, 

Der doch ihr Schreck, ihr Argernis war neulich. 

Das war der erste Lorbeer, der die Schlafe 
Bekranzte der Vernunft; doch kühn erhebt 

Sich der Verstand, nach sicherm Wissen durstend, 
Und er umarmt die Welt in ihrem Fluge. 
Kopernikus schwingt sich zum Sternenzuge, 

Den, undurchdringlich, deckte sonst ein Schleier; 
Dort schaut er, wie in ungemessner Ferne 

Der leuchtendste der Sterne, 

Der uns den Tag bringt, ruht in ew’ger Feier. 
Unter der Sohle fühlet Galileo. 

Der Erde Kugel rollen, und zum Lohne 

Gibt ihm Italien einen Kerker, blind; 

Und dennoch schifft indes die Erde ohne 
Aufhören durch des Raumes Meer geschwind, 
Und mit ihr schiffen, Blitzen gleich, die Sterne, 
Die schimmernden, im Flug; da ward geschleudert 
In ihre Mitte Newtons rascher Geist; 

Er folgt, und er versteht sie, 

Bestimmend die Geleise 

Des Triebs, der sie gescheucht in ihre Kreise. 

Was hilft es dir, den Himmel zu Or 

Zu finden das Gesetz, das ewig regt 

Den Luftkreis und das Meer? Den Strahl zu teilen 
Des unantastbar’n Lichts, und in die Erde 

Dich zu vergraben, und des Goldes Wiege 

Und des Kristalles zu ertappen? Kehre 

Zum Menschen, Geist! — Er tat’s, und warf die schwere 
Erbitterung in seine lauten Klagen. 

»Wie ist der Sinn mit Blindheit doch geschlagen, 
Wie klirrt die wilde Kette, 

Die Tyrannei in ihrer Wut geschmiedet, 

An diesem Pol und jenem um die Wette, 

Und bannt ans Totenbette 

Den Menschen, wenn der Knechtschaft er ermüdet! 
So sei’s nicht mehr!‘‘— Das hörten die Despoten, 
Da fühlten sie das Feuer und das Schwert 

In der verruchten Hand, zwei sichre Boten. 

»Unsinnige! die hohen Scheiterhaufen, 

Die schrecklich dorther droh’n mich zu verschlingen, 
Die mit der Wahrheit wollen um mich streiten, 
Leuchttürme sind’s ja, die zu ihr mich leiten, 

Und Fackeln, Licht für ihren Sieg zu bringen! 

In Liebe sie verlangend