History & Politics
Sound Doctrine
Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1908) · From New Poems: Poems for the Times
Quick, beat the drum, and be not afraid,
The suttler-maiden lovingly kiss;
This is the whole of knowledge, in truth,
The deepest book-learning lies in this.
Quick, drum the people out of their sleep,
And drum the réveille with the ardour of youth,
And as you march, continue to drum--
This is the whole of knowledge, in truth.
All Hegel’s philosophy here is found,
The deepest book-learning lies in this;
I’ve found it out, because I’m no fool,
And also because I drum not amiss.
Cite this poem
MLA
Heine, Heinrich. “Sound Doctrine.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/heine/286/.
Chicago
Heine, Heinrich. “Sound Doctrine.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/heine/286/.
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