198

A HISTORY OF BOHEMIAN

LITERATURE

lead a virtuous life, if we wish to be with God. Death and misery cannot harm us, for it (i.e. death) brings us from

Let us

then do penance,

death to (eternal) life.

O Jesu Christ! Thou who art our highest Lord, when we die deign to be with usj Deliver us from Satan; Receive our spirit in Thy most holy hand. do not let us go to torment; Rather deign to allow us to behold Thee with our eyes, and to meet Lord Peter again in heaven."

I have already alluded to Lomnicky's political rhymes, which deserve some notice, though their poetic merit is slight. Lomnicky's rhythms have at least the merit that they lose little by translation. When Frederick of the Palatinate arrived in Bohemia in 1619, Lomnicky, with his usual facility, immediately began singing the praise of the new sovereign. His verses for a time obtained great popularity at Prague, and —what was probably of greater importance to the needy poet — he received a considerable remuneration from the treasury of the Some of these verses have been preserved in king. the vast historical work of Skala ze Zhofe.^ On the arrival of Frederick, Lomnicky welcomed him with these words : " O King Frederick — We entreat thee with all our might — Drive the enemies from our land — Do not let them rob us any more. — May God give you His blessing — And grant you a happy reign — And also a glorious victory — Over those who are our enemies — Then may we have true freedom. — Receive in the two kinds — The body and the blood of our Lord Jesus. — Do thou effect this O King Frederick ! — Confound the rebellious ones {i.e. the Austrian party) — Then ever more and more — Shall we praise you according to God— :Celebrate your dignity." 1

See Chapter

VI.