“Und sei’s als letzter Wunsch gesprochen,
Dass noch dereinst dein Auge sieht,
Wie über’s Reich ununterbrochen
Vom Fels zum Meer dein Adler zieht.”
This lyrical outburst gave great offence to the “national” party in Bavaria, and was construed as expressing the poet’s own opinion that Prussia ought to subjugate the former country, which, of course, was not his meaning.
So strong was the feeling on this matter, that Ludwig felt himself constrained to withdraw the pension which his father had granted Geibel. But this withdrawal aroused displeasure in North Germany, and the King of Prussia granted him a similar pension in compensation.
In annoyance at the insult offered his colleague and friend, Paul Heyse voluntarily gave up the pension which he had hitherto received from the King of Bavaria. [↑]
[2] Professor Dr C. Beyer, who mentions this correspondence, adds that it came into the Monarch’s hands through indiscretion; also that he caused the letters to be copied, after which the originals were put back in their place (“Ludwig II., König von Bayern. Ein characterbild”). [↑]