Yes, the glorious Delphic god is
A Schlemihl, and e’en the laurel
That so proudly crowns his forehead
Is a sign of his Schlemihldom.
What the word Schlemihl betokens
Well we know. Long since Chamisso
Rights of German citizenship
Gain’d it (of the word I’m speaking).
But its origin has ever,
Like the holy Nile’s far sources,
Been unknown. Upon this subject
Many a night have I been poring.
Many a year ago I travell’d
To Berlin, to see Chamisso
On this point, and from the dean sought
Information of Schlemihl.
But he could not satisfy me,
And referr’d me on to Hitzig,
Who had made the first suggestion
Of the family name of Peter
Shadowless. I straightway hired
The first cab, and quickly hasten’d
To the magistrate Herr Hitzig,
Who was formerly call’d Itzig.
When he still was known as Itzig,
In a vision saw he written
His own name high in the heavens,
And in front the letter H.
“What’s the meaning of this H?”
Ask’d he of himself. “Herr Itzig
“Or the Holy Itzig? Holy
“Is a pretty title. Not, though,
“Suited for Berlin.” At length he,
Tired of thinking, took the name of
Hitzig, and his best friends only
Knew that Hitzig stood for Holy.
“Holy Hitzig!” said I therefore
When I saw him, “have the goodness
“To explain the derivation
“Of the word Schlemihl, I pray you.”