HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories

i^eine, 49
THE EASTERN QUESTION.
The question of the Dardanelles is
only one symptom of the whole Eastern
Question, of the question of the Turkish
inheritance, the deep-seated disease with
which we are smitten, the poisonous
matter which is festering in the body
politic of Europe, and which unfortunately
can be extirpated only by the surgery
of the sword. Even when they are
discussing quite other subjects, all the
great rulers of Europe are casting anxious
glances toward the Sublime Porte,
toward the old Byzance, Stamboul, Constantinople—
for the plague-spot has
many names. . . . What wonder
then that none of the high potentates of
Europe is willing to permit the great
inheritance to be absorbed by Russia,
and that each is eager to have his share
of the Oriental cake ! The appetite of
each will be whetted as he beholds the
barbarians of the North gorging themselves,
and the pettiest duodecimo German
prince will at least put in a claim
for beer-money.
NOT TO BE T.VKEN
LITERALLY.
Maiden, it would be thy ruin.
And I strive most earnestly