Ruckert, Friedrich

Ruckert, Friedrich an Orientalist, and one of the greatest German poets of the 19th century, was born at Schweinfurt, May 16, 1789. He studied at Jena, commenced his academical career in 1811, was professor of Oriental languages at Erlangen in 1826, and in 1841 at Berlin. He retired in 1846 to his country seat at Neusess, and died January 31, 1866. He published, Hebraische Prophetens ubersetzt und erlautert (Leipsic, 1831): — Leben Jesu, Evangelien-Harmonie in gebundener Rede (Stuttgard, 1839): — Hesoden der Gosse (1844). Some of his religious poems have been translated into English, as Dein Konig kommt in niederen Hullen (in Schaff, Christ in Son, page 33: "He comes, no royal vesture wearing"): Er ist in Bethlehem geboren (ibid. page 93: "In Bethlehem, the Lord of glory"): — Das Paradies muss schoner seib (ibid. page 657: "Oh Paradise must fairer be"): — Um Mitternacht bin ich erwacht (Winkworth, Christian Singers of Germany, page 337: "At dead of night Sleep took her flight"). (B.P.)