The Adventurous Simplicissimus · Chapter
How Two Prophecies Were Fulfilled at Once explained
Simplicissimus nurses old Herzbruder, who feigns illness until July 26th, a day he dreads.
What happens
Simplicissimus nurses old Herzbruder, who feigns illness until July 26th, a day he dreads. Herzbruder, a skilled astrologer and palmist, prophesies the Battle of Wittstock, the colonel's wife's lying-in, Oliver's violent death (to be avenged by Simplicissimus), and warns Simplicissimus to beware of water. On the fateful day, a drunken lieutenant forces his way into the tent, demands a fortune, and when Herzbruder warns he may be hanged within the hour, the lieutenant stabs him to death. The murderer is caught by the Elector of Saxony and hanged by General Count Hatzfeld.
Themes in this chapter
Fortune and Fate
Herzbruder's prophecies and the fulfillment of two predictions—the lieutenant's hanging and his own murder.
Folly and Wisdom
The lieutenant's drunken folly leads to his own death, contrasting with Herzbruder's wisdom.
Deception and Appearance
Herzbruder feigns sickness to avoid the prophesied day, yet the truth of his predictions is revealed.
Characters to notice
- Simplicissimus
Nurses old Herzbruder and is warned to beware of water.
- Ulrich Herzbruder
Feigns illness, prophesies the future, and is murdered by a drunken lieutenant.
- Oliver
Visits Herzbruder and is foretold a violent death, to be avenged by Simplicissimus.
- The Governor
Not directly present; the colonel's wife is mentioned as showing kindness to Herzbruder.
Key passages
“Now none of my colonel’s people showed himself better fitted to wait on old Herzbruder in his sickness than I”
Simplicissimus was the most suitable among the colonel's men to nurse the sick Herzbruder.
Simplicissimus takes on the role of caretaker.
“he named the very day on which the Battle of Wittstock afterwards befell”
Herzbruder accurately predicted the date of the Battle of Wittstock.
Prophecy of a historical event.
“he foretold that he must die a violent death, and that I should avenge that death”
Herzbruder predicted Oliver would die violently and that Simplicissimus would avenge him.
Prophecy linking Simplicissimus to Oliver's fate.
“let the gentleman be on his guard, lest he be hanged before an hour be past”
Herzbruder warned the lieutenant that he might be hanged within the hour.
Immediate prophecy that comes true.
“the Elector of Saxony with his staff at that very moment rode up, and had him arrested”
The Elector of Saxony arrived just then and ordered the lieutenant's arrest.
Timely intervention leading to the prophecy's fulfillment.