# How Two Prophecies Were Fulfilled at Once explained — The Adventurous Simplicissimus

> Chapter companion for The Adventurous Simplicissimus by Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters/xxiv-how-two-prophecies-were-fulfilled-at-once
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters