"Der Handschuh" ("The Glove") is a ballad by Friedrich Schiller, written in 1797, the year of his friendly ballad competition ("Balladenjahr", "Year of the Ballads") with Goethe. Other ballads written that year include Schiller's "Der Gang nach dem Eisenhammer", "Die Kraniche des Ibykus", "Der Ring des Polykrates", "Ritter Toggenburg", "Der Taucher", and Goethe's "", "", "", "The Sorcerer's Apprentice".
The ballad is based on a true story, which Schiller found in a volume (1797). It took place at the court of Francis I of France. The material can also be found in Matteo Bandello's novels published in 1490. Leigh Hunt used it for his poem "" and Robert Browning for "".
Alongside other members of his court, King Francis I watches a fight between wild animals. A lion is sent out into the arena first, but it simply yawns and lies down. The king then orders a tiger to be released, but after a few moments of excitement it just walks around the lion before also lying down. Next, the king commands two leopards be brought out, which subsequently attack the tiger. In response, the lion roars and stands up, but then they all lie down, hot from their murderous exertions.
At this point Fräulein Kunigund drops her glove: it falls from the balcony into the midst of the animals. She asks the knight Delorges to retrieve the glove as a proof of his proclaimed love. He accepts the challenge, enters the circle, and recovers the glove without being harmed. The court is impressed by his bravery and Kunigunde looks at him with a promise in her eyes, but Delorges throws the glove in her face and says that he has no interest in her gratitude.
The original German text and the English translation by Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton.
Robert Schumann set this poem to music in his 1850 song, Op. 87. In 2005, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Schiller's death, Graham Waterhouse composed Der Handschuh for cello and speaking voice. The English folk song "Lady of Carlisle"/"The Bold Lieutenant"/"The Lion's Den"/"The Lady"s Fan" (Roud 396) treat the same material.