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The Friday Quiz: The Music Man

From the out-of-control train that is Today, hurtling disastrously down the tracks toward near-certain disaster, I desperately toss today's Quiz at you. If I survive the wreck that will undoubtedly occur, I shall attempt to stagger back and help you sort out truth from error. Until then, you're on your own. The mind-relaxer in question:

The tune is based on a soldiers' song of the 16th century. Officially adopted in 1932, it's one of the oldest known national anthems. It's lyrics all assume the character of a single person, and hidden in the first letters of the verses is an acrostic of his name. In the very first verse of the song, the speaker -- a real historical figure -- asserts his loyalty to the monarch of another nation, but it is debated whether this should be taken seriously or ironically.

Our two part question: What is the nation? And who is the historical figure at the center of the anthem?

First correct answer posted to comments wins a commemorative iron-on t-shirt transfer depicting the post-Iranian Hostage Crisis wrestling villain the Iron Sheikh. No Googling or taking those fantastic herbal concentration-enhancing supplements that you get so many emails about. One guess (at both parts) per comment please, but comment in plenitude, if such be your desire.

Posted by BT on September 22, 2006 11:16 AM |

Comments

Bhutan and the Buddha. I have no idea, LeWombatty, and you really can be cruel sometimes. What about a puzzle? Who invented the dishwasher? Maybe a nice calculus function?

I'm sorry, my head hurts today.

Congratulations on your impending win, Boxjam, Gavin or James!

Posted by: bootsy3000 [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 22, 2006 12:24 PM

Atlantis, Charlie the Tuna

Posted by: Scraps [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 22, 2006 12:53 PM

OK, so, a little esoteric. I'll offer a clue -- the foreign king mentioned is the
king of Spain.

Posted by: lewombat [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 22, 2006 10:00 PM

Andorra?

Posted by: gavinedwards [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 23, 2006 11:10 AM

Yeeps, I'm stumped. Yet I'll go ahead and guess Mexico. Too dumb for leader guessing.

Posted by: hackly_fracture [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 23, 2006 11:10 PM

Sure, Mexico. And that Emperor Maximilian guy.

Posted by: Jonathan [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 25, 2006 12:15 AM

What's this acrostic? The historical figure must be Borges!

Posted by: art [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 25, 2006 03:08 AM

I see England, I see France, I see Tipper's underpants? Oh wait, you wanted the country, eh?

Posted by: art [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 25, 2006 03:10 AM

More seriously, if the anthem is in the first person and the first letters spell out someone's name, perhaps that name begins with the letter "I"? (Pope) Ignatius?

Posted by: art [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 25, 2006 03:13 AM

OK, that would be one hell of a first verse to spell out Ignatius, so let's try Ivan (the Terrible). OH wait, it is the speaker not the leader that you want......

Posted by: art [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 25, 2006 03:14 AM

OK, I'll out with it. The country is the Netherlands, the song is "The Wilhemus", and the speaker is William of Orange, also known as William the Silent (since there have been several Williams of Orange). He is the Dutch "Vader des vaderlands," one of the leaders of the sixteenth-century rebellion against Spanish rule of the Netherlands.

Sorry that one was such a stumper...

Posted by: BT [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 25, 2006 11:44 AM

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