word is ZLE (Busching says ZLEXI); hence ZLEzien, SCHLEsien,
meaning merely BADland, QUADland, what we might called DAMAGitia,
or Country where you get into Trouble. That is the etymology, or
what passes for such. As to the History of Schlesien, hitherwards
of these burial urns dug up in different places, I notice, as not
yet entirely buriable, Three Epochs.

FIRST EPOCH; CHRISTIANITY: A.D. 966. Introduction of Christianity;
to the length of founding a Bishopric that year, so hopeful were
the aspects; "Bishopric of Schmoger" (SchMAGram, dim little Village
still discoverable on the Polish frontier, not far from the Town of
Namslau); Bishopric which, after one removal farther inward, got
across the Oder, to "WRUTISLAV," which me now call Breslau; and
sticks there, as Bishopric of Breslau, to this day. Year 966: it
was in Adalbert, our Prussian Saint and Missionary's younger time.
Preaching, by zealous Polacks, must have been going on, while
Adalbert, Bright in Nobleness, was studying at Magdeburg, and
ripening for high things in the general estimation. This was a new
gift from the Polacks, this of Christianity; an infinitely more
important one than that nickname of "ZLEZIEN," or "DAMAGitia,"
stuck upon the poor Country, had been.

SECOND EPOCH; GET GRADUALLY CUT LOOSE FROM POLAND: A.D. 1139-1159.
Twenty years of great trouble in Poland, which were of lasting
benefit to Schlesien. In 1139 the Polack King, a very potent
Majesty whom we could name but do not, died; and left his Dominions
shared by punctual bequest among his five sons. Punctual bequest
did avail: but the eldest Son (who was King, and had Schlesien with
much else to his share) began to encroach, to grasp; upon which the
others rose upon him, flung him out into exile; redivided;