Volume I Part 34 (2/2)

IMITATED FROM THE FRENCH.

Oh, when shall I visit the land of my birth-- The loveliest land on the face of the earth?

When shall I those scenes of affection explore, Our forests, our fountains, Our hamlets, our mountains, With pride of our mountains, the maid I adore?

Oh, when shall I dance on the daisy-white mead, In the shade of an elm, to the sound of a reed?

When shall I return to that lowly retreat, Where all my fond objects of tenderness meet,-- The lambs and the heifers, that follow my call, My father, my mother, My sister, my brother, And dear Isabella, the joy of them all?

Oh, when shall I visit the land of my birth?-- 'Tis the loveliest land on the face of the earth.

GERMAN WAR-SONG.[69]

Heaven speed the righteous sword, And freedom be the word; Come, brethren, hand in hand, Fight for your fatherland.

Germania from afar Invokes her sons to war; Awake! put forth your powers, And victory must be ours.

On to the combat, on!

Go where your sires have gone; Their might unspent remains, Their pulse is in our veins.

On to the battle, on!

Rest will be sweet anon; The slave may yield, may fly,-- We conquer, or we die!

O Liberty! thy form s.h.i.+nes through the battle-storm.

Away with fear, away!

Let justice win the day.

[69] The simple and sublime original of these stanzas, with the fine air by Hummel, became the national song of Germany, and was sung by the soldiers especially, during the latter campaigns of the war, when Buonaparte was twice dethroned, and Europe finally delivered from French predominance.

VIA CRUCIS, VIA LUCIS.

Night turns to day:-- When sullen darkness lowers, And heaven and earth are hid from sight, Cheer up, cheer up; Ere long the opening flowers, With dewy eyes, shall s.h.i.+ne in light.

Storms die in calms:-- When over land and ocean Roll the loud chariots of the wind, Cheer up, cheer up; The voice of wild commotion, Proclaims tranquillity behind.

Winter wakes spring:-- When icy blasts are blowing O'er frozen lakes, through naked trees, Cheer up, cheer up; All beautiful and glowing, May floats in fragrance on the breeze.

War ends in peace:-- Though dread artillery rattle, And ghostly corses load the ground, Cheer up, cheer up; Where groan'd the field of battle, The song, the dance, the feast, go round.

Toil brings repose:-- With noontide fervours beating, When droop thy temples o'er thy breast, Cheer up, cheer up; Gray twilight, cool and fleeting, Wafts on its wing the hour of rest.

Death springs to life:-- Though brief and sad thy story, Thy years all spent in care and gloom, Look up, look up; Eternity and glory Dawn through the portals of the tomb.

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