His grenadier-songs, though often meagre and inflated, and
marked with the literary vices of the time, do still account for the
great fame which they acquired, as they went marching with the finest
army that Europe ever saw. Here is a specimen:--
VICTORY-SONG AFTER THE BATTLE NEAR PRAGUE.
Victoria! with us is God;
There lies the haughty foe!
He falls, for righteous is our God;
Victoria! he lies low.
'T is true our father[14] is no more,
Yet hero-like be went,
And now the conquering host looks o'er
From high and starry tent.
The noble man, he led the way
For God and Fatherland,
And scarce was his old head so gray
As valiant his hand.
With fire of youth and hero-craft
A banner snatching, he
Held it aloft upon its shaft
For all of us to see;
And said,--"My children, now attack,--
Take each redoubt and gun!"
And swifter than the lightning track
We followed, every one.
Alas, the flag that led the strife
Falls with him ere we win!
It was a glorious end of life:
O fortunate Schwerin!
And when thy Frederic saw thee low,
From out his sobbing breath
His orders hurled us on the foe
In vengeance for thy death.
Thou, Henry,[15] wert a soldier true,
Thou foughtest royally!
From deed to deed our glances flew,
Thou lion-youth, with thee!
A Prussian heart with valor quick,
Right Christian was his mood:
Red grew his sword, and flowing thick
His steps with Pandourt[16]-blood.
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