THE tedious night at length hath pass'd; To horse! to horse! we'll ride as fast As ever bird did fly. Ha! but the morning air is chill; Frau Wirthin, one last goblet fill, We'll drain it ere we die! Thou youthful grass, why look'st so green? Soon dyed in blood of mine I ween, With damask rose thou'lt vie. The goblet here! with sword in hand I pledge thee first, my Fatherland, Oh! blessed for thee to die! Again our mailed hands raise the cup: Freedom, to thee we drink it up. Low may that coward lie Who fails to pledge, with heart and hand, The freedom of our glorious Land -- Her Freedom, ere we die! Our wives -- but, ah! the glass is clear, The cannon thunders -- grasp the spear, We'll pledge them in a sigh. Now, on the Foe like thunder crash! We'll scathe them as a lightning flash, And conquer, though we die! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN EPITAPH, INTENDED FOR HIMSELF by JAMES BEATTIE A CRADLE SONG by WILLIAM BLAKE THE TRUTH by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES THE CREATION (A NEGRO SERMON) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON ON HEARING THAT THE STUDENTS OF OUR NEW UNIVERSITY JOINED AGITATION .. by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS WRITTEN ON THE DEATH OF OUR BELOVED GENERAL STONEWALL JACKSON by CAROLINE AUGUSTA BALL |