  German bard! extol our glorious German freedom, that thy lay May possess our souls, and fire us, And to mighty deeds inspire us, Like the Marseillaise notorious. Be no more, like Werther, tender, Who for Lotte sigh’d all day; Thou shouldst tell the people proudly What the bells proclaim so loudly,— Speak of dirks, swords, no surrender. Gentle flutes no more resemble, Be not so idyllic, pray! Fire the mortars, beat to quarters, Crash, kill, thunder, make them tremble. Crash, kill, thunder like a devil Till the last foe flies away; To this cause devote thy singing, Thy poetic efforts bringing To the common public’s level. |
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