Wer fallt, der kann's verschmerzen,
Der hat das Himmelreich!"
[Footnote: La Motte Fouque composed this poem on the march from
Potsdam to Breslau, whither he conducted the first companies of
volunteers. It was the first song of liberty published in 1813:
Mount! mount! for sacred freedom fight!
The battle soon must be.
The night is past, and red the light
Streams o'er the dewy lea.
Up! let the coward idlers sleep!
Who envies them their rest?
We march with joyful hearts to keep
Our honored king's request.
To us he said: "My brave ones all!--
My chasseurs! where are they?"
Responsive to his patriot call
We hastened to obey.
We vowed to strike with mighty hand
As it becomes the free--
A safeguard for our native land
With Heaven's grace to be.
Sleep calmly, wives and children dear
To God your sorrows tell.
The hour, alas! of blood is near,
But all your fears dispel.
Approved we hasten to the field;
What though the strife begins!
'Tis joy our loved ones thus to shield,
For pious courage wins.
Returning, all may not be found!
But some, in glory's grave,
Shall never hear the songs resound
Of those they died to save.
Come, glowing heart! despise the pain
Of death; for, evermore,.
Shall he who falls, a kingdom gain
On heaven's eternal shore!]
CHAPTER XXIII.
LEONORA PROHASKA.
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