Pure in life, in faith as strong,
Let no man do your courage wrong;
Be one, what time the trump shall sound.
Cleanse your souls by fervent prayer,
That so the Lord may find them fair
When He shall make His questioning round,
The Cross be still your pride,
Your banner and your guide
In the battle!
Who in the field
Their fealty yield
To God, victorious weapons wield.
Look Thou down from heaven above,
Thou Whom the angels praise and love—
Be gracious to our German land!
Speak from the clouds with thunder-voice;
Princes and people of Thy choice,
Unite them with a mighty hand.
Be Thou our fortress-tower,
Bring us through danger's hour.
Hallelujah!
Thine is today
And shall alway
Kingdom, and power, and glory stay!
* * * * *
[Illustration: E. HADER EMANUEL GEIBEL]
THE CALL OF THE ROAD[51] (1841)
Sweet May it is come, and the trees are in bloom—
Who wills may sit listless with sorrow at home!
As the clouds go a-roving up there in the sky,
So away for a life of adventure am I!
Kind father, dear mother, God be with you now!
Who knows what my fortune is waiting to show?
There is many a road that I never have gone,
There is many a wine that I never have known.
Then up with the sun, and away where it leads,
High over the mountains and down through the meads!
The brooks they are singing, the trees hear the call;
My heart's like a lark and sings out with them all.
And at night, when I come to a cozy old nest,
"Mine host, now a bottle—and make it your best!
And you, merry fiddler, tune up for a song,
A song of my sweetheart—I'll help it along!"