And he chooses 'twixt death from the foemen's hand, Or death where the deep waves roll; Then he boldly rides up to that rocky strand, And commends to the Lord his soul! And as nearer he hears the foemen ride, He seeks the utmost steep; And he plunges his spurs in his courser's side, And dares the dreadful leap!
And swiftly he sank through the yielding air, And into the flood he fell; His steed is dashed to atoms there, But the knight lives safe and well! And mid the plaudits of his band, He stemmed the parting wave, And soon in safety reached the land, For Heaven will never forsake the brave!
Karl Theodor Körner. Tr. G. F. Richardson.
THE KNIGHT'S LEAP.
"So the foeman has fired the gate, men of mine, And the water is spent and done; Then bring me a cup of the red Ahr-wine; I never shall drink but this one.
"And fetch me my harness, and saddle my horse, And lead him me round to the door: He must take such a leap to-night perforce As horse never took before.
"I have lived by the saddle for years two score, And if I must die on tree, The old saddle-tree, which has borne me of yore, Is the properest timber for me.
"I have lived my life, I have fought my fight, I have drunk my share of wine; From Trier to Cöln there was never a knight Led a merrier life than mine.