So has my spirit declared, and deep in my innermost bosom Courage and longing have now been aroused to live for my country, Yea, and to die, presenting to others a worthy example.
If but the strength of Germany's youth were banded together There on the frontier, resolved that it never would yield to the stranger, Ah, he should not on our glorious soil be setting his foot-steps, Neither consuming before our eyes the fruit of our labor, Ruling our men, and making his prey of our wives and our daughters.
Hark to me, mother: for I in the depths of my heart am determined Quickly to do, and at once, what appears to me right and in reason;For he chooses not always the best who longest considers.
Hearken, I shall not again return to the house; but directly Go from this spot to the city, and there present to the soldiers This right arm and this heart, to be spent in the fatherland's service.
Then let my father say if there be no feeling of honor Dwelling within my breast, nor a wish to raise myself higher."Then with significant words spoke the good and intelligent mother, While from her eyes the quick-starting tears were silently falling:
"Son, what change has come o'er thee to-day, and over thy temper, That thou speakest no more, as thou yesterday didst, and hast always, Open and free, to thy mother, and tellest exactly thy wishes?
Any one else, had he heard thee thus speak, would in sooth have commended, And this decision of thine would have highly approved as most noble, Being misled by thy tone and by thy significant language.
Yet have I nothing but censure to speak; for better I know thee.
Thou concealest thy heart, and thy thoughts are not such as thou tellest.
Well do I know that it is not the drum, not the trumpet that calls thee:
Neither in uniform wouldst thou figure in sight of the maidens;Since, for all thou art honest and brave, it is thy vocation Here in quiet to care for the farm and provide for the household.
Tell me honestly, therefore, what goads thee to such a decision?"Earnestly answered the son: "Nay, thou art mistaken, dear mother:
One day is not like another. The youth matures into manhood:
Better in stillness oft ripening to deeds than when in the tumult Wildering and wild of existence, that many a youth has corrupted.
And, for as still as I am and was always, there yet in my bosom Has such a heart been shaped as abhors all wrong and injustice;And I have learned aright between worldly things to distinguish.
Arm and foot, besides, have been mightily strengthened by labor.
All this, I feel, is true: I dare with bo1dness maintain it.
Yet dost thou blame me with reason, O mother! for thou hast surprised me Using a language half truthful and half that of dissimulation.
For, let me honestly own,--it is not the near danger that calls me Forth from my father's house; nor is it the lofty ambition Helpful to be to my country, and terrible unto the foeman.
They were but words that I spoke: they only were meant for concealing Those emotions from thee with which my heart is distracted;And so leave me, O mother! for, since the wishes are fruitless Which in my bosom I cherish, my life must go fruitlessly overover.
For, as I know, he injures himself who is singly devoted, When for the common cause the whole are not working together.""Hesitate not," replied thereupon the intelligent mother, "Every thing to relate me, the smallest as well as the greatest.
Men will always be hasty, their thoughts to extremes ever running:
Easily out of their course the hasty are turned by a hindrance.
Whereas a woman is clever in thinking of means, and will venture E'en on a roundabout way, adroitly to compass her object.
Let me know every thin, then; say wherefore so greatly excited 'As I ne'er saw thee before, why thy blood is coursing so hotly, Wherefore, against thy will, tears are filling thine eyes to o'erflowing."Then he abandoned himself, the poor boy, to his sorrow, and weeping, Weeping aloud on his kind mother's breast, he brokenly answered:
"Truly my father's words to-day have wounded me sorely,--Words which I have not deserved; not to-day, nor at any time have I:
For it was early my greatest delight to honor my parents.
No one knew more, so I deemed, or was wiser than those who begot me, And had with strictness ruled throughout the dark season of childhood.
Many the things, in truth, I with patience endured from my playmates, When the good-will that I bore them they often requited with malice.
Often I suffered their flings and their blows to pass unresented;But if they ventured to ridicule father, when he of a Sunday Home from Church would come, with his solemn and dignified bearing;If they made fun of his cap-string, or laughed at the flowers of the wrapper He with such stateliness wore, which was given away but this morning,--Threateningly doubled my fist in an instant; with furious passion Fell I upon them, and struck out and hit, assailing them blindly, Seeing not where. They howled as the blood gushed out from their noses:
