O Father, bless thou me; I trust in thy mercy, whate'er may befall me; 'Tis thy word that hath sent me; that word can recall me. Living or dying, O bless thou me! Father, I honor thee.
Father, I honor thee; Not for earth's hoards or honors we here are contending; All that is holy our swords are defending; Then falling, and conquering, I honor thee. God, I repose in thee.
God, I repose in thee; When the thunders of death my soul are greeting, When the gashed veins bleed, and the life is fleeting, In thee, my God, I repose in thee. Father, I call on thee.
Mother tongue, oh, tongue most dear, Sweet and gladsome to mine ear! Word that first I heard, endearing Word of love, first timid sound That I stammered--still I'm hearing Thee within my soul profound.
Oh, my heart will ever grieve When my Fatherland I leave, For in foreign tongues repeating Words of strangers, I lose cheer. Oh, they seem not like a greeting, And I'll never hold them dear.
Speech so wonderful to hear-- How thou ringest pure and clear! Though thy beauty hath enthralled me, Still I'll deepen my delight, Awed, as if my fathers called me From the grave's eternal night.
Ring on ever, tongue of old, Tongue of lovers, heroes bold! Rise, old song, though lost for ages, From thy secret tomb, and go Live again in sacred pages, Set all hearts once more aglow.
Breath of God is everywhere, Custom sacred here as there. Yet when I give thanks, am praying, A beloved heart would seek, When my highest thoughts I'm saying-- Then my mother tongue I speak.
[Illustration: MAXIMILIAN GOTTFRIED VON SCHENKENDORF]
SPRING GREETING TO THE FATHERLAND[15] (1814)
Fatherland, thy pleasures greet me After bondage, war's distress! I must steep my soul completely Here in all thy gorgeousness. Where the oak-trees murmur mildly With their crowns to heaven raised, Mighty streams are roaring wildly-- There the German land be praised.
From the Rhinefall, all delighted, I have walked, from Danube's spring; Mildly, in my soul benighted Love-stars rose, illumining; Now I would descend, and brightly Radiate a joyous shine Into Neckar's valleys sprightly, O'er the blue and silver Main.
Onward fly, my message, bringing Freedom's greeting evermore, Far away thou shalt be ringing By my home on Memel's shore. Where the German tongue is spoken, Hearts have fought to make her free-- Fought right gladly--there unbroken Stays our sacred Germany.