Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
I. PatriotismMen and Boys
Karl Theodor Körner (17911813)T
Where is the coward who sits well housed?
Fie on thee, boy, disguised in curls,
Behind the stove, ’mong gluttons and girls!
A graceless, worthless wight thou must be;
No German maid desires thee,
No German song inspires thee,
No German Rhine-wine fires thee.
Forth in the van,
Man by man,
Swing the battle-sword who can!
Through piping storms, till morning light,
Thou to thy downy bed canst creep,
And there in dreams of rapture sleep.
A graceless, worthless wight, etc.
Like the thunder of God, makes our heart beat fast,
Thou in the theatre lov’st to appear,
Where trills and quavers tickle the ear.
A graceless, worthless wight, etc.
When our parchèd lips seek water in vain,
Thou canst make champagne corks fly
At the groaning tables of luxury.
A graceless, worthless wight, etc.
Send home to our true-loves a long “Good-night,”
Thou canst hie thee where love is sold,
And buy thy pleasure with paltry gold.
A graceless, worthless wight, etc.
And death in a thousand shapes draws nigh,
Thou canst sit at thy cards, and kill
King, queen, and knave with thy spadille.
A graceless, worthless wight, etc.
Then welcome be death to the patriot’s soul!
Thy pampered flesh shall quake at its doom,
And crawl in silk to a hopeless tomb.
A pitiful exit thine shall be;
No German maid shall weep for thee,
No German song shall they sing for thee,
No German goblets shall ring for thee.
Forth in the van,
Man for man,
Swing the battle-sword who can!