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Translated by Alfred Baskerville
AT Mantua in chains | |
| The gallant Hofer lay, | |
| In Mantua to death | |
| Led him the foe away; | |
| His brothers’ hearts bled for the chief, | 5 |
| For Germany disgrace and grief | |
| And Tyrol’s mountain land! | |
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| His hands behind him clasped, | |
| With firm and measured pace, | |
| Marched Andrew Hofer on; | 10 |
| He feared not death to face, | |
| Death whom from Iselberg aloft | |
| Into the vale he sent so oft | |
| In Tyrol’s holy land. | |
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| But when from dungeon-grate, | 15 |
| In Mantua’s stronghold, | |
| Their hands on high he saw | |
| His faithful brothers hold, | |
| “O God be with you all!” he said, | |
| “And with the German realm betrayed, | 20 |
| And Tyrol’s holy land!” | |
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| The drummer’s hand refused | |
| To beat the solemn march, | |
| While Andrew Hofer passed | |
| The portal’s gloomy arch; | 25 |
| In fetters shackled, yet so free, | |
| There on the bastion stood he, | |
| Brave Tyrol’s gallant son. | |
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| They bade him then kneel down, | |
| He answered, “I will not! | 30 |
| Here standing will I die, | |
| As I have stood and fought, | |
| As now I tread this bulwark’s bank, | |
| Long life to my good Kaiser Frank, | |
| And, Tyrol, hail to thee!” | 35 |
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| A grenadier then took | |
| The bandage from his hand, | |
| While Hofer spoke a prayer | |
| His last on earthly land. | |
| “Mark well!” he with loud voice exclaimed, | 40 |
| “Now fire! Ah! ’t was badly aimed! | |
| O Tyrol, fare thee well!” | |
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