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(From The Wanderer of Switzerland)
FROM the valley we descried, | |
| As the Gauls approached our shores, | |
| Keels that darkened all the tide, | |
| Tempesting the lake with oars. | |
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| Then the mountain-echoes rang | 5 |
| With the clangor of alarms: | |
| Shrill the signal-trumpet sang; | |
| All our warriors leaped to arms. | |
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| On the margin of the flood, | |
| While the frantic foe drew nigh; | 10 |
| Grim as watching wolves we stood, | |
| Prompt as eagles stretched to fly. | |
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| In a deluge upon land | |
| Burst their overwhelming might; | |
| Back we hurled them from the strand, | 15 |
| Oft returning to the fight. | |
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| Fierce and long the combat held; | |
| Till the waves were warm with blood, | |
| Till the booming waters swelled | |
| As they sank beneath the flood. | 20 |
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| For on that triumphant day | |
| Underwalden’s arms once more | |
| Broke Oppression’s black array, | |
| Dashed invasion from her shore. | |
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| Gaul’s surviving barks retired, | 25 |
| Muttering vengeance as they fled: | |
| Hope in us, by conquest fired, | |
| Raised our spirits from the dead. | |
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| From the dead our spirits rose, | |
| To the dead they soon returned; | 30 |
| Bright, on its eternal close, | |
| Underwalden’s glory burned. | |
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