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Translated by E. A. Bowring
O MAGDEBURG the town! | |
| Fair maids thy beauty crown, | |
| Thy charms fair maids and matrons crown; | |
| O Magdeburg the town! | |
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| Where all so blooming stands, | 5 |
| Advance fierce Tilly’s bands; | |
| O’er gardens and o’er well-tilled lands | |
| Advance fierce Tilly’s bands. | |
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| Now Tilly ’s at the gate. | |
| Our homes who ’ll liberate? | 10 |
| Go, loved one, hasten to the gate, | |
| And dare the combat straight! | |
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| There is no need as yet, | |
| However fierce his threat; | |
| Thy rosy cheeks I ’ll kiss, sweet pet! | 15 |
| There is no need as yet. | |
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| My longing makes me pale, | |
| O, what can wealth avail? | |
| E’en now thy father may be pale. | |
| Thou mak’st my courage fail. | 20 |
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| O mother, give me bread! | |
| Is then my father dead? | |
| O mother, one small crust of bread! | |
| O, what misfortune dread! | |
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| Thy father, dead lies he, | 25 |
| The trembling townsmen flee, | |
| Adown the street the blood runs free; | |
| O, whither shall we flee? | |
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| The churches ruined lie, | |
| The houses burn on high, | 30 |
| The roofs they smoke, the flames out fly, | |
| Into the street then hie! | |
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| No safety there they meet! | |
| The soldiers fill the street, | |
| With fire and sword the wreck complete: | 35 |
| No safety there they meet! | |
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| Down falls the houses’ line, | |
| Where now is thine or mine? | |
| That bundle yonder is not thine | |
| Thou flying maiden mine! | 40 |
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| The women sorrow sore, | |
| The maidens far, far more. | |
| The living are no virgins more: | |
| Thus Tilly’s troops make war! | |
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