Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Germany: Vols. XVII–XVIII. 1876–79. | | | | Rhine, the River | | Rhine Song of the German Soldiers after Victory | | Felicia Hemans (1793–1835) |
| | SINGLE VOICE IT is the Rhine! our mountain vineyards laving, | |
| I see the bright flood shine, I see the bright flood shine: | |
| Sing on the march, with every banner waving,— | |
| Sing, brothers, ’t is the Rhine! Sing, brothers, ’t is the Rhine! | |
| |
CHORUS The Rhine! the Rhine, our own imperial River! | 5 |
| Be glory on thy track, be glory on thy track! | |
| We left thy shores, to die or to deliver; | |
| We bear thee Freedom back, we bear thee Freedom back! | |
| |
SINGLE VOICE Hail! hail! my childhood knew the rush of water, | |
| Even as my mother’s song, even as my mother’s song; | 10 |
| That sound went past me on the field of slaughter, | |
| And heart and arm grew strong, and heart and arm grew strong! | |
| |
CHORUS Roll proudly on!—brave blood is with thee sweeping, | |
| Poured out by sons of thine, poured out by sons of thine, | |
| Where sword and spirit forth in joy were leaping, | 15 |
| Like thee, victorious Rhine! like thee, victorious Rhine! | |
| |
SINGLE VOICE Home! home!—thy glad wave hath a tone of greeting; | |
| Thy path is by my home, thy path is by my home: | |
| Even now my children count the hours till meeting; | |
| O ransomed ones, I come! O ransomed ones, I come! | 20 |
| |
CHORUS Go, tell the seas that chain shall bind thee never, | |
| Sound on by hearth and shrine, sound on by hearth and shrine! | |
| Sing through the hills, that thou art free forever,— | |
| Lift up thy voice, O Rhine! Lift up thy voice, O Rhine! | | | | |
|
|
