Karl Hugo Rößler

“ Songs of birds and lays of reapers,
winter-dance and skating gay,
In the old man’s ears resound not,
ears that listen day by day
To one only sound, the throbbing
of a heart that’s rent in tway.
⁠And the Spring again returneth;
mountains glitter, green corn grows ”

“ See the boy’s pale visage kindling,
with the blush of anger dyed!
⁠See, how from his blue eye flashing
beams the hero glance of pride!
And he speaks, ‘My lord and father,
lieth not man’s strength alway
‘Only in the God of heaven,
faith in whom is all our stay? ”

“ Feels the weight of homethrust lances
wielded by strong arms in fight.
Never can the countless hordes, that
come from desert steppes afar,
Never can they blame the prowess
of Bohemian chiefs in war. ”