Classic Poem

True , Sempach, thou hast sunken to decay,
But high thy fame although thy walls are low,
Since Winkelried here cast his life away
For man and freedom, centuries ago.

Hundreds of years since armies struggled here,
And conquest followed Arnold's noble fate!
Still do the Switzers gather every year
Upon this field that day to celebrate.

His was no reckless, disappointed life,
Content with war for lack of peace at home;
He owned sweet children and a tender wife,
And wore the hope of happy years to come.

But patriot passion all his soul possessed,
When with one plunge he made an army reel;
Sheathed Austrian spears within his valiant breast,
And broke, with outstretched arms, their wall of steel!

O Liberty! through what a serried host
Thou held'st thy march sublimely on that day;
At what an awful, what a splendid cost
Did Arnold open unto thee the way!

All else as nothing, freedom but in view —
Oh! what an inspiration in that deed!
Soul, though thy foe be dense, press on, cut through,
With sacrifice of self — like Winkelried!