Classic Poem

Morgarten

Proud Hapsburg came forth in the gloom of his wrath,
With his banners of pomp and his Ritters in mail;
For the herdsmen of Uri have fronted his path
And the standard of freedom is raised in their vale.

All scornful advancing he thought as he came
How the peasants would shrink at the glance of his eye,
How their heath-cover'd chalets in ruin must flame,
And the hopes of the Nations must wither and die.

But mark'd he the moment when thund'ring and vast
The stern voice of the Switzers in echoes arose?
When the rocks of their glen from the hill-summits cast
Carried vengeance and death on the heads of their foes?

Now charge in your fury ye sons of the fell,
Now plunge ye your blades in the hearts of his men!
If ye conquer, all times of your glory shall tell;
And conquer'd, ye ne'er shall arouse ye again.

Tis done — and the spoilers are crush'd and o'erthrown,
And terror has struck thro' the souls of the proud;
For the Despot of Austria stoops from his throne,
And the war-cry of Uri is wrathful and loud.

In speed they came on, but still faster they go,
While ruin and Horror around them are hurl'd:
And the field of Morgarten in splendor shall glow
Like Marathon's field to the end of the world.English