 | Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy |  |
28
AT BÜRGLEN
TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM TELL
Here was he nursed upon this pleasant hill,
Hence heard the voice of Schächen all year round
Filling the air with free triumphant sound—
Impassioned music for his growing will;
And whether with his bow he tried his skill,
Following the chamois on the mountain-ground,
Or shared the dalesmen's toil, his soul was bound
To free his land from hopelessness and ill.
Hence heard the voice of Schächen all year round
Filling the air with free triumphant sound—
Impassioned music for his growing will;
And whether with his bow he tried his skill,
Following the chamois on the mountain-ground,
Or shared the dalesmen's toil, his soul was bound
To free his land from hopelessness and ill.
So when the Schächen roared with melted snow,
And cast the pines like straws along the dale,
He knew the Föhn, that wrecked the forest-ground,
Grassed all the Alps, and prayed God's wind would blow,
Yea, even with wrath, so Love at last prevail,
And Hope and Life on Freedom's height should grow.
And cast the pines like straws along the dale,
He knew the Föhn, that wrecked the forest-ground,
Grassed all the Alps, and prayed God's wind would blow,
Yea, even with wrath, so Love at last prevail,
And Hope and Life on Freedom's height should grow.
| Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy | |