War songs of the Germans

16–19 October 1813

Battle of Leipzig

SCHENKENDORF.

Austria, we think it was not Mettemich, but the free
mountain air, that inspired Hofer ; and to have the
steeple of St. Stephen's, and the coffee-houses of the
Prater, besides fathers, and mothers, and brothers,
and sisters before their eyes, was surely motive
enough (without calling in the miracle of aristocracy)
for the Austrians to drive Napoleon into the Danube
at Aspem, and to make Macdonald pay sharply for
his Marshal's baton at Wagram. The serfs of a
despotic Government have a fatherland, on vital
occasions, as much as the citizens of a free nation.
Ride them on the back, and they will kick : bravely
done ; but it had been more brave, if they had never
allowed the rider to get on.

Here indeed lies the mystery. How did it hap-
pen that France over-rode Austria so bravely from
Jemappes to the battle of Leipzig, and paralysed
Prussia, in 1806, by a single stroke, as if her very
touch had been electricity % Was it the genius of the
redingote gris, and the three-cornered hat, and the
olive-complexioned face, and the eye, (what an eye !)
and the mouth that could smile how kindly, and how
deceitfully, that conquered Germany ; or was it that
certainly in part, but something else also 1 We think
it was something else also, and mainly. Napoleon
was the incarnated Siva of victory. This cannot be
denied. But the assiduous plying of multitudinous

WAS BLASEN DIE TROMPETEN.

advance.
And the fleet Don Cossack with his long, long lance !
Sound, etc.

On the red field of Leipzig he laid the French pride low ;
He blew the blast of freedom loud at Leipzig, Oho !
They fell, there they fell, ne'er to rise from their fall ;
And we cheered old Bliicher there — Long live the
Field-marshal !
Sound, etc.

Then blow loud, ye trumpets, and tramp, ye hussars !
'Tis our old Field-marshal that rides to the wars :