The Fallen Statue

A monument stood on a mountain high;
So lofty was the mount, seemed to the sky
To reach; the clouds its girding belt suggest,
The noon sun on its shoulders took his rest.

Upon this mountain top, a monument
In bronze, majestic and magnificient
Stood. There he holds a sword to action drawn,
And waves aloft a banner to the dawn.

How came this statue to the mountain top?
Fell it from heaven? Did men carry it up?
If heaven-born, 'tis sacred all the time;
If built by men. still more is it sublime.
It was the joint work of earth and heaven.
To mortal men's toil God His help hath given;
Myriad hands, at work for centuries,
Achieved the shaping of this masterpiece.

But it was done! The statue stood erect .
All Europe looked at it with deep respect.
All knees bend low, some with esteem sincere,
While others crawl in dust, impelled by fear.

The mountain stands, though barren is its crown.
But where's the monument? Did its renown
The heavens covet, and from here below
Transplanted it into its realm? But no!

An earthquake came, which shook it from its base,
And then the storm-wind swept it from its place,
Till thundering it fell. The statute's now
Down in the valley, swallowed by the slough.

My fatherland! Thou saintly monument!
Dragged into the mire, all impotent,
Three hundred years unmercifully bled,
Then left in the foul swamp, — a living dead!

Around thy head, which once the stars on high
With gems to deck would with each other vie.
Came worms of earth to crawl. It was supposed
That bled to death thy life's career hath closed.

My fatherland! Beloved fatherland!
What sentiment was it, that I, unmanned
By gruesome recollections of the past,
Felt my heart quiver like a wind-tossed mast?
Our woe begone! Our doelful days are o'er!
The saintly monument which we adore
We rescued from the slough into the air
Of light and freedom and the sun's bright glare!
Come one! come all! Let .us its body clean,
Untarnished shall it be, as it has been
Of yore! Come all! The women with their tears,
Men with their blood to wash the scars and sears.

When in the former splendor it shall shine,
We can retire to rest, dear friends of mine.
But no! Not even then! New tasks await
Our undivided efforts for the state.

We must replace the statue on the height
Where once it stood in glorious splendor bright!
From whence with sword and battle flag, unfurled,
Looked dignified on the admiring world!

Up, all of you, my nation's sires and sons!
Disgrace on him who now his duty shuns.
Esteem is his who truly pays his dues:
Disgrace, — esteem! — between the two now choose!