Farewell

The sun had hardly dawned, when lo! it set.

I had but come, and now I must depart.
Scarce had I time to greet and kiss thee, dear,

When duty calls and we again must part-
God's blessing on you, pretty little wife,
Good-bye, my heart, my, love, my soul, my life!
I carry now the sword and not the lute,
The minstrel as a soldier now must fight.
A golden star hath led me heretofore.

The blood-red sky is now my guiding light
God's blessing on you, pretty "little wife,
Good-bye, my heart, my, love, my soul, my life!
"lis not ambition which prompts me to leave;

No laurels rest where thou the roses red
Of happiness hast placed upon my brow.
Which I shall never take from off my head.
God's blessing on you, pretty little wife,
Good-bye, my heart, my. love, my soul, my life!

"lis not ambition which prompts me to leave;

Thou know'st ambition died within my soul.
'Tis for my fatherland I sacrifice

My life upon the field where cannons roll.
God's blessing on you, pretty little wife.
Good-bye, my heart, my, love, my soul, my life!

If none my dearest country should defend.

Alone I would defend her with all might;
Xow, when all rise to seek the battle plains,

Shall I remain at home, afraid to fight?
God's blessing on you, pretty little wife,
Good-bye, my heart, my, love, my soul, my life!

I ask thee not to think of me when gone,
The while I fight for fatherland and thee;

My love to thee is pure and well I know

One thought alone thou hast, and that for me.
God's blessing on you, pretty little wife.
Good-bye, my heart, my, love, my soul, my life!
Perchance a crippled wreck I shall come home,
But thou, my darling wife, wilt love me still;
For. by our God, when I return, the same
Pure love, as now, my heart shall ever thrill.
God's blessing on you, pretty little wife.
Good-bye, my heart, my, love, my soul, my life!