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Translated by A. Baskerville
WHERE such a fire still lives to fame, | |
| Where such a wine still vomits flame, | |
| There never shall the German’s name, | |
| No, never cease to reign. | |
| A toast! a toast! the Rhine, | 5 |
| And were ’t but for the wine, | |
| E’er German shall remain. | |
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| Take down the musket from its stand, | |
| Take up the rapier in the hand, | |
| Whene’er the foe for Gallic land | 10 |
| Shall seek the Rhine to gain | |
| Strike, brothers, for the Rhine! | |
| Our ancient father Rhine | |
| E’er German shall remain. | |
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| The right and left bank of thy wave, | 15 |
| How false it sounds! Thus speaks the knave. | |
| No, not a drop, shall, like a slave, | |
| E’er turn the Frenchman’s mill again! | |
| Drink, brothers, drink! the Rhine, | |
| And were ’t but for the wine, | 20 |
| E’er German shall remain. | |
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| Its grapes’ red blood ne’er grace his board, | |
| Be ne’er by German maid adored | |
| The man who will not wield his sword | |
| To rout the hostile train. | 25 |
| Charge, charge the battle-line! | |
| ’T is for the Rhine! The Rhine | |
| E’er German shall remain. | |
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| O purest gold! O noble wine! | |
| No hireling slave shall call thee “Mine!” | 30 |
| And would ye Franks behold the Rhine, | |
| First hear our song’s refrain: | |
| Hurrah! Hurrah! The Rhine, | |
| And were ’t but for the wine, | |
| E’er German shall remain. | 35 |
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