| |
| “SO the foeman has fired the gate, men of mine, | |
| And the water is spent and done; | |
| Then bring me a cup of the red Ahr-wine; | |
| I never shall drink but this one. | |
| |
| “And fetch me my harness, and saddle my horse, | 5 |
| And lead him me round to the door: | |
| He must take such a leap to-night perforce | |
| As horse never took before. | |
| |
| “I have lived by the saddle for years two score, | |
| And if I must die on tree, | 10 |
| The old saddle-tree, which has borne me of yore, | |
| Is the properest timber for me. | |
| |
| “I have lived my life, I have fought my fight, | |
| I have drunk my share of wine; | |
| From Trier to Cöln there was never a knight | 15 |
| Led a merrier life than mine. | |
| |
| “So now to show bishop and burgher and priest | |
| How the Altenahr hawk can die, | |
| If they smoke the old falcon out of his nest, | |
| He must take to his wings and fly.” | 20 |
| |
| He harnessed himself by the clear moonshine, | |
| And he mounted his horse at the door, | |
| And he drained such a cup of the red Ahr-wine | |
| As never man drained before. | |
| |
| He spurred the old horse, and he held him tight, | 25 |
| And he leapt him out over the wall; | |
| Out over the cliff, out into the night, | |
| Three hundred feet of fall. | |
| |
| They found him next morning below in the glen, | |
| And never a bone in him whole; | 30 |
| But Heaven may yet have more mercy than men | |
| On such a bold rider’s soul. | |
| |
