Touch'd by the earliest news of the sad extent of the suffering， Hastily sent we a trifle from out of our superabundance， Just to comfort a few， and then our minds were more easy.
Now let us cease to discourse on such a sorrowful subject， For men's hearts are easily overshadow'd by terror， And by care， more odious far to me than misfortune.
Now let us go to a cooler place， the little back-parlour；There the sun never shines， and the walls are so thick that the hot air Never can enter； and mother shall forthwith bring us a glass each Full of fine Eighty-three， well fitted to drive away trouble.
This is a bad place for drinking； the flies will hum round the glasses."So they all went inside， enjoying themselves in the coolness.
Then in a well-cut flask the mother carefully brought them Some of that clear good wine， upon a bright metal waiter With those greenish rummers， the fittingest goblets for Rhine wine.
So the three sat together， around the glistening polish'd Circular large brown table-膐n massive feet it was planted.
Merrily clink'd together the glasses of host and of pastor， But the other one thoughtfully held his glass without moving， And in friendly fashion the host thus ask'd him to join them：--"Drink， good neighbour， I pray！ A merciful God has protected Us in the past from misfortune， and will protect us in future.
All must confess that since He thought fit to severely chastise us， When that terrible fire occurr'd， He has constantly bless'd us.
And watch'd over us constantly， just as man is accustom'd His eye's precious apple to guard， that dearest of members.
Shall He not for the future preserve us， and be our Protector？
For 'tis in danger we learn to appreciate duly His Goodness.
This so flourishing town， which He built again from its ashes By the industrious hands of its burghers， and bless'd it so richly， Will He again destroy it， and render their toil unavailing？"Cheerfully answer'd the excellent pastor， in accents of mildness "Steadfastly cling to this faith， and cherish such worthy opinions；In good fortune they'll make you prudent， and then in misfortune Well-grounded hopes they'll supply， and furnish you true consolation."Then continued the host， with thoughts full of manhood and wisdom "Oft have I greeted with wonder the rolling flood of the Rhine stream， When， on my business trav'lling， I've once more come to its borders.
Grand has it ever appear'd， exalting my feelings and senses；But I could never imagine that soon its beautiful margin Into a wall would be turn'd， to keep the French from our country， And its wide-spreading bed a ditch to hinder and check them.
So by Nature we're guarded， we're guarded by valorous Germans， And by the Lord we're guarded； who then would foolishly tremble？
Weary the combatants are， and all things indicate peace soon；And when at length the long-expected festival's holden Here in our church， and the bells chime in with the organ in chorus， And the trumpets are blowing， the noble Te Deum upraising， Then on that selfsame day I fain would see， my good pastor， Our dear Hermann kneel with his bride at the altar before you， And the glad festival held through the length and breadth of the country Will henceforward to me be a glad anniversary also！
But I am grieved to observe that the youth， who is always so active When he is here at home， abroad is so slow and so timid.
Little at any time cares he to mix with the rest of the people；Yes， he even avoids young maidens' society ever， And the frolicsome dance， that great delight of young people."Thus he spake， and then listen'd.The sound of the stamping of horses Drawing nearer was heard； and then the roll of the carriage， Which， with impetuous speed， now thunder'd under the gateway.
II.TERPSICHORE.
HERMANN.
THEN when into the room the well-built son made his entry， Straightway with piercing glances the minister eyed him intently， And with carefulness watch'd his looks and the whole of his bearing， With an inquiring eye which easily faces decyphers；Then he smiled， and with cordial words address'd him as follows "How you are changed in appearance， my friend！ I never have seen you Half so lively before； your looks are thoroughly cheerful.
You have return'd quite joyous and merry.You've doubtless divided All of the presents amongst the poor， their blessings receiving."Then in calm accents replied the son， with gravity speaking "Whether I've laudably acted， I know not； I follow'd the impulse Of my own heart， as now I'll proceed to describe with exactness.
Mother， you rummaged so long， in looking over old pieces， And in making your choice， that 'twas late when the bundle was ready， And the wine and the beer were slowly and carefully pack'd up.
When I at length emerged at the gate， and came on the highway， Streams of citizens met I returning， with women and children， For the train of the exiles had long disappear'd in the distance.
So I quicken'd my pace， and hastily drove to the village Where I had heard that to-night to rest and to sleep they intended.
Well， as I went on my way， the newly-made causeway ascending， Suddenly saw I a waggon， of excellent timber constructed， Drawn by a couple of oxen， the best and the strongest of foreign.
Close beside it there walk'd， with sturdy footsteps， a maiden， Guiding the two strong beasts with a long kind of staff， which with skill she Knew how to use， now driving， and now restraining their progress.
When the maiden observed me， she quietly came near the horses， And address'd me as follows：--'Our usual condition， believe me， Is not so sad as perchance you might judge from our present appearance.
I am not yet accustom'd to ask for alms from a stranger， Who so often but gives， to rid himself of a beggar.
But I'm compell'd to speak by necessity.Here on the straw now Lies the lately-confined poor wife of a wealthy landowner， Whom with much trouble I managed to save with oxen and waggon.
We were late in arriving， and scarcely with life she escaped.
