Wallenstein's Camp

DRAGOONS and SHARPSHOOTERS

The army shall flourishing stand!

TRUMPETER and SERGEANT

And the Friedlander keep the command!

SECOND CUIRASSIER (sings)

Arouse ye, my comrades, to horse! to horse!
To the field and to freedom we guide!
For there a man feels the pride of his force
And there is the heart of him tried.
No help to him there by another is shown,
He stands for himself and himself alone.

[The soldiers from the background have come forward during the singing of this verse and form the chorus.

CHORUS

No help to him by another is shown,
He stands for himself and himself alone.

DRAGOON

Now freedom hath fled from the world, we find
But lords and their bondsmen vile
And nothing holds sway in the breast of mankind
Save falsehood and cowardly guile.
Who looks in death's face with a fearless brow,
The soldier, alone, is the freeman now.

CHORUS

Who looks in death's face with a fearless brow,
The soldier, alone, is the freeman now.

FIRST YAGER

With the troubles of life he ne'er bothers his pate,
And feels neither fear nor sorrow;
But boldly rides onward to meet with his fate —
He may meet it to-day, or to-morrow!
And, if to-morrow 'twill come, then, I say,
Drain we the cup of life's joy to-day!

CHORUS

And, if to-morrow 'twill come, then, I say,
Drain we the cup of life's joy to-day!

[The glasses are here refilled, and all drink.

SERGEANT

'Tis from heaven his jovial lot has birth;
Nor needs he to strive or toil.
The peasant may grope in the bowels of earth,
And for treasure may greedily moil
He digs and he delves through life for the pelf,
And digs till he grubs out a grave for himself.

CHORUS

He digs and he delves through life for the pelf,
And digs till he grubs out a grave for himself.

FIRST YAGER

The rider and lightning steed – a pair
Of terrible guests, I ween!
From the bridal-hall, as the torches glare,
Unbidden they join the

SCENE;

Nor gold, nor wooing, his passion prove;
By storm he carries the prize of love!

CHORUS

Nor gold, nor wooing, his passion prove;
By storm he carries the prize of love!

SECOND CUIRASSIER

Why mourns the wench with so sorrowful face?
Away, girl, the soldier must go!
No spot on the earth is his resting-place;
And your true love he never can know.
Still onward driven by fate's rude wind,
He nowhere may leave his peace behind.

CHORUS

Still onward driven by fate's rude wind,
He nowhere may leave his peace behind.

FIRST YAGER