171
Thou hadst a glorious triumph then,
When midst a whole world's envying,
In victory's loud and joyous train,
Thou didst thy golden booty bring,
And on Bohemia's altars fling:
How loudly was the welcome pour'd
From every patriot Českian tongue,
Man—child—youth—maiden—woman flung,
To thee, thy country's son ador'd,
The wreaths their busy hands had strung.
Why didst thou dip that sacred vvreath,
O Žižka! in thy brothers' blood?
Why bow thee from thy height—beneath,
And turn to evil all thy good?
Why didst thou loose thy savage brood
On monks and nobles—in thy rage
Give reins to riot—overthrow
Castles and towers—and deaf to woe—
Whelm all—and rear o'er all a stage,
Where error and where crime might grow.[1]
- ↑ Zde powēz skreyš, tam laupeže.—Here, heresy's seat—there, rapine's.
I 2
