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Ye thieves, ye ravens, think
What perils round ye fly;
Ye stand upon the brink
Where fraud and avarice nigh,
Will fling ye to the abyss of night and misery.
Think—think while yet ye may,
And thinking—O retreat
From danger—while 'tis day;
O, thoughtless ones! 'tis meet
That he who slips should watch another's slippery feet.
Then to the bloody fight!
One only word—On! On!
Your weapons—for the right—
And God your trust alone;
Smite, smite—let none be spared! let mercy be for none.The date of this composition is about 1490. Its author, John von Trotznow, is more commonly known by the name of Žižka. It was sung by the whole of the Hussite army whenever they were about to engage the enemy.
