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FAMOUS SONGS
Just at the time that Prussia's call to arms resounded through the length and breadth of the land, he fell in love with a beautiful maiden, and they were duly betrothed. But his country called upon him to fight, and so he joined the corps of volunteers known as " The Black Huntsmen." The following is extracted from a letter to his father: " Now that I know what happiness may be realized in this life, and when all the stars of my destiny look down on me with such genial rays, now does a righteous inspiration tell me that no sacrifice can be too great for that highest of all human blessings, the vindication of a nation's freedom."
His prowess and daring soon caused him to be made a lieutenant, and during the intervals of rest he wrote many a lyric round the bivouac fires, and in particular the fine " War Song," " The Summons to Arms," and the magnificent " Prayer before Battle."
He composed his famous "Sword Song," "Du Schwert an meiner Linken," when lying in ambush waiting for the foe during the month of August, 1813. Two hours later he was shot dead, some authorities say, by a renegade coun-tryman in a skirmish near Wobbelin, in Meck-lenburg, while others say by the French sol-diery, who surprised and surrounded them.
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