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To my well-beloved Dortha."
"Go not thither, Hermann! go not;
Send thy saddled steed to bring her."—
"Nay, I will not be uncourteous,
Will not let the guests draw hither,
While I tarry in my dwelling."
"Then let Herman's neck be broken;
Never let him wend him hither."
Hasten—hasten—hither hasten,
Viola, and guitars are playing,
Bubnowaks,[1] and drums and trumpets.
As they passed across the meadow,
Underneath the shady lindens,
Hermann's faithful charger stumbled,[2]
Hermann fell—his neck was broken.
Long they stood, and long they counselled,
While the music still was playing;
Long they counselled—whether onwards,
