THE
GRAVE OF KÖRNER.
BY MRS. HEMANS.
Charles Theodore Körner, the celebrated young German Poet and Soldier, was killed in a skirmish with a detachment of French troops, on the 26th August, 1813, a few hours after the composition of his popular piece, "The Sword-song." He was buried at the village of Wöbbelin, in Mecklenburgh, under a beautiful Oak, in a recess of which he had frequently deposited Verses, composed by him while campaigning in its vicinity. The Monument erected to his memory beneath this tree, is of cast iron, and the upper part is wrought into a Lyre and Sword, a favourite emblem of Körner's, from which one of his Works had been entitled. Near the grave of the Poet is that of his only sister, who died of grief for his loss, having only survived him long enough to complete his Portrait, and a drawing of his burial-place. Over the gate of the cemetery is engraved one of his own lines:—"Vergiss die treuen Tödten nicht."—Forget not the faithful Dead.—See Downes' Letters from Mecklenburgh, and Körner's Prussische Aufsätze, &c. Von C. A. Tiedge.
Green wave the Oak for ever o'er thy rest!
Thou that beneath its crowning foliage sleepest,
And, in the stillness of thy Country's breast,
Thy place of memory, as an altar, keepest!
Brightly thy spirit o'er her hills was poured,
Thou of the Lyre and Sword!
