Twenty-first of August was it, When a spy in stormy weather Came, and told the Prince and swore That the Turks they all amounted, Near, at least, as could be counted, To three hundred thousand men, or more.
Prince Eugenius never trembled At the news, but straight assembled All his generals to know: Them he carefully instructed How the troops should be conducted Smartly to attack the foe.
With the watchword he commanded They should wait till twelve was sounded At the middle of the night; Mounting then upon their horses, For a skirmish with the forces, Go in earnest at the fight.
Straightway all to horseback getting, Weapons handy, forth were setting Silently from the redoubt: Musketeers, dragooners also, Bravely fought and made them fall so,-- Led them such a dance about.
And our cannoneers advancing Furnished music for the dancing, With their pieces great and small; Great and small upon them playing, Heathen were averse to staying, Ran, and did not stay at all.
Prince Eugenius on the right wing Like a lion did his fighting, So he did field-marshal's part: Prince Ludwig rode from one to th' other, Cried, "Keep firm, each German brother, Hurt the foe with all your heart!"
Prince Ludwig, struck by bullet leaden, With his youthful life did redden, And his soul did then resign: Badly Prince Eugene wept o'er him, For the love he always bore him,-- Had him brought to Peterwardein.
The music is peculiar,--one flat, 3/4 time,--a very rare measure, and giving plenty of opportunity for a quaint camp-style of singing.
The other song appeared during Frederic's Silesian War. It contains some choice reminiscences of his favorite rhetoric.
Fridericus Rex, our master and king, His soldiers altogether to the field would bring, Battalions two hundred, and a thousand squadrons clear, And cartridges sixty to every grenadier.
"Cursed fellows, ye!"--his Majesty began,-- "For me stand in battle, each man to man; Silesia and County Glatz to me they will not grant, Nor the hundred millions either which I want.
"The Empress and the French have gone to be allied, And the Roman kingdom has revolted from my side, And the Russians are bringing into Prussia war;-- Up, let us show them that we Prussians are!