A Prophecy. February 1807

William Wordsworth

HIGH deeds, O Germans, are to come from you!
Thus in your books the record shall be found,
'A watchword was pronounced, a potent sound--
ARMINIUS!--all the people quaked like dew
Stirred by the breeze; they rose, a Nation, true,
True to herself--the mighty Germany,
She of the Danube and the Northern Sea,
She rose, and off at once the yoke she threw.
All power was given her in the dreadful trance;
Those new-born Kings she withered like a flame.' 
--Woe to them all! but heaviest woe and shame
To that Bavarian who could first advance
His banner in accursed league with France,
First open traitor to the German name!

The poet praises Germany for being brave and united. He refers to it as ''she''. German people are always source of great achievements '' HIGH deeds, O Germans, are to come from you!''. Their books are a proof of this greatness. They stood firmly together around their hero '' ARMINIUS'', who librated them from the Roman Empire. They were ready to fight under his command, and that's why they are like drops of dew that are waiting for a breeze to move them from their chains, meaning they are waiting for any call to the battle.

Those brave people made a nation, a true one ''the mighty Germany''. If you are not aware of what Germany is or where it is located, then you should know this simple geographical information; she ''it'' is that country which lays on the Danube River and Northern Sea.

She faced all dangers bravely and immediately threw all slavery ''yoke'' away. All rivals and enemies surrendered fearfully. Or you could say that she is given all the powers that entitle her to win any war. She certainly did use that power against some traitors '' Those new-born Kings''. She grilled them like a flame when it grills the meat. They were all bad kings of different sovereign. By a treaty signed in Paris (July 12th, 1806) they declared themselves perpetually cut from Germany, and united together as the Confederate States of the Rhine, of which the Emperor of the French was declared Protector. Nevertheless, she remained strong.

But the worst of them all is the Bavarian king '' but heaviest woe and shame to that Bavarian'', Frederick Augustus, who had been secretly on the side of France for some time, to whom he gave additional territories. He was and will be the first and the most obvious traitor in the German history.