A War Song of Tyrol

"Wild eagle of the Tyrol,
Why are thy feathers red?"
"I 've been to greet the morning
On Ortler's crimsoned head!"

"Gray eagle of the Tyrol,
'T is not the morning light
Drips from the soaring pinions
That wing thine airy flight.

"Proud eagle of the Tyrol,
Why are thy claws so red?"
"I 've been where Etschland's maidens
The ruddy vintage tread."

"Gray eagle of the Tyrol,
Red runs our Tyrol wine;
But redder ran the vintage
That stained those claws of thine.

"Wild eagle of the Tyrol,
Why is thy beak so red?"
"Go ask the gorge of Stilfes,
Where lie the Saxon dead!

"The grapes were ripe in August
Wherewith my beak is red;
The vines that gave that vintage
No other wine will shed:
My beak is red with battle;
I've been among the dead!"