that is in him
Out of his heart breaks forth, and takes shape in criminal action. 
Nothing is further held sacred; but all is for plunder.  His craving
Turns in fury on woman, and pleasure is changed into horror. 
Death he sees everywhere round him, and madly enjoys his last moments,
Taking delight in blood, in the shriekings of anguish exulting. 
Thereupon fiercely arose in our men the stern resolution
What had been lost to avenge, and defend what’er was remaining. 
Every man sprang to his arms, by the flight of the foeman encouraged,
And by his blanching cheeks, and his timorous, wavering glances. 
Ceaselessly now rang out the clanging peal of the tocsin. 
Thought of no danger to come restrained their furious anger. 
Quick into weapons of war the husbandman’s peaceful utensils
All were converted; dripped with blood the scythe and the ploughshare. 
Quarter was shown to none:  the enemy fell without mercy. 
Fury everywhere raged and the cowardly cunning of weakness. 
Ne’er may I men so carried away by injurious passion
See again! the sight of the raging wild beast would be better. 
Let not man prattle of freedom, as if himself he could govern! 
Soon as the barriers are torn away, then all of the evil
Seems let loose, that by law had been driven deep back into corners.”

“Excellent man!” thereupon with emphasis answered the pastor: 
“Though thou misjudgest mankind, yet can I not censure thee for it. 
Evil enough, I confess, thou hast had to endure from man’s passions. 
Yet wouldst thou look behind over this calamitous season,
Thou wouldst acknowledge thyself how much good thou also hast witnessed. 
How many excellent things that would in the heart have lain hidden,
Had not danger aroused them, and did not necessity’s pressure
Bring forth the angel in man, and make him a god of deliv’rance.”

Thereupon answered and said the reverend magistrate, smiling: 
“There thou remindest me aptly of how we console the poor fellow,
After his house has been burned, by recounting the gold and the silver
Melted and scattered abroad in the rubbish, that still is remaining. 
Little enough, it is true; but even that little is precious. 
Then will the poor wretch after it dig and rejoice if he find it. 
Thus I likewise with happier thoughts will gratefully turn me
Toward the few beautiful deeds of which I preserve the remembrance. 
Yes, I will not deny, I have seen old quarrels forgotten,
Ill to avert from the state; I also have witnessed how friendship,
Love of parent and child, can impossibilities venture;
Seen how the stripling at once matured into man; how the aged
Grew again young; and even the child into youth was developed,
Yea, and the weaker sex too, as we are accustomed to call it,
Showed itself brave and strong and ready for every emergence. 
Foremost among them all, one beautiful deed let me