Scan 70
The American history and encyclopedia of music .., 1908
28 lines. Read by computer on 6 September 2026. Printed page 46. See the scan on archive.org.
1the victorious Battle of Leipsic, in 1631, and again on the field of Lutzen, where their great leader was to die. With the passing of the years it lost none of its stimulating power. In the Franco-Prussian war Napoleon III., waiting in his tent before the battle which was to seal his doom, heard the German soldiers singing "Ein' Feste Burg," and feeling the presentiment of defeat fall heavily upon his soul, turned away saying that it was folly to fight with men who went to battle singing songs like that.
3Both words and music have been changed and modernized since Luther's day and hosts of translations have been made of the poem. Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology mentions sixty-three of these. Probably the most famous of all is the translation of Thomas Carlyle beginning:
5 "A safe stronghold our God is still,
6 A trusty shield and weapon;
7 He'll help us clear from all the ill
8 That hath us now o'ertaken.
9 The ancient Prince of Hell
10 Hath risen with purpose fell;
11 Strong mail of craft and power
12 He weareth in this hour.
13 On earth is not his fellow."
15Carlyle has successfully retained what he has heard in Luther's verse—"the sound of Alpine avalanches or the first murmur of earthquakes; in the very vastness of which dissonance a higher unison is revealed to us."
17Challenging this version in merit and popularity and much more generally used, in our country at least, is the translation of Rev. F. H. Hedge, D.D., of Cambridge, Mass.:
19 "A mighty fortress is our God,
20 A bulwark never failing;
21 A helper he amid the flood
22 Of mortal ills prevailing.
23 For still our ancient Foe
24 Doth seek to work us woe;
25 His craft and power are great;
26 And armed with cruel hate,
27 On earth is not his equal."
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