Von Kleist (1715-1759) studied law at Königsberg, but later became an officer in the Prussian service. He wrote, in 1759, an ode to the Prussian army, was wounded at the Battle of Künersdorf, where Frederic the Great lost his army and received a ball in his snuff-box. His poetry is very poor stuff. The weight of the enemy crushes down the hills and makes the planet tremble; agony and eternal night impend; and where the Austrian horses drink, the water fails. But his verses were full of good advice to the soldiers, to spare, in the progress of their great achievements, the poor peasant who is not their foe, to help his need, and to leave pillage to Croats and cowards. The advice was less palatable to Frederic's troops than the verses. But there were two famous soldier's songs, of unknown origin, the pets of every camp, which piqued all the poets into writing war-verses as soon as the genius of Frederic kindled such enthusiasm among Prussians. The first was an old one about Prince Eugene, who was another hero, loved in camps, and besung with ardor around every watchfire. It is a genuine soldier's song. Prince Eugene, the noble captain, For the Kaiser would recover Town and fortress of Belgrade; So he put a bridge together To transport his army thither, And before the town parade. When the floating bridge was ready, So that guns and wagons steady Could pass o'er the Danube stream, By Semlin a camp collected. That the Turks might be ejected, To their great chagrin and shame. 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.