Winkelried

Let me tell you of Winkelried

We have a hero whom I love.
But to my great shame, we, the Swiss, mock him.
We say jokingly: Winkelried, "Who pushed me???"

I'm asking you right now. Never do that again!
Only the weak and the coward make fun of real courage.

Let me tell you of Winkelried:

Long ago, our ancestors faced a mortal peril.
On top of a hill, near Sempach, an army of knights, the steel of their armours glittering in the sun,
presented itself under the Habsburg banner,
to annihilate the Confederate army and subdue the proud Swiss.

It formed a line, an impenetrable moving wall, erected with long deadly pikes.
The Confederate line was facing.
There's been, indeed a charge, to break violence by violence.
The charge crashed against the iron wall.
The brave Swiss have all been skewed on the long stakes.
Sixty were instantly massacred.

The Confederate looked at each other, kept the line.
No one dared to take a step forward.
One step further than your mate, and it's death.

Powerless, the Swiss line stepped back.
Slowly, little step by little step, the line moved back.
The Confederate army soon would be cornered,
and the butchery would be finished.

Nothing could save them, but a miracle.
Ant the miracle took place!

Within the Swiss line stood a man, a husband, a father.
He understood that in this mirror game, line facing line,
no one would dare to move forward, so as not to die.
Only an act of love could turn the tables.

Then,
He did what is wise, that is to say folly.
He did what is strong, that is to say courageous.
He did what is beautiful, that is to say embrace his enemy until he died.

Spreading out with open arms,
carried by the courage of his ancestors,
transported by the love of his descendants,
he welcomed as many spears as he could into his heart.
And the Swiss won!

His last words were:
"I want to open a way for you, take care of my wife and my children!"
His name was Arnold von Winkelried and no one ever pushed him.