The Wounded Hussar

(The tune is thought to be a variant of "An Caiptín Ó Catháin" composed by Toirbheallach Ó Cearbhalláin and the words are thought to have been composed by the Scottish poet Thomas Campbell. I got the following version of the words from Frank Harte.)

Oh alone to the banks of the dark rolling Danube,
Fair Adelaide did roam (1) when the battle was o'er.
"Oh where then (2)" she cried, "have you (3) wandered my true love (4)?
Or where do you wither (5) or bleed on the shore?"
She travelled a while the tears her eyes flooding, (6)
Through the dead and the dying she walked near and far, (7)
Till she found by a/the river all bleeding and dying, (8)
By the light of the moon her poor wounded hussar.

From his body (9) that heaved, the last torrent was streaming,
And pale was his visage deep marked with a scar,
And dimmed (10) was the eye once expressively beaming,
That had melted (11) in love or had kindled in war. (12)
How sad (13) was poor Adelaide's heart at the sight,
And how bitterly (14) she wept o'er the victim of war.
"Have you come then" he cried, (15) "this last sorrowful night for,
To cheer the loved (16) heart of your poor wounded hussar?"

"Thou shalt live then" she cried, (17) "heaven's mercy relieving,
Each anguishing wound shall forbid me to mourn."
"Oh no then" he cried, "for my life is fast fading, (18)
And no light from the moon (19) shall to Henry return."
"Thou charmer of life ever tender and true,
Take my love to my babes who do wait me afar." (20)
Then his faltering tongue could scarce bid her (21) adieu when,
He died (22) in her arms, her (23) poor wounded hussar.

The notes below show the 'original' version as composed by the Scottish poet Thomas Campbell. See p. 138 (his collected works) + p. ? Musical Magazine, The German Flute & Violin Pocket Magazine, Consisting of a choice Collection of the most favourite Pieces, Vol 2, c. 1800 (Notes also supplied to me by Fintan Vallely.)
(1) hied (2) whither (3) hast thou (4) my lover (5) "Or here dost thou welter.." (6) "What voice did I hear? 'twas my Henry that sighed!" (7) All mournful she hastened, nor wandered she far. (8) When bleeding, and low, on the heath she descried, (9) bosom (10) dim (11) that melted (12) and that kindled in war (13) smit (14) How bitter (15) "Hast thou come, my fond Love…" (16) lone (17) "Thou shalt live," she replied (18) "Ah no! the last pang of my bosom is heaving!…." (19) of the morn (20) "..Ye babes of my love, that await me afar!" (21) murmur (22) sunk (23) the

I now sing the following version:
(trying to get back to the poet's 'original' but culling out some over-flowery language)

The Wounded Hussar

Oh alone to the banks of the dark rolling Danube,
Fair Adelaide did roam when the battle was o'er.
"Oh where then" she cried, "have you wandered my true love?
Or where do you wither or bleed on the shore?"
She travelled a while the tears her eyes flooding,
Through the dead and the dying she walked near and far,
Till she found by the river all bleeding and dying,
By the light of the moon her poor wounded hussar.

From his bosom that heaved, the last torrent was streaming,
And pale was his visage deep marked with a scar,
And dimmed was the eye once expressively beaming,
That had melted in love or had kindled in war.
How sad was poor Adelaide's heart at the sight,
And how bitterly she wept o'er the victim of war.
"Have you come then" he cried, "this last sorrowful night for,
To cheer the loved heart of your poor wounded hussar?"

"Thou shalt live then" she cried, "heaven's mercy relieving,
Each anguishing wound shall forbid me to mourn."
"Oh no then" he cried, "for my life is fast fading,
And no light of the morn shall to Henry return."
"Thou charmer of life ever tender and true,
Take my love to my babes who do wait me afar."
Then his faltering tongue could scarce bid her adieu when,
He died in her arms, her poor wounded hussar.

By the way, the air is also on 'The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master - Pádraig O'Keeffe' (RTÉ CD 174) under the title "The Banks of the Danube"