"That I do not recognise your love, or that your love is but a trifling
consideration with me, you will not believe. What else should impel me
to die if not my devotion to you and to Germany, and the need of proving
this devotion to my family and my country?

"You, mother, will say, 'Why have I brought up a son whom I loved and who
loved me, for whom I have undergone a thousand cares and toils, who,
thanks to my prayers and my example, was impressionable to good
influences, and from whom, after my long and weary course, I hoped to
receive attentions like those which I have given him? Why does he now
abandon me?'

"Oh, my kind and tender mother! Yes, you will perhaps say that; but
could not the mother of anyone else say the same, and everything go off
thus in words when there is need to act for the country? And if no one
would act, what would become of that mother of us all who is called
Germany?

"But no; such complaints are far from you, you noble woman! I understood
your appeal once before, and at this present hour, if no one came forward
in the German cause, you yourself would urge me to the fight. I have two
brothers and two sisters before me, all noble and loyal. They will
remain to you, mother; and besides you will have for sons all the
children of Germany who love their country.

"Every man has a destiny which he has to accomplish: mine is devoted to
the action that I am about to undertake; if I were to live another fifty
years, I could not live more happily than I have done lately. Farewell,
mother: I commend you to the protection of God; may He raise you to that