Eugene Pottier 1870
Source: Eugène Pottier, Chants Révolutionnaires (second edition), Paris, Bureau de Comité Pottier, [n.d.];
Translated: by Mitchell Abidor 2014;
CopyLeft: Creative Commons (Attribute & ShareAlike) marxists.org.
WILHELM
Paris, know your danger
I trapped your army;
Open, or I'll besiege you!
PARIS
Besiege!
WILHELM
You'll see consumed
The old, children, the women;
Open, or I'll starve you
PARIS
Starve!
WILHELM
A crater will flame,
Burning palaces and slums;
Open, or I'll bombard
PARIS
Bombard!
WILHELM
Everyone’s not so firm.
Who’s the ambassador we'll horse trade with
Who'll sign the peace?
PARIS
Cambronne! [1]
– November 1870
1. Pierre Cambronne was a Napoleonic general who, when summoned to surrender at Waterloo was reported as saying “The Guard dies and doesn’t surrender.” The more common version of his response is that he simple replied “merde!” Since then “le mot de Cambronne” has signified “shit!”