Neither father nor fortune had ever wished
That the Bismarck would forever live
To depart from life
Distrait from suffering
Till the last breath
Till the last shell
Neither through fortune nor chance alone
Had ever a man immortality gained
Masters of the world, of the seas, through this, a pure distinction
Yet with no foot of earth their own, a mark of pure discipline
Humble suppliants to the bitter floods and waves of suffering
They who sit in judgment to the war and to the callous sea
When time grows cruel valour becomes the only light
That shines in sinking darkness
That remains alight through all blessings and all ills
Valour raises men high when fortune falls
This day will make wives widows, as the war wills
Purity of silence and pure honour will thus reign
Resolved to duty as the destroyers emerged
Pure devotion though death was absolute
Duty attend
In loyalty
Yield to nothing
Save dishonour
In accordance with the decree of fortune perish
And the will of blessed inexorable war
Fire unchain
Disable the beast
Condemn to the sea
Destroy the Bismarck
Withered her flower of triumph and mastery
Though valour remains more glorious to behold
That the Bismarck would forever live
To depart from life
Distrait from suffering
Till the last breath
Till the last shell
Neither through fortune nor chance alone
Had ever a man immortality gained
Masters of the world, of the seas, through this, a pure distinction
Yet with no foot of earth their own, a mark of pure discipline
Humble suppliants to the bitter floods and waves of suffering
They who sit in judgment to the war and to the callous sea
When time grows cruel valour becomes the only light
That shines in sinking darkness
That remains alight through all blessings and all ills
Valour raises men high when fortune falls
This day will make wives widows, as the war wills
Purity of silence and pure honour will thus reign
Resolved to duty as the destroyers emerged
Pure devotion though death was absolute
Duty attend
In loyalty
Yield to nothing
Save dishonour
In accordance with the decree of fortune perish
And the will of blessed inexorable war
Fire unchain
Disable the beast
Condemn to the sea
Destroy the Bismarck
Withered her flower of triumph and mastery
Though valour remains more glorious to behold