ON bridges small and bridges great br Stands Nepomucks in ev'ry state, br Of bronze, wood, painted, or of stone, br Some small as dolls, some giants grown; br Each passer must worship before Nepomuck, br Who to die on a bridge chanced to have the ill luck, br When once a man with head and ears br A saint in people's eyes appears, br Or has been sentenced piteously br Beneath the hangman's hand to die, br He's as a noted person prized, br In portrait is immortalized. br Engravings, woodcuts, are supplied, br And through the world spread far and wide. br Upon them all is seen his name, br And ev'ry one admits his claim; br Even the image of the Lord br Is not with greater zeal ador'd. br Strange fancy of the human race! br Half sinner frail, half child of grace br We see HERR WERTHER of the story br In all the pomp of woodcut glory. br His worth is first made duly known, br By having his sad features shown br At ev'ry fair the country round; br In ev'ry alehouse too they're found.