The Student Life of Germany Part 20

[Here he drinks out his gla.s.s, as each one does in his turn, after having sung.]

THE KRaHWINKLER LANDSTURM.

But march you slow there before, but still march slow there before, Or the Krahwinkler Landsturm can follow no more.

What a jolly time the maidens have though,-- They're not compelled to the war to go.

Pittschaft--Dame hostess, cook you Millet-bree, When the Landsturm comes it will hungry be.

Chorus--[As above, and repeated after the singing of each strophe.]

Freisleben--Our captain is from Rudolstadt, He eats a deal, but hungers for all that.

Von Kronen--Sir Captain! my follower goes so in trot, That scarcely a sc.r.a.p of heel I have got.

Enderlin-- At Leipsic, in the People's-Fight, We had nearly taken a prisoner quite.

Eckhard-- The artillery would have fought right well, But of powder it can not bear the smell.

Hoffmann (for Mr. Traveller)--The cavalry stout doth charge amain, And is always in when the dumpling's slain.

Hoffmann.--Still farther goes our Lumpitus yet once more around!

At Hamburgh burst a dreadful bomb, Potz Wetter! how ran we there all and some!

And as the foe came galloping fast, We hid in the gra.s.s till they were past.

The Krahwinkle Landsturm hath courage high, The baggage it always standeth by.

Our Captain is a most valiant wight, 'Tis only a pity he can not fight.

They gave us a banner moreover to show, Which way the wind did chance to blow.

Run, run, brave comrades, run left and right-- A French sentry-box stands there in sight!

This song was written originally in ridicule of the Austrian Landwehr.

It has almost endless strophes, of which a few only are here given. It is very frequently used as a Round-song or roundelay, in which each person must sing a fresh verse, and when the known verses are at an end, some one extemporizes, so that every day it becomes richer in strophes. The sixth strophe is then usually sung as the conclusion.

Hoffmann.--I fill the gla.s.ses, and then let us sound a still greater Lumpitus.

Hoffman-- My brethren, when no more I'm drinking, But faint with gout and palsy lie, Exhausted on the death-bed sinking, Believe it then, my end is nigh. [Repeated as a Chorus.

Freisleben-- A lordly life the Pope doth hold, He lives on absolution gold; The best of wines still drinketh he-- The Pope, the Pope I fain would be.

Von Kronen-- Brothers! in this place of festive meeting, G.o.d in goodness hath us thus combined; Let us every trouble now defeating, Drink here with the friend of honest mind.

There, where nectar glows--Valleralla!

Sweetest pleasure blows--Valleralla!

E'en as flowers when the spring hath s.h.i.+ned.

Pittschaft-- So crown with leaves the love-o'erbr.i.m.m.i.n.g beakers, And drain them o'er and o'er; And drain them o'er and o'er; In Europe far and wide, ye pleasure seekers,-- Is such a wine no more!

Is such a wine no more!

Is such a wine no more!

Is such a wine no more!

Enderlin-- Ca, ca, carouse it!

Let us not fiery-heads become;-- Who won't here now sit, Let him stay at home!

Edite bibite, collegiales Post multa secula, pocula nulla!

Mr. Traveller sings "The Old English Gentleman."

Eckhard-- G.o.d greet thee, Brother Straubinger, I'm glad to meet thee, tho-ough; Perhaps it is unknown to thee, That from Heidelberg I go-o.

The master and the misteress, Of them I cant complai-en; But with these gents, the studi-ents, No mortal can conta-ien

Chorus.-- The master and the misteress, etc.

Hoffmann, in the mean time, had seated himself at the harpsichord, and drew a quodlibet from the most varied Burschen songs, leaping from one to the other, and interweaving phantasy-pieces between them. The platform in the chamber enabled the company to sing the Bavarian Folks'-song, "The Binschgauer." One chorus placed itself on the platform with the punch-gla.s.ses, the other remained by the steaming bowl. Hoffmann accompanied them on the harpsichord.

THE BINSCHGAUER'S PILGRIMAGE.

The Binschgauer would a pilgrimage go, Fain would they go singing, but how they did not know, Zschahi! Zschahe! Zschaho! etc. etc.

The Binschgauer have got there, Now take heed that ev'ry one his knapsack bear, Zschahi! Zschahe! Zschaho! etc. etc.

The Binschgauer far from their homescenes have gone; They saw many cities, and far around were known.

Zschahi, Zschahe, Zschaho! etc. etc.

The Binschgauer long through joy and sorrow run, Till high the holy pinnacles glanced i' the evening sun.

Zschahi, Zschahe, Zschaho! etc. etc.

The Binschgauer wended about that dome renowned, The vane-staff was broken, yet still the vane turned round.

Zschahi, Zschahe, Zschaho! etc. etc.

The Binschgauer entered the holy dome within, The saints were all asleep, and woke not with their din.

Zschahi, Zschahe, Zschaho! etc. etc.

The song was ended. The company became continually more jovial, and began, on the platform, to dance a most singular quadrille, to which their musician played on the harpsichord in the most extraordinary style. Von Kronen, of a tall and strong figure, stood there exactly as if he had been turned in wood, but an electrical stream seemed to run now through this, and now through that limb, and twitched him hither and thither. His motions were those of a puppet which is drawn by strings attached to every member. When the dance was become right wild, then darted he suddenly forwards, so that no one knew whence the movement came, and all squandered in astonishment His partner, the little Enderlin, made a graceful spring, and, as the tall fellow stretched wide his legs, darted boldly between them, and then danced round him with the newest steps. The other dancers had again seized each other's hands, and made such a desperate leap that they sprang almost to the top of the room. The music rushed on more wildly--the dance grew madder and madder, and with more ringing laughter of the spectators, as the pair, suddenly making a high side spring, sent a pane of gla.s.s from the window jingling down into the street. Great snow-flakes came whirling into the room through their new-made way. "It struck two!" cried several voices. "It is time to break up!" exclaimed others. All prepared themselves for departure, even the host himself, who would accompany his guests a little way.

The gla.s.ses were emptied--"To a speedy and as happy an evening!" and the farewell cigars lit.