Part 26 (1/2)

The Bursch his ornament doth bear, Which him such pleasure brings, The sword which with a fearful air Upon his left side swings.

As Bursch, when through the town he stirs, Majestic in all eyes, The sparks they lighten round his spurs, And fire crossways flies.

What careth he, though hole there be, Upon his elbow now; The jolly Bursch remaineth he, Before whom all must bow.

But wo to thee! if on his course In perfumed garb thou rub; He'll curse thee for Pomatum-horse, And threaten with his club.

For friends still beats his heart so warm, He feels their grief and care; For them he wields his mighty arm, Nor would his own life spare.

Whoever saw him shrink a-back, Or do a coward deed?

Shame on him he would never take, Though kingdoms were the meed.

They law how in the battle-shock His flas.h.i.+ng sword he drew; They saw how from its sweep, like smoke, The slaves before him flew.

Courage in danger and distress Is aye the conquering plan: Aye though all h.e.l.l upon him press, He'll show himself a man!

Hears he of Hermann's spirit proud, Of his high deeds the fame, His German blood warns him aloud-- ”Be worthy of the name!”

He drinks the German vine-juice bright, And German feels and great; In his right arm dwells giant might, And freedom's his estate.

Then live hoch! every German man Who thinks and speaks as he; But they who falsehood basely plan, Extinguished may they be!

Weighs care upon his heart's repose, He takes his pipe so dear, And as the Knaster fumes and glows, All troubles disappear.

He is a Bursch,---lives _sans facon_ Him all their friend may deem; His heart is good, although we own At times it different seem.

Fair maids he wishes free from wrongs, With joy to their life's goal; And lauds them still in all his songs, With all his heart and soul.

See! though all gla.s.ses empty stand, Full jugs to us appeal; So send the wine from hand to hand, And drink the Bursch's weal.

Already from the jug's full flood To gla.s.s the wine doth flow, And to our worthy Brotherhood, We'll sound this hearty hoch!

Baden I call my Fatherland, As life I prize its weal; Therefore I wear the Baden Band, And guard with hand and steel.

_Fourthly_.--Others are drinking songs; as ”Crambambuli, that is the t.i.tle;” or ”When carousing I shall die;” ”The year is good, the brown beer thrives;” ”Bring me blood of n.o.ble vines;” ”The dearest sweetheart that I have;” ”I have throughout the forenoon long;” ”I and my dear bottle;” ”Now sing in dulci jubilo;” or that maiden song, in which the maiden is drunk for, while he who empties most measures is declared the conqueror, and ent.i.tled to marry the maiden; while the rest cry and chorus.

He's done it stout, he's done it stout, So will he not be laughed right out.

And the maiden, who all the while is perfectly unconscious of these proceedings, and has given no consent to them, is declared to be won, and is p.r.o.nounced to be the beloved of the victor. Ah, poor maiden! so wouldst thou, not out of love, but truly contrary to thy will, be thrown into the arms of a drunkard!

This maiden song is now, to the honour of the students.h.i.+p, quite out of use; yet Zackaria describes such a scene as common in the days of his Renommist.

And therefore filled he with beer that mighty gla.s.s, And drank it off the first unto that fair endearing--- A maiden yet whose name had scarcely met his hearing He held in hand, as sceptre, the solid room-door key, Thus acted he as chief, and to his realm gave he A sacred law, unpausing the measured draught to end; And oft his judge's arm let the heavy key descend.

Wo unto him who then this law as rebel brake, When he that thunder-word _pro p[oe]na_, to him spake. Then must another measure his luckless throat o'erflow, Or stood he in great danger the damsel to forego.

”But now, ye Brothers--hoch! and let Selinda live.