Boots!--to the fore!

Open the door!

Rouse-rouse-rouse!

With all of his wild crew--halloo!

The roaring Rodenstein.'

RODENSTEIN AND THE PRIEST.

Und wieder sprach der Rodenstein: 'Halloh, mein wildes Heer!

In a.s.smanshausen fall ich ein Und trink' den Pfarrer leer.

'Raus da! 'raus aus dem Haus da!

Herr Pfarr', da.s.s Gott Euch helf'.

Giebt's nirgends mehr ein' Tropfen Wein Des Nachts um halber Zwolf?'

Again outspoke the Rodenstein-- 'Hurrah! wild army:--fly!

In a.s.smanshausen there is wine; Let's drink the parson dry!

Rouse there! rouse out o' th' house there!

Now, priest, G.o.d help your like If there be left one drop of wine When you hear midnight strike.'

The priest, a valiant clergyman, Stood raging by the door; With scapulary, cross, and bann, He cursed the spirit o'er.

'Rouse there! rouse out o' th' house, there!

The devil help you delve, If you dig out one drop of wine Before the clock strikes twelve!'

But laughing growled the Rodenstein, 'Oh, priest, I'll catch you yet; A ghost who's shut in front from wine, Through the back door can get.

Fly'n there! fly'n there to the wine, there!

Hurrah--we're in! they shout.

His cellar is not badly filled!

Hurrah! we'll drink him out!'

Oh, poor and pious priestly heart!

Bad spirits rule this hour.

In vain he roared out cellar ward, Till he cracked the vault with power-- 'Swine there! swine there by the wine, there!

Is't decent, let me know?

Oh, can't you leave me wine enough For a gentleman to show?'

And when the clock struck One, all rough The ghosts began to cry, 'Ho, Parson! now we've got enough!

Ho, Parson! now good-bye!

Rouse there! rouse out o' th' house, there!

Now, Parson, all is sprung; There runs no more one drop of wine From spicket, jug, or bung!'

Then cursed the priest, 'My thanks to you, Confound it!--All is gone.

Then I myself in your wild crew, As chaplain will dash on!

Rouse there! rouse out o' th' house, there!

Sir Knight--at one we'll be.

If all my wine to the devil's gone, The devil may preach for me!

Huzzah! Hallo!--Yo hi ha ho!

Rum diri di!--it's gone!

Hoy diri do!--I'm on!

In the devil's chorus--all before us, Row--dow-dydow!'

RODENSTEIN.

Und wieder sprach der Rodenstein-- 'Pelzkappenschwerenoth!

Hans Schleuning, Stabstrompeter mein, Bist untreu oder todt?

Lebst noch? Lebst noch und hebst noch?

Man g'spurt dich nirgend mehr; Schon naht die durf'tge Mainweinzeit, Du musst mir wieder her!'

Again outspoke the Rodenstein-- 'May thunder split my head!

Hans Schleuning, trumpeter of mine, Art thou untrue or dead?

Art living man?--art moving?-- No trace I find of thee; The thirsty May-wine time is near:-- Oh, come again to me!'

He rode till he to Darmstadt came, And badly still he fared, Till halting at The Old Black Lamb, He through the window glared.

'He lives still!--thrives still!--lives still!

But ask not how from me.

How comes my brave old fugle-man In such a company?'

Without a word, without a wink, There sat a solemn crowd; Small beer was all their evening drink, There rang no word aloud.

'So-bri-ety, pro-pri-ety!

Is a great duty, sir!'

So whispered a small vestry-man Unto a colporteur.

Among these half-gla.s.s tippling men A silent guest there sat; And as the clock struck eight just then, He caught up stick and hat.

'What eight! what eight! Good-night! 'tis late!

I've learned good hours to keep; Ah well!--a steady life's the best, I'll go to bed and sleep!'

The Rodenstein in grimmest scorn Glared o'er his horse's mane; Then thrice he blew his hunting horn With thundering refrain: 'Rouse there! rouse out o' th' house, there!

Rouse out your runaway!

That lame, tame guest, ye cursed crew, Belongs to me, I say.'

A shudder swept across that guest Like some strange sense of sin; Then with a jug, like one possessed, He smashed the window in.

'Rouse house, and curse the house, here!

Oh, horn and spur and scorn.

Oh Rodenstein! Oh, German wine!

I am not lost and lorn!

Rum diri di--all right, Hey, diri da--free night!

Old patron mine--again I'm thine!

Huzza! Hallo!

Huzza! Hallo!

Yo hi a ho!--Arouse!

Hi--a-ho!

Hi--o!'

HEIDELBERG.