 | The Breitmann Ballads |  |
263
BREITMANN'S LAST BALLADS
BREITMANN IN TURKEY.
Der BREITMANN hear im Turkenreich
Vas fighten high und low,
“Steh auf, oh Schwackenhammer mein!
It's dime for us to go.
Zieh dein Kanonenstiefel an,
Und schleife Dir das Schwert,
Schon lang her han mer nichts gethan,
Der Weg ist reitenswerth.”
Vas fighten high und low,
“Steh auf, oh Schwackenhammer mein!
It's dime for us to go.
Zieh dein Kanonenstiefel an,
Und schleife Dir das Schwert,
Schon lang her han mer nichts gethan,
Der Weg ist reitenswerth.”
“Oopon vitch side? I hartly know
Boot von side in dis war:
Dere ist de holy Russ-land
All mit a holy Tsar;
But I pe not a holy-er,
Nor you von Saint, I fear;
Our line is holy ploonder,
Mit sacred Lager-bier.
Boot von side in dis war:
Dere ist de holy Russ-land
All mit a holy Tsar;
But I pe not a holy-er,
Nor you von Saint, I fear;
Our line is holy ploonder,
Mit sacred Lager-bier.
“Dere's von Constantinoble-man
Vot write to me, und say
He kits me an commission
To make me Breitmann Bey,
Und if I mounts de turpan
Und keeps de Muslin law,
Und bribes ein wenig, den I rise
To Breitemann Pasha.
Vot write to me, und say
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To make me Breitmann Bey,
Und if I mounts de turpan
Und keeps de Muslin law,
Und bribes ein wenig, den I rise
To Breitemann Pasha.
“Dis much is drue, dat Toorkey is
A real Powder land,
Und if dey're goin' to touch it off,
Vy, ve moost pe on hand.
Und if ve shpring into de airs
Vhile meddlin' in de fuss,
I rader dink some Russian bears
Vill shpring along mit us.”
A real Powder land,
Und if dey're goin' to touch it off,
Vy, ve moost pe on hand.
Und if ve shpring into de airs
Vhile meddlin' in de fuss,
I rader dink some Russian bears
Vill shpring along mit us.”
Und ven he kit to Turkreich
Der Breitmann work like mad,
Und kit ein corps togeder,—
Mein Gott! vat men he had!
Mit Polers und mit Shipsies,
Ungaren, Turks, und such,
Und allerlei Gesindel. “Hei!”
Says Hans: “dis beats de Dutch!”
Der Breitmann work like mad,
Und kit ein corps togeder,—
Mein Gott! vat men he had!
Mit Polers und mit Shipsies,
Ungaren, Turks, und such,
Und allerlei Gesindel. “Hei!”
Says Hans: “dis beats de Dutch!”
Den onwards to his Schicksal
Und forvarts troo de night,
Und oopwarts to his mission,
Und downvarts in de vight.
Until in de Bulgáren
Von night his horse he strode,
Und meet a tausand Kossacks
Pefore him on de road.
Und forvarts troo de night,
Und oopwarts to his mission,
Und downvarts in de vight.
Until in de Bulgáren
Von night his horse he strode,
Und meet a tausand Kossacks
Pefore him on de road.
265
Slap forward rode der Breitmann
Right on de Kossack spears,
But forvarts coom deir leader
And halted his careers,
Und gry, “O Turkisch Ritter,
I am de Capitán,
And if you want a shindy,
Step up, and I'm your man.”
Right on de Kossack spears,
But forvarts coom deir leader
And halted his careers,
Und gry, “O Turkisch Ritter,
I am de Capitán,
And if you want a shindy,
Step up, and I'm your man.”
Dey fightet like der teufel,
Dey fightet mit deir swords,
Und Breitmann vould hafe kilt him,
But 'twas not on de cards,
For de Kossack fire a bistol
As his retreadt pegan,—
Down from his horse all senseless
Flop! went der Breitemann.
Dey fightet mit deir swords,
Und Breitmann vould hafe kilt him,
But 'twas not on de cards,
For de Kossack fire a bistol
As his retreadt pegan,—
Down from his horse all senseless
Flop! went der Breitemann.
Vhen he hafe kit his senses,
Der Breitmann find he lay
Insite a nople castell,
Upon a canapé;
Und py his side a lady
So wunderschön to see,
Vas shlisin oop a lemon
Indo a cop of thée.
Der Breitmann find he lay
Insite a nople castell,
Upon a canapé;
Und py his side a lady
So wunderschön to see,
Vas shlisin oop a lemon
Indo a cop of thée.
Den to himself say Breitmann,
Aldough he hold his jaw,
“Dis is de vinest womans,
Py Gott! I efer saw.
Vot lofeliness! vot muscle!
Mit efery himmlisch charm!
She measures twenty inches,
Bei Donner! roundt de arm.”
Aldough he hold his jaw,
“Dis is de vinest womans,
Py Gott! I efer saw.
Vot lofeliness! vot muscle!
Mit efery himmlisch charm!
She measures twenty inches,
Bei Donner! roundt de arm.”
266
De lady see his glances
So noble und so game,
Und yust as he reflected
She dink of him de same,
Und she say, “Wie gehts?” in English,
“Du galiant cavalier,
Who art pecome de captive
All of my bow und spear.
So noble und so game,
Und yust as he reflected
She dink of him de same,
Und she say, “Wie gehts?” in English,
“Du galiant cavalier,
Who art pecome de captive
All of my bow und spear.
“I am a gal dis mornin',
Yestreen I vas a knight,
Old hoss—you nearly smashed me,
I guess, in that small fight;
And if I hadn't shot you
I think I should have ran.”
“Gottshimmel mit Potzbomben!
Egsclaim der Breitemann.
Yestreen I vas a knight,
Old hoss—you nearly smashed me,
I guess, in that small fight;
And if I hadn't shot you
I think I should have ran.”
“Gottshimmel mit Potzbomben!
Egsclaim der Breitemann.
“But say, O nople lady,
Vot got you in dot set
Of plackgards—vilt dou dell me?”
De dame rebly: “You bet!
My father came from Boston,
And when this war began
He got a splendid contract,
All with the Russi-án,
Vot got you in dot set
Of plackgards—vilt dou dell me?”
De dame rebly: “You bet!
My father came from Boston,
And when this war began
He got a splendid contract,
All with the Russi-án,
“To sell the army shoe-strings;
But I have read of fights,
And I dream of war and glory,
For I go for women's rights;
Then I read a book of poems
Which fairly turned my head,
The ballads of Hans Breitmann”—
“Oh—ho!” Hans Breitmann said.
But I have read of fights,
And I dream of war and glory,
For I go for women's rights;
Then I read a book of poems
Which fairly turned my head,
The ballads of Hans Breitmann”—
“Oh—ho!” Hans Breitmann said.
267
“And as I think the Breitmann
Must be the greatest man
Who ever went a-fighting
Since History began,
I dressed me like a soldier,
For I am stark of limb;
With Breitmann for a model,
And try to act like him.
Must be the greatest man
Who ever went a-fighting
Since History began,
I dressed me like a soldier,
For I am stark of limb;
With Breitmann for a model,
And try to act like him.
“Oh, tell me, noble captive,
While rolling in this storm
Which men call life, hast ever
Beheld Hans Breitmann's form?
Oh, could I once embrace him,
And gaze into his eye,
And feel his arms around me,
Then I would gladly die.
While rolling in this storm
Which men call life, hast ever
Beheld Hans Breitmann's form?
Oh, could I once embrace him,
And gaze into his eye,
And feel his arms around me,
Then I would gladly die.
“He is the man of mortals,
The Odin of them all,
A higher Incarnation,
The ‘Menschheitsidéal,’
A being made to worship,
To me an earthly Gott”—
“Py shings!” exglaim Hans Breitmann,
“Dis ding is gettin hot!
The Odin of them all,
A higher Incarnation,
The ‘Menschheitsidéal,’
A being made to worship,
To me an earthly Gott”—
“Py shings!” exglaim Hans Breitmann,
“Dis ding is gettin hot!
“O laity!—nople gountess!
Dis man of whom you dink
Ish lyin' here pefore you,
Half tead for want of trink,
Likewise for lofe of you, too,
Done up mit lofe and durst,
Und mit de two togeder,
I don't know vitch is vorst.
Dis man of whom you dink
Ish lyin' here pefore you,
Half tead for want of trink,
268
Done up mit lofe and durst,
Und mit de two togeder,
I don't know vitch is vorst.
“And dou canst safe dy hero
From bitter Todespein,
If dou hast in de Keller
Only one Fass of wein.
Nay, doubt not—in my pocket
Is dot vitch brofes de man,
My bassport, und drei tavern bills
Against der Breitemann.”
From bitter Todespein,
If dou hast in de Keller
Only one Fass of wein.
Nay, doubt not—in my pocket
Is dot vitch brofes de man,
My bassport, und drei tavern bills
Against der Breitemann.”
De laity she emprace him
Oontil he nearly bust.
“Potz-blitz!” gasp out der Breitmann,
“She is a squeezer—yust!”
De damé she vas vealty,
Likewise an orphan too,
Mit a castel und a titel,
So Breitmann put it troo.
Oontil he nearly bust.
“Potz-blitz!” gasp out der Breitmann,
“She is a squeezer—yust!”
De damé she vas vealty,
Likewise an orphan too,
Mit a castel und a titel,
So Breitmann put it troo.
So soon the paar vere marrit,—
Hei! vot a dimes dey had!
Hei! how dey life togeder
So clorious und clad!
Now he has cot a titel
Dot was a Capitán;
Hier hat de tale ein Ende
Of Herr Count Breitemann.
Hei! vot a dimes dey had!
Hei! how dey life togeder
So clorious und clad!
Now he has cot a titel
Dot was a Capitán;
Hier hat de tale ein Ende
Of Herr Count Breitemann.
“Pull on your boots so rough and tough,
And whet your sword beside,
We have been lazy long enough,
The road is worth the ride.”
And whet your sword beside,
We have been lazy long enough,
The road is worth the ride.”
269
COBUS HAGELSTEIN.
Ich bin ein Deutscher, und mein name is Cobus Hagelstein,
I coom from Cincinnàti, and I life peyond der Rhein;
Und I dells you all a shdory dot makes me mad ash blitz,
Pout how a Yankee gompany vas shvindle me to fits.
I coom from Cincinnàti, and I life peyond der Rhein;
Und I dells you all a shdory dot makes me mad ash blitz,
Pout how a Yankee gompany vas shvindle me to fits.
I heardt apout dis gompany, und vished to see dot same,
Das Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft vos ids name;
Dot is de name in Sherman—in English it will say
Dot it insures your life mit fire, ven you de money pay.
Das Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft vos ids name;
Dot is de name in Sherman—in English it will say
Dot it insures your life mit fire, ven you de money pay.
Now, I hod a liddle house-line vhere I life so shtill ash mice,
Und yoost drei tausand dollar vos dot little pilding's brice;
I vos always yoost so happy ash ein Kaisar in de land
Dill at last I kit in drople, for mein haus vos abgebrannt.
Und yoost drei tausand dollar vos dot little pilding's brice;
270
Dill at last I kit in drople, for mein haus vos abgebrannt.
Den I goes undo dot gompany und dells em right afay
(Das Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft), und I say,
“At last de youngest day ist coom for you to plank de cash,
And you moost bay me monies, for mine haus is purned to ash.”
(Das Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft), und I say,
“At last de youngest day ist coom for you to plank de cash,
And you moost bay me monies, for mine haus is purned to ash.”
Den de segredary answered, “All dis is fery drue,
Boot you know ve have de option to pild your house anew;
Dere ist a lot of beoples vot burns deir hauser doun,
Den coom to kit de money pack all over in de toun.”
Boot you know ve have de option to pild your house anew;
Dere ist a lot of beoples vot burns deir hauser doun,
Den coom to kit de money pack all over in de toun.”
I look indo de bapers und I find it ash he say,
Das Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft need not bay;
So I dells em all to go ahet und pild anoder shdore,
Und dey make me von in Yankee shdyle more petter ash pefore.
Das Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft need not bay;
So I dells em all to go ahet und pild anoder shdore,
Und dey make me von in Yankee shdyle more petter ash pefore.
Den I met der segredary dereafter on a day,
Of Das Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft, und he say,
“You've found oos vellers honoraple und honest in our line,
Vy tont you go insure de life of Madame Hagelstein?”
Of Das Lebensfeuerversicherunggesellschaft, und he say,
“You've found oos vellers honoraple und honest in our line,
Vy tont you go insure de life of Madame Hagelstein?”
271
I poots mine dum oopon mine nose, and vinks him mit mine eye,
Und says I cooms to do it ven de océan runs dry,
Ven gooses turn to ganders, und de bigs kits shanged to shvine;
Oh, den I makes insure de life of Madame Hagelstein.
Und says I cooms to do it ven de océan runs dry,
Ven gooses turn to ganders, und de bigs kits shanged to shvine;
Oh, den I makes insure de life of Madame Hagelstein.
“I haf dried you on insurance, ash you know, yust vonce pefore,
Und ven mein haus vas abgebrannt you pild anoder shdore;
Id's drue you pild it goot enough, boot I dell you allaweil,
I vas liket id moosh petter if it vas in Sharman shdyle.
Und ven mein haus vas abgebrannt you pild anoder shdore;
Id's drue you pild it goot enough, boot I dell you allaweil,
I vas liket id moosh petter if it vas in Sharman shdyle.
“Now, if I goes insure my wife anoder dime mit you
Das Lebensfeuerversicherung, I knows vot it would do,—
If from dis vorldt Frau Hagelstein should rise to Himmel life,
Inshtead of paying gelt you'd kit for me a Yankee vife!”
Das Lebensfeuerversicherung, I knows vot it would do,—
If from dis vorldt Frau Hagelstein should rise to Himmel life,
Inshtead of paying gelt you'd kit for me a Yankee vife!”
I poots mine dum pelow mine eye, und vinks him merrily,
Und say, “Go find soom Deutscherman dot is more creen ash me.
Dere's blendy of dem creen enough, I know, peyond der Rhein,
But none among dem wears de name of Cobus Hagelstein.”
Und say, “Go find soom Deutscherman dot is more creen ash me.
Dere's blendy of dem creen enough, I know, peyond der Rhein,
But none among dem wears de name of Cobus Hagelstein.”
272
FRITZERL SCHNALL.
A BALLAD.
Ash on de Alapama biz,
Deep sinnin long I sat,
I dinks von ding for dinkin
Py afery Diplomat;
Und dat ist: dat voll many a ding
Vot ist de facto done,
May pe de jure unbossible,
Und officiél unknown.
Deep sinnin long I sat,
I dinks von ding for dinkin
Py afery Diplomat;
Und dat ist: dat voll many a ding
Vot ist de facto done,
May pe de jure unbossible,
Und officiél unknown.
Von dimes in San Franciscus,
Im Californian land,
Among de Californaments
Dere woned a Deutscher band;
Und shief among dese heroes
Dere shone Herr Fritzerl Schnall,
Who nefer vouldt pelief in nichts
Dat vos not lōgicál.
Im Californian land,
Among de Californaments
Dere woned a Deutscher band;
Und shief among dese heroes
Dere shone Herr Fritzerl Schnall,
Who nefer vouldt pelief in nichts
Dat vos not lōgicál.
Vell den: von tay, as Fritzerl
Vas valk Dolores Shtreet,
Mein Gott! how he vas over-rush
Ein gut oldt friendt to meet;
Hans Liederschnitz aus Augsburg,
Vot professed in Bayrisch bier—
“Gottskreuz! du alter Schlingel!”
Cried Fritz: “Was mochst du hier?”
Vas valk Dolores Shtreet,
Mein Gott! how he vas over-rush
Ein gut oldt friendt to meet;
273
Vot professed in Bayrisch bier—
“Gottskreuz! du alter Schlingel!”
Cried Fritz: “Was mochst du hier?”
Now in des dimes I scribe of,
Dree ways der vere bakannt,
Und only dree, to get to
Das Californigen Landt.
De virst de Plains coom ofer;
De next, de Istmoos troo;
De dird aroundt Cape Horné,
All ofer de ocean plue.
Dree ways der vere bakannt,
Und only dree, to get to
Das Californigen Landt.
De virst de Plains coom ofer;
De next, de Istmoos troo;
De dird aroundt Cape Horné,
All ofer de ocean plue.
But de first lot of surveyors
For de railroad overland,
Vas seek a new vay northwarts,
All for de Eisenbahn,
Und mit dem, der professor
Of Lager vent along;
So he kommed to San Franciscus,
Und den into dis song.
For de railroad overland,
Vas seek a new vay northwarts,
All for de Eisenbahn,
Und mit dem, der professor
Of Lager vent along;
So he kommed to San Franciscus,
Und den into dis song.
But ash unto Herr Fritzerl
Dis news vas unerheard,
He couldt not know de tidings
Wherevon he had no vord;
Und derefore dis here quesdion
He makes to Hans: “Old hoss,
I kess de vay you kit hier,
You kommed de Blains agross?”
Dis news vas unerheard,
He couldt not know de tidings
Wherevon he had no vord;
Und derefore dis here quesdion
He makes to Hans: “Old hoss,
I kess de vay you kit hier,
You kommed de Blains agross?”
“Nein, nein,” sayt Liederschnitzerl;
“I komm not ash you say.”
“Vell, den,” antworded Fritzerl,
“It pe's anoder vay.
If you komm de Blains not über,
I see vot you hafe do:
You make an longer um-way
Und gross de Istmoos troo.”
“I komm not ash you say.”
“Vell, den,” antworded Fritzerl,
“It pe's anoder vay.
274
I see vot you hafe do:
You make an longer um-way
Und gross de Istmoos troo.”
“Nein, nein,” acain saidt Schnitzerl,
“Dat road I nefer know,
Und vas not ride de Istmoose!”
Cried Fritz, erstaunisched, “SO
You komm de Blains not über,
Nor gross de Istmoose troo?
Vell, den—to make de Horn aroundt
Vas all dat you could do!”
“Dat road I nefer know,
Und vas not ride de Istmoose!”
Cried Fritz, erstaunisched, “SO
You komm de Blains not über,
Nor gross de Istmoose troo?
Vell, den—to make de Horn aroundt
Vas all dat you could do!”
“I shvears py Gott!” says Schnitzerl,
“So sure as you vas porn,
Exshept oopon some ochsen
I nefer saw a horn.
Dat ish—mitwiles, too—while en—
I hafe von in mine hand,
Und trink to dy Gesundheit,
Im lieben Vaterland.”
“So sure as you vas porn,
Exshept oopon some ochsen
I nefer saw a horn.
Dat ish—mitwiles, too—while en—
I hafe von in mine hand,
Und trink to dy Gesundheit,
Im lieben Vaterland.”
Erstaunished stoot der Fritzerl:
No wort herout brought he:
Und sinned, und sinned—den sighftserd.
“Potz blitz! how vash dis pe?”
Ontill a light from Himmel
Vlash down into him shtraight,
Ash Heafen in Yacob Böhme
Vlash from a bewter blate.
No wort herout brought he:
Und sinned, und sinned—den sighftserd.
“Potz blitz! how vash dis pe?”
Ontill a light from Himmel
Vlash down into him shtraight,
Ash Heafen in Yacob Böhme
Vlash from a bewter blate.
Den laut he cry, eye-shbarklin,
Ash droonk mit Truth tifine,
Like der Wahrheitseher Novalis:
“Herr Gott! es leuch't mir ein!
If you komm de Blains not over,
Nor py Horn, nor py canál,
Den I shwears you dis, Hans Schnitzerl,
Du bist not here at all!”
Ash droonk mit Truth tifine,
275
“Herr Gott! es leuch't mir ein!
If you komm de Blains not over,
Nor py Horn, nor py canál,
Den I shwears you dis, Hans Schnitzerl,
Du bist not here at all!”
Moral.
Go in for Wahrheit,
Und for Pure Reason seek;
If it land you in a pog-hole,
Den die dere—like a brick!
Gott brosber all logïkers,
Und pless deir nople breed;
Und so ist komm zu ende
Dis Breitmanns letzte Lied.
Und for Pure Reason seek;
If it land you in a pog-hole,
Den die dere—like a brick!
Gott brosber all logïkers,
Und pless deir nople breed;
Und so ist komm zu ende
Dis Breitmanns letzte Lied.
276
THE GYPSY LOVER.
Dot vos a schwartz Zigeuner
Dot on a viddle played,
Und oonderneat' a fenster
He mak't a serenade.
Dot on a viddle played,
Und oonderneat' a fenster
He mak't a serenade.
Dot vos a lofely gountess
Who heardt de gypsy blay'n.
Said she, “Who make dot musik
Vot sound so wunderscheen?”
Who heardt de gypsy blay'n.
Said she, “Who make dot musik
Vot sound so wunderscheen?”
Dot vos de schwartz Zigainer
Who vos fery quick to twig;
Und he song a mournvoll pallad
How his hearts vos proken—big!
Who vos fery quick to twig;
Und he song a mournvoll pallad
How his hearts vos proken—big!
Dot vos de lofely gountess
Said, “Dell me who you are?”
He saidt, “Mein name is Janosch,
De Lord of Temesvar.”
Said, “Dell me who you are?”
He saidt, “Mein name is Janosch,
De Lord of Temesvar.”
Dot vos de lofely gountess
Said, “Come more near to me,
I vants to dalk on piz'ness:
I'll trow you down de key.”
Said, “Come more near to me,
I vants to dalk on piz'ness:
I'll trow you down de key.”
277
Dot vos de moon kept lightin'
De gountess in her room,
Boot somedings moost have vrighten
De minstrel tid not coom.
De gountess in her room,
Boot somedings moost have vrighten
De minstrel tid not coom.
Dot vos a treadfool oudgry
Ven early in de morn
Dey foundt de hens vos missin,
Und all de wash vos gone!
Ven early in de morn
Dey foundt de hens vos missin,
Und all de wash vos gone!
Dot vos a schwartz Zigeuner
Vot sot oopon de dirt
A-eatin roasted schickens
All in a new glean shirt
Vot sot oopon de dirt
A-eatin roasted schickens
All in a new glean shirt
278
DORNENLIEDER.
I.
For efery Rose dot ploome in spring,
Dey say an maid is porn;
For efery pain dot Rose vill make
Dey say dere comes a dorn.
Boot let dem say yoost vot dey will,
Dis ding I will soopose,
I'll immer prick mein finger still,
If I may pfluck die Ros'.
Ach, Rosalein, du schöne mein,
Dot man vas nefer born
Vot did deserfe to win de Rose,
Vot couldt not stand de Dorn.
Dey say an maid is porn;
For efery pain dot Rose vill make
Dey say dere comes a dorn.
Boot let dem say yoost vot dey will,
Dis ding I will soopose,
I'll immer prick mein finger still,
If I may pfluck die Ros'.
Ach, Rosalein, du schöne mein,
Dot man vas nefer born
Vot did deserfe to win de Rose,
Vot couldt not stand de Dorn.
Blutfarbig ist die schöne Ros',
Und dot ist yoost a sign
Dot I moost lose a liddle Blut
To make de Rosé mein.
Wer Rosen bricht die Finger sticht;
Das ist mir ganz égal,
Der bricht sie auch in Winter nicht,
Und kits no Rose at all.
Was wir hier treiben und kosen, love,
De joy or misery,
Soll bleiben unter der Rosen, love!
Und our own secret pe!
Und dot ist yoost a sign
Dot I moost lose a liddle Blut
To make de Rosé mein.
Wer Rosen bricht die Finger sticht;
Das ist mir ganz égal,
Der bricht sie auch in Winter nicht,
Und kits no Rose at all.
279
De joy or misery,
Soll bleiben unter der Rosen, love!
Und our own secret pe!
II.
Von Dorn ride out in hoonting gear,
Mit his horse und his Hundé too,
Und his mutter she say,
“Bring home a deer,
Mein Sohn, votefer you do!”
“You know, gewiss, dot I nefer miss,
Und ven you hear mine horn,
Pe sure dot a deer is comin' here,”
Said der Ritter Veit von Dorn,
Mit his deer so fein, tra la la la!
Mit his deer so fine, tra lé!
Tra la la—tra la la la!
Tra la la—la la lé!
Mit his horse und his Hundé too,
Und his mutter she say,
“Bring home a deer,
Mein Sohn, votefer you do!”
“You know, gewiss, dot I nefer miss,
Und ven you hear mine horn,
Pe sure dot a deer is comin' here,”
Said der Ritter Veit von Dorn,
Mit his deer so fein, tra la la la!
Mit his deer so fine, tra lé!
Tra la la—tra la la la!
Tra la la—la la lé!
Von Dorn he ridet im greenen wood
Till dere, peneat' a dree,
He sah a maid wie Milch und Blut,
As fair ash a maid could pe.
Und der Ritter he spies her great plack eyes,
“Id's petter, I'll pe shwore,
To hafe a dear oopon two feet
Dan von dot roons on four.
Mit a dear so fein, tra la la la!
Mit a dear so fein, tra lé!
Tra la la—tra la la la!
Tra la la—la de lé!”
Till dere, peneat' a dree,
He sah a maid wie Milch und Blut,
As fair ash a maid could pe.
Und der Ritter he spies her great plack eyes,
“Id's petter, I'll pe shwore,
280
Dan von dot roons on four.
Mit a dear so fein, tra la la la!
Mit a dear so fein, tra lé!
Tra la la—tra la la la!
Tra la la—la de lé!”
Der Ritter ridet pack to home:
“Ach, mutter—all ist goot;
I prings you here de finest dear
In all de greené woot.”
De mutter she looks, mit joy surprise,
“Hast Recht, mein lieber Sohn;
Dere vas nefer a deer vot hafe soosh eyes
Ash de dear vot you hafe won!”
Mit her eyes so plack, tra la, la la!
Mit her eyes so plack, tra lé!
Tra, la, la—tra la, la, la!
Tra la la—la de lé!
“Ach, mutter—all ist goot;
I prings you here de finest dear
In all de greené woot.”
De mutter she looks, mit joy surprise,
“Hast Recht, mein lieber Sohn;
Dere vas nefer a deer vot hafe soosh eyes
Ash de dear vot you hafe won!”
Mit her eyes so plack, tra la, la la!
Mit her eyes so plack, tra lé!
Tra, la, la—tra la, la, la!
Tra la la—la de lé!
Who roses picks his finger pricks
No matter what befall;
In winter-time he finds them gone
And gets no rose at all.
Our petting and caressing here,
Our joy or misery
It all shall rest sub rosa, love,
And our own secret be!
No matter what befall;
In winter-time he finds them gone
And gets no rose at all.
Our petting and caressing here,
Our joy or misery
It all shall rest sub rosa, love,
And our own secret be!
281
BREITMANN'S SLEIGH-RIDE.
Ven de winter make oos shifer
Und de bonds is froze mit ice,
To shlide und shkate on de rifer,
Mit de poys und gals is nice.
Ven de horses hafe deir bits on,
Und de roats pe vite mit shnow,
To vly in a sleigh like blitzen
Is de yolliest dings I know.
Und de bonds is froze mit ice,
To shlide und shkate on de rifer,
Mit de poys und gals is nice.
Ven de horses hafe deir bits on,
Und de roats pe vite mit shnow,
To vly in a sleigh like blitzen
Is de yolliest dings I know.
“Und its high, hooray!” saidt Breitmann,
“For de gals on de Dutchtown-side;
Und it's lebe hoch! fer de yunglins,
Vot'll go mit de gals to ride;
Und it's hip, herjé! for de drifers
Vot nefer dake no odds!
Und it's vivat! for de vellers,
Vot'll shtand de apple-tods!”
“For de gals on de Dutchtown-side;
Und it's lebe hoch! fer de yunglins,
Vot'll go mit de gals to ride;
Und it's hip, herjé! for de drifers
Vot nefer dake no odds!
Und it's vivat! for de vellers,
Vot'll shtand de apple-tods!”
Der Breitmann pooled his mits on,
Der Breitmann crocked his vip,
“Now its fly like dunner blitzen,
Mein shildren, let 'er rip!
Like de eagles on de shtorm-cloudt
A-vlyin' to deir nest;
Dere is opple-yack a-vaitin
For de von dot times de rest.
Der Breitmann crocked his vip,
“Now its fly like dunner blitzen,
Mein shildren, let 'er rip!
Like de eagles on de shtorm-cloudt
A-vlyin' to deir nest;
282
For de von dot times de rest.
“Oh mein Rapp, du bist de pestest
Of horses in de land!
Dou canst trafel on de grafel,
Und canst shell it on de sand!
Oh Rapp!—dere's money on id,
Ton't let de Gelt go blue!
I vants you show de beoples
Dis tay vot you can do!”
Of horses in de land!
Dou canst trafel on de grafel,
Und canst shell it on de sand!
Oh Rapp!—dere's money on id,
Ton't let de Gelt go blue!
I vants you show de beoples
Dis tay vot you can do!”
Der Breitmann mit his mädchen
Vas in a shblentit shleigh,
Fritz Laufer mit his Mina,
Vas yoosht agross de vay;
Mit pop-slets und mit yoompers,
Mit horses and mit mules,
Dere vas more ash vifty fellers
Come mit deir ve-hi-cules.
Vas in a shblentit shleigh,
Fritz Laufer mit his Mina,
Vas yoosht agross de vay;
Mit pop-slets und mit yoompers,
Mit horses and mit mules,
Dere vas more ash vifty fellers
Come mit deir ve-hi-cules.
Id's “Ein—Zwei—Drei!” togedder,
Dey hollered klein und gross,
Like de wind in shtormy wetter,
Stracks vent de Deutschers los!
Dey crock de vips like mooskets,
Dey ring from berg to berg,
“Hooray!” exsglaim Hans Breitmann:
“Dot sounds like Gettysburg!”
Dey hollered klein und gross,
Like de wind in shtormy wetter,
Stracks vent de Deutschers los!
Dey crock de vips like mooskets,
Dey ring from berg to berg,
“Hooray!” exsglaim Hans Breitmann:
“Dot sounds like Gettysburg!”
Der Breitmann und der Laufer
Vere half a mile ahet,
For ven id coom to driven,
De oder Dootch vere deadt.
Dey vly like teufel's arrows,
Mit imps oopon em gay,
Dey killt five hoondred shbarrows
Vot kit indo de vay.
Vere half a mile ahet,
For ven id coom to driven,
De oder Dootch vere deadt.
283
Mit imps oopon em gay,
Dey killt five hoondred shbarrows
Vot kit indo de vay.
Dey vly like rats und blitzen,
De fery gals vos doomb,
Und Breitmann kept his wits on,
To see vot shanse vouldt coom;
He know'd de pace dey clipped it
Moost enden in a shquall
By de vay der Laufer ripped it,
Und de shteeds vere ganz egál.
De fery gals vos doomb,
Und Breitmann kept his wits on,
To see vot shanse vouldt coom;
He know'd de pace dey clipped it
Moost enden in a shquall
By de vay der Laufer ripped it,
Und de shteeds vere ganz egál.
Der Laufer he vos leadin'
Hans Breitmann ash he goed,
Boot he tidn't see a soplin'
Dot vos lyin' in de road.
Id yank dem out like marples,
Mitout a will or shall;
Hets downvarts in a shnow-pank,
Vent Laufer mit his gal.
Hans Breitmann ash he goed,
Boot he tidn't see a soplin'
Dot vos lyin' in de road.
Id yank dem out like marples,
Mitout a will or shall;
Hets downvarts in a shnow-pank,
Vent Laufer mit his gal.
Und ash Breitmann comed oonto it
Id kit indo his vay,
Und tossed him mit his mädchen
Right indo Laufer's shleigh;
Hans crab de reins like blitze',
Und go ahet like sin:
“Adjé, mein lieber Fritze!
Dis dimes I scoop you in!”
Id kit indo his vay,
Und tossed him mit his mädchen
Right indo Laufer's shleigh;
Hans crab de reins like blitze',
Und go ahet like sin:
“Adjé, mein lieber Fritze!
Dis dimes I scoop you in!”
284
He vly avay like shvallows
To vhere a davern lay,
Vhere de opple-tod vos ploomin'
Among de Deutschers gay.
Der Breitmann as he vonisht
Yoost cast von look pehind,
At de lecks of Fritz—und Mina—
A-vafin in de wind.
To vhere a davern lay,
Vhere de opple-tod vos ploomin'
Among de Deutschers gay.
Der Breitmann as he vonisht
Yoost cast von look pehind,
At de lecks of Fritz—und Mina—
A-vafin in de wind.
Homburg vor der Höhe, Hesse-Nassau,
September 1, 1888.
285
THE MAGIC SHOES.
It was stiller, dimmer twilight—amber toornin' into gold,
Like young maidens' hairs get yellow und more dark as dey crow old;
Und dere shtood a high ruine vhere de Donau rooshed along,
All lofely, yet neclected—like an oldt und silent song.
Like young maidens' hairs get yellow und more dark as dey crow old;
Und dere shtood a high ruine vhere de Donau rooshed along,
All lofely, yet neclected—like an oldt und silent song.
Out shpoke der Ritter Breitmann, “Ven I hafe not forgot,
Ich kenn an anciendt shtory of dis inderesdin shpot,
Of the Deutscher Middleolter vot de Minnesingers sung,
Ven dot olt ruine oben vas a-bloomin, fair, und yung.
Ich kenn an anciendt shtory of dis inderesdin shpot,
Of the Deutscher Middleolter vot de Minnesingers sung,
Ven dot olt ruine oben vas a-bloomin, fair, und yung.
“Vonce dere lifed a noble fraülein—fery peautiful vas she,
More ash twendy dimes goot lookin—it is in de historie;
Und mit more ash forty quarters on her woppenshield, dot men
Might beholdt mitout a discount she vas of de upper ten.
More ash twendy dimes goot lookin—it is in de historie;
Und mit more ash forty quarters on her woppenshield, dot men
Might beholdt mitout a discount she vas of de upper ten.
286
“But dough lofely as an angel, mit eyes of turkos plue,
She vas cruel ash a teufel, und de vorst man efer knew.
Vonce ven a nople young one kneeled down to her mit lofe,
She kicket him mit her slipper und oopset him on de shtove.
She vas cruel ash a teufel, und de vorst man efer knew.
Vonce ven a nople young one kneeled down to her mit lofe,
She kicket him mit her slipper und oopset him on de shtove.
“Und said, ‘I do refuse you, as you may plainly see;
Und from dis day henseforvart mine refuse you shall pe,
Und when I do run afder you like dogs run afder men,
Den I vil pe your vife, yung man—boot keep avay dill denn!’
Und from dis day henseforvart mine refuse you shall pe,
Und when I do run afder you like dogs run afder men,
Den I vil pe your vife, yung man—boot keep avay dill denn!’
“He lishten to her crimly, and no single vort he said,
Boot de bitter dings she spoken poot der teufel in his head;
For she hafe not learned de visdom, vich is alvays safe and sound,
‘Don't go to pourin' water on a mouse ven id ist trowned.’
Boot de bitter dings she spoken poot der teufel in his head;
For she hafe not learned de visdom, vich is alvays safe and sound,
‘Don't go to pourin' water on a mouse ven id ist trowned.’
“Vonce, at de end of autoom, ven de vind vos bitter cold,
Dis maiden out a-ridin' met a voman poor and old;
Her feets vere bare and pleedin', and she said, ‘Ah! ton't refuse
To gife me, nople lady, yoosht de vorst of your oldt shoes!’
Dis maiden out a-ridin' met a voman poor and old;
Her feets vere bare and pleedin', and she said, ‘Ah! ton't refuse
To gife me, nople lady, yoosht de vorst of your oldt shoes!’
287
“De lady boorst out laughin', ‘Fool here, or fool me dere,
You give to me a couple, I gives to you a pair.’
Denn she rode avay a-laughin'; de old voman says ‘I wete,
I'll give you shoes, my lady, dot vill fit your soul and feet!’
You give to me a couple, I gives to you a pair.’
Denn she rode avay a-laughin'; de old voman says ‘I wete,
I'll give you shoes, my lady, dot vill fit your soul and feet!’
“Dis voman vas a vitchè, an bitter one dere to,
All dot vot she had shpoken she light enough could do;
De Ritter did not know it, but he told her of his love,
And how dot shkornful lady hat oopset him mit de shtove.
All dot vot she had shpoken she light enough could do;
De Ritter did not know it, but he told her of his love,
And how dot shkornful lady hat oopset him mit de shtove.
“Out spoke de grimme witchè, ‘She shall pay dee well to boot,
If you pring to me de measure of dat lady's liddle foot.’
He got it from her shoemaker, and gafe id to de vitch,
Denn she gafe it to de damsel pooty soon as hot as pitch.
If you pring to me de measure of dat lady's liddle foot.’
He got it from her shoemaker, and gafe id to de vitch,
Denn she gafe it to de damsel pooty soon as hot as pitch.
“Von morn de lofely lady, on openin' her toor,
Found de nicest pair of gaiter boots she efer saw pefore;
Dey vitted her exoctly—mitouten any doubt—
Boot, mein Gott! how she vas schrocken ven dey 'gun to valk apout!
Found de nicest pair of gaiter boots she efer saw pefore;
Dey vitted her exoctly—mitouten any doubt—
Boot, mein Gott! how she vas schrocken ven dey 'gun to valk apout!
“Und ash de poots go valkin', like de buds go mit de stem,
It vollowed dot de lady had to valk apout in dem.
Dey took her out into de street—dey run her on de road,
Bym-by she saw a man ahead vot led her vhere she goed.
It vollowed dot de lady had to valk apout in dem.
288
Bym-by she saw a man ahead vot led her vhere she goed.
“Vhen she vent valkin' longsome denn longsome vas her pace,
Vhen he roon like a greyhound she skompered in a race;
He led her o'er de moundains und cross de lonely plain,
Until de evenin' shadows, ven he took her home again.
Vhen he roon like a greyhound she skompered in a race;
He led her o'er de moundains und cross de lonely plain,
Until de evenin' shadows, ven he took her home again.
“Denn she dink mit hate and fury of dis man she used to skoff,
Und den go at de gaiters—boot she couldn't pull dem off,
She vork mit all de servants, boot 'tvasent any use,
Und so she hafe to go to bett—a-shleepin' in her shoes.
Und den go at de gaiters—boot she couldn't pull dem off,
She vork mit all de servants, boot 'tvasent any use,
Und so she hafe to go to bett—a-shleepin' in her shoes.
“Next mornin' off dey shtarted, apout de broke of day,
Den he led her to a castle in de woods and far away,
And shpeak to her, ‘My lady—I dink at last you see
Dat de dime has come in earnesdt vhen you've cot to vollow me!’
Den he led her to a castle in de woods and far away,
And shpeak to her, ‘My lady—I dink at last you see
Dat de dime has come in earnesdt vhen you've cot to vollow me!’
“Oh vat ish female nature? oh vat ish mortal pride?
How all dot shtands de firmest most quickly shlips aside.
De cloudts dot o'er de moundains look shkornful at de plain,
Ere long mit shtormy wetter come toomble down in rain.
How all dot shtands de firmest most quickly shlips aside.
289
Ere long mit shtormy wetter come toomble down in rain.
“So de storm-cloud of Superbia vhich shweep her soul above,
Vas meltet mit his shternness und be-turnèd into love,
As his words like donner wetter croshed ven de lightnin' flies,
So downward coom de torrents of dear trops from her eyes.
Vas meltet mit his shternness und be-turnèd into love,
As his words like donner wetter croshed ven de lightnin' flies,
So downward coom de torrents of dear trops from her eyes.
“Und she gry, ‘Mit shame I own it, to say de fery least,
I gonfess dat in dis matter I hafe acted like a peast;
Ven I made of you my refuse, I dinked it no account,
But now de pack is on my back it seems a big amount.
I gonfess dat in dis matter I hafe acted like a peast;
Ven I made of you my refuse, I dinked it no account,
But now de pack is on my back it seems a big amount.
“‘But if you vish to ved me, I vill do vat you require.
He answered, ‘Now you're talkin'—dot is yoost vot I tesire,
For I am very willin', and you do not refuse,
Boot remember vot you bromised—send de vitch a pair of shoes!’
He answered, ‘Now you're talkin'—dot is yoost vot I tesire,
For I am very willin', and you do not refuse,
Boot remember vot you bromised—send de vitch a pair of shoes!’
“She answered, ‘I vill follow verever you may go,
All ofer hills and falleys, in sunshine, rain, or schnow,
All over in der Welt, dear, I'll vander on vith thee,
I do not care how rough de road or dark de path may be!
All ofer hills and falleys, in sunshine, rain, or schnow,
All over in der Welt, dear, I'll vander on vith thee,
I do not care how rough de road or dark de path may be!
290
“‘Or in de bloomin' meadows, vhere de grass is soft and sweet,
Or in de rocky passes, vhere de stones are under veet,
Or if I vear de shoes, love, vitch you hafe given me,
Or if I moost go barefoot, is all de same to me.’
Or in de rocky passes, vhere de stones are under veet,
Or if I vear de shoes, love, vitch you hafe given me,
Or if I moost go barefoot, is all de same to me.’
“He drew away de gaiters. She said, ‘As I'm rich
I vill fill dem both mit money, and take dem to de vitch.’
Ja wohl, she saw die Hexe, and takin' her aside,
She danked her for de lesson vot hat dook avay her pride.
I vill fill dem both mit money, and take dem to de vitch.’
Ja wohl, she saw die Hexe, and takin' her aside,
She danked her for de lesson vot hat dook avay her pride.
“On de vay vhen dey vere married, how vere dey all erstaun
To see a lofely lady come in mit golden crown,
All in a rosy-silken dress vot shined as pright as glass,
Said, ‘My dears, I am de vitch dot fetch dis ding to pass.
To see a lofely lady come in mit golden crown,
All in a rosy-silken dress vot shined as pright as glass,
Said, ‘My dears, I am de vitch dot fetch dis ding to pass.
“‘You know I look so ogly vonce, und now am peautiful,
Dot ist de vay dot all dings vork ven folks pe dutiful.
Ash de lily toorns to vhitey vot once vas dirty green,
So all ist fair ven virdue ist runnin' de machine.’”
Dot ist de vay dot all dings vork ven folks pe dutiful.
Ash de lily toorns to vhitey vot once vas dirty green,
So all ist fair ven virdue ist runnin' de machine.’”
Dis is de vondrous shtory vot de Ritter Breitmann told
Besides the rooshin' Danube of de schloss so grey und old,
Vhile a shmokin' of his meerschaum; und till all time pe gone
The rustlin' of de vasser tells de tale for ever on.
Besides the rooshin' Danube of de schloss so grey und old,
291
The rustlin' of de vasser tells de tale for ever on.
Dat is an alt legende, und yet 'tis efer new,
Und to efery von dot hears it it fits yoost like a shoe.
Und dis de shinin' moral dot in de oyster lies—
Some day you may roon after de dings you vonce despise!
Und to efery von dot hears it it fits yoost like a shoe.
Und dis de shinin' moral dot in de oyster lies—
Some day you may roon after de dings you vonce despise!
Vienna, 1888.
| The Breitmann Ballads | |