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BALLAD

BY CHARLES GODFREY LELAND




Der Noble Ritter Hugo
     Von Schwillensaufenstein,
Rode out mit shpeer and helmet,
     Und he coom to de panks of de Rhine.


Und oop dere rose a meer maid
     Vot hadn’t got nodings on,
Und she say, “Oh, Ritter Hugo,
     Vhere you goes mit yourself alone?”


And he says, “I rides in de creenwood
     Mit helmet und mit shpeer,
Till I cooms into em Gasthaus,
     Und dere I trinks some beer.”


Und den outshpoke de maiden
     Vot hadn’t got nodings on:
“I tont dink mooch of beoplesh
     Dat goes mit demselfs alone.


“You’d petter coom down in de wasser,
     Vere deres heaps of dings to see,
Und hafe a shplendid tinner
     Und drafel along mit me.


“Dere you sees de fisch a schwimmin,
     Und you catches dem efery one:” —
So sang dis wasser maiden
     Vot hadn’t got nodings on.


“Dere ish drunks all full mit money
     In ships dat vent down of old;
Und you helpsh yourself, by dunder!
     To shimmerin crowns of gold.


“Shoost look at dese shpoons und vatches!
     Shoost see dese diamant rings!
Coom down und full your bockets,
     Und I’ll giss you like avery dings.


“Vot you vantsh mit your schnapps und lager?
     Coom down into der Rhine!
Der ish pottles der Kaiser Charlemagne
     Vonce filled mit gold-red wine!”


Dat fetched him — he shtood all shpell pound;
     She pooled his coat-tails down,
She drawed him oonder der wasser,
     De maiden mit nodings on.






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