25
[NINETY-EIGHT]
O would the Baptist come again
And preach aloud with might and main
Repentance to our viperous race!
But should this miracle take place,
I hope, ere Irish ground he treads,
He'll lay in a good stock of heads!
First published in An. Anth., 1800. First collected P. and D. W., 1877, ii. 162. Adapted from Friedrich von Logau's Sinngedicht, Johannes der Täufer, Lessing's edition, Bk. I, No. 30:—
'Nicht recht! nicht recht! würd' immer schrein
Johannes, sollt' er wieder sein.
Doch käm er, riet' ich, dass er dächte,
Wie viel er Köpf' in Vorrat brächte.'