Pennsylvania Dutch Rip Van Winkle: A romantic drama in two acts

by Washington Irving

Now plenty all our cares repay,

So laugh and dance the hours away;

Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha!

So laugh and dance the hours away.

Vedd. Sawg, du, Clausin, we’d uf ’m waig warsht, husht ebbas fun unserm freind Rip Van Winkle g’sana? Wo ebbas os we olter whiskey tzu hawa is bin ich goot derfore os ar sure is um der waig tzu si—olsfort im dorsht!

Knick. Du besser gebsht aucht wass du sawgsht. Ennicher mon os ’m ’a goota glaws whiskey ous ’m waig gait is ’n norr. Sell is my plainy Deitshe mainung. Awer ich sawg der, mauch kæ fun fum Rip, for ich exshpect amohl ains fun denna dawg mich aw tzu shleesa on si fomelia, un ich nem satisfaction ous ennich ame os ’n insult.

Vedd. So so. Demnoch husht di mind uf gamaucht ’m Rip si shaney shweshter tzu hira?

Knick. Sell is exactly wass ich im sin hob tzu du. Der Rip is ’s agreed; de Alice is ’s agreed un ich bin ’s agreed.

Clau. Bisht awer aw now sure os du de Ripsy, ’m Rip is fraw, uf diner side husht? Is se ’s aw agreed?

Knick. Sell is de ainsich bodderation. Denk yusht we se fun weaga meer shwetzt. Se sawgt ich bin nix os ’n long bainich, slop-orrich, dobbich, ouslendish’s creddoor!