“The fish is good, my mother dear,
“But in silence one ought to eat it;
“’Tis easy to get a bone in one’s throat,
“Pray leave me in peace to complete it.”
And when I had finish’d the excellent fish,
The goose next made its appearance;
My mother again ask’d for this and for that,
With the same ill-timed perseverance.
“My darling child, which land do you think
“Is the best for people to dwell in,—
“This place, or France? which nation’s the best?
“What thing does each excel in?”—
“A German goose, my mother dear,
“Is good as one of the courses;
“But the French stuff geese far better than we,
“And they also have better sauces.”
And when the goose had taken its leave,
The oranges presently follow’d,
And tasted so unexpectedly nice,
That with pleasure they quickly were swallow’d.
But now my mother again began
Her questions with very much pleasure;
She ask’d me a thousand things, but some
Were awkward beyond all measure.
“My darling child, pray tell me now,
“If politics still you’re inclined to?
“Which party in the state to support
“Have you the greatest mind to?”—
“The quality, my mother dear,
“Of your oranges cannot be beaten;
“The sweet juice I swallow with much delight,
“But I leave the peel uneaten.”
CAPUT XXI.
They bit by bit are building again
The hapless half-burnt city;
Like a half-shorn poodle Hamburg now looks,
An object to waken one’s pity.[60]