Frosch. I'll have him next time, wait a bit!
Mephistopheles. If I mistook not, didn't we hear
Some well-trained voices chorus singing?
'Faith, music must sound finely here.
From all these echoing arches ringing!
Frosch. You are perhaps a connoisseur?
Mephistopheles. O no! my powers are small, I'm but an amateur.
Altmayer. Give us a song!
Mephistopheles. As many's you desire.
Siebel. But let it be a bran-new strain!
Mephistopheles. No fear of that! We've just come back from Spain,
The lovely land of wine and song and lyre.
[Sings.]
There was a king, right stately,
Who had a great, big flea,—
Frosch. Hear him! A flea! D'ye take there, boys? A flea! I call that genteel company.
Mephistopheles [resumes]. There was a king, right stately,
Who had a great, big flea,
And loved him very greatly,
As if his own son were he.
He called the knight of stitches;
The tailor came straightway:
Ho! measure the youngster for breeches,
And make him a coat to-day!