| I. |
| The right Rhine wine! We'll crown the cup with roses, And quaff about, and laugh about, Till all eyes wink! Such joys divine Sure mother Nature owes us: So laugh about, and quaff about,— Come, drink, boys, drink! |
| II. |
| Our Father-land! 'Tis that the vine produces: How else should be this jolly wine So good, so good? Long as we stand, We'll put it to its uses: So laugh about, and quaff about, As true souls should! |
| III. |
| Oh Rhine! old Rhine, With milk and honey flowing! There grows the tree so well love we, The Vine, the Vine! There clusters shine On branches ever growing: So laugh about, and quaff about The good Rhine wine! |
| IV. |
| Come, drink, ha! ha! And, sure, we'll all be merry; Come, drink, ha, ha! come, laugh, ha, ha! Oh! ha, ha, ha! As full are we As e'er a Rhine-wine berry: So laugh about, and quaff about,— Oh! ha, ha, ha! |
It may be supposed that Affidavy had long since, in the joy of revelry, discharged from his mind all memory of the case which had so inflamed his fancy, and was content to leave it to be snapped up by a more fortunate rival. How far this was from the truth may be inferred from a phenomenon that presented itself about an hour after nightfall, at which period he appeared on the porch, followed by Schlachtenschlager and the rest, all singing with as much zeal as before, but vastly out of time and tune. A saddled horse stood at the door, on whose back some assisted the attorney to clamber, while others were seen holding by railing and pillar, and venting much good counsel with a deal of bad music. The Squire himself stood embracing a pillar, now poking forth his bare noddle to the drops trickling from the porch-roof, and now withdrawing it, to utter divers 'teufels!' and 'donners!' as the cold element profaned his visage of dignity, yet still maintaining his stand, and expatiating on the merit of the service he was rendering his guest.
"You see, Affidafy, man," he cried, "I'm a goodt-natured fellow: put there's my horse, my pest horse, and it's a padt night; and, Affidafy, man, you're as dtrunk as a chudge, poor man. But ho, ho! that's no matter, for ve're all so:
| 'As full are ve As ever vas a Rhine-fine perry:' |
Very goodt that, Affidafy!—Fell, ve're all mortal sinners; and, mine Gott, there is but little left in mine parrel, and Nierensteiner costs money. Fell! goodt pye, Affidafy, my poy, goodt night. Take goodt care of the horse, for he's my pest horse, Affidafy, for I'm a goodt-natured fellow as ever it vas. Goodt night, Affidafy!"——And "Goodt night, Affidafy!" muttered all, as the attorney, fetching a desperate reel in the saddle, waved a graceful adieu, and turned to depart. Instead of replying, however, to the farewell, he burst out again with
'The right Rhine wine!'
and the others obeying the invitation, again opened their lips, and chanted Bekränzt mit Laub, till he was out of sight. Then they staggered back into the house, to continue their orgies; where we will leave them, to follow the course of the attorney.
CHAPTER XIII.
If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness: if thou beest a devil, take 't as thou list.