And the free-cap strike ye through.
See it gleaming, softly beaming,
In my left this stain-free glave;
Thus I strike the cap through, swearing,
Honour bright for ever wearing,
Still to be a Bursché brave!
During the singing of the preceding stanzas, the two presidents hold their swords across each other, each holding his sword in his left hand, and placing the fingers of the right on it, to ratify the oath; and this being done, they pierce their caps through, and leave them hanging on the swords. While they do this, all sing:
Thus thou strik'st the cap through, swearing,
Honour bright for ever wearing,--
Still to be a Bursché brave!
Each president then sings thus to his next neighbour while he reaches him the cup:--
Drinker! swimming, bright o'erbrimming,
Take this Fatherlandish cup!