And all already dance like mad--
Juchhe! Juchhe!
Juchheisa! Heisa! Ha!
So goes the fiddle-bow.
Faster and faster goes the music, and ever madder whirls the waltz. In complete equality and freedom seem here the most opposite elements to be mingled. The atmosphere is already smothering hot, and clouds of dost fly up. But that matters not. He that finds it too hot flings off his coat, and dances in his shirt sleeves; he that does not find the music keep time, helps it with the stamping of his foot. All seems totally happy--all unity. But the wine has, meantime, heated their heads, and suddenly in one corner of the hall rises a terrible hubbub. The strife has arisen about that maiden who, there weeping, endeavours to part the combatants. "What would the silly Knoten?" cries a student Then springs wrathfully forth a brisk tailor. "What be we? Knoten be we? dirt be we? Who says that, is an ass, and I say it!" A swarm of students that have rushed into the saloon raise a burst of hearty laughter. Then blazes the wrath of the Handwerksburschen; "Brother Hamburger! brother Leipsicer!" they cry. Numbers of them rush together, and strike with sticks, chair-legs, and bottles, at the little knot of students furiously, who grimly stand on their defence.
The Bursche shouts--
"Let each man arm himself like me, with sturdy stang,
And chase unto destruction the beastly Lumpen gang."
'Tis said and it is done! Bellona storms on high,
And the battle is renewed with menace and reply.
Zachariæ's Renommist.
But bravery must yield to multitudes.
They now begin to quit the bloody battle-field,
Yet slowly draw they off, and scarcely seem to yield;
And loath unto the base their noble backs to show,
They whirl their last club at them, as from the ground they go.
Ibid.
Even the fair ones have divided themselves into two parties, and one detachment wheels off with the overpowered body that they may enjoy the happiness of wandering homewards on the arm of the Bursche.
This burlesque student song on the Handwerksburschen is very descriptive of these scenes: