Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BALLAD OF HANS BREITMANN, by CHARLES GODFREY LELAND


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BALLAD OF HANS BREITMANN, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Der noble ritter hugo
Last Line: Dis maid mit nodings on.
Alternate Author Name(s): Breitmann, Hans
Variant Title(s): Ballad Of The Mermaid;ritter Hugo;ballad By Hans Breitmann


DER noble Ritter Hugo
Von Schwillensanfenstein
Rode out mit shpeer und helmet,
Und he coom to de panks of de Rhine.

Und oop dere rose a meermaid,
Vot hadn't got nodings on,
Und she say, "O, Ritter Hugo,
Vare you goes mit yourself alone?"

Und he says," I ride in de creen-wood,
Mit helmet and mit shpeer,
Till I cooms into ein Gasthaus,
Und dere I drinks some peer."

Und den outshpoke de maiden,
Vot hadn't got nodings on,
"I ton't dink mooch of beebles
Dat goes mit demselfs alone.

You'd petter come down in de wasser,
Vare dere's heaps of dings to see,
Und hafe a shplendid dimmer,
Und trafel along mit me.

"Dare you sees de fish a schwimmin,
Und you catches dem efery one."
So sang dis wasser maiden,
Vot hadn't got nodings on.

"Dare is drunks all full mit money
In ships dat vent down of old;
Und you helpsh yourself, by dunder!
To shimmerin crowns of gold.

"Shoost look at dese shpoons und vatches!
Shoost look at dese diamond rings!
Come down und fill your bockets,
Und I'll kiss you like eferydings!

"Vot you vantsh mit your schnapps und your
lager?
Coom down into der Rhine!
Dere ish pottles der Kaiser Charlemagne,
Vonce filled mit gold-red vine!"

Dat fetched him, -- he shtood all shpell-pound,
She pulled his coat-tails down,
She drawed him under de wasser,
Dis maid mit nodings on.




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