The World’s Wit and Humor: An Encyclopedia in 15 Volumes. 1906.
Gottfried August Bürger (17471794)The Wives of Weinsberg
W
’Tis sure a famous city;
It must have cradled, in its day,
Full many a maid of noble clay,
And matrons wise and witty;
And if ever marriage should happen to me,
A Weinsberg dame my wife shall be.
Fell out with this good city;
So down he came, one luckless day,
Horse, foot, dragoons, in stern array,
And cannon, more’s the pity!
Around the walls the artillery roared,
And bursting bombs their fury poured.
Then, red with indignation,
He bade the herald straight repair
Up to the gates, and thunder there
The following proclamation:
“Rascals! when I your town do take,
No living thing shall save its neck!”
These tidings through the city,
To every house a death-knell went;
Such murder-cries the hot air rent
Might move the stones to pity.
Then bread grew dear, and good advice
Could not be had for any price.
What shrieks of lamentation!
And “Kyrie Eleison!” cried
The pastors, and the flock replied,
“Lord, save us from starvation!”
“Oh, wo is me, poor Corydon!
My neck—my neck! I’m gone! I’m gone!”
Had all proved unavailing,
When hope hung trembling on a hair,
How oft has woman’s wit been there—
A refuge never failing;
For woman’s wit and papal fraud
Of olden time were famed abroad.
Last night had seen her plighted,
And whether in waking hour or dream,
Conceived a rare and novel scheme,
Which all the town delighted;
Which you, if you think otherwise,
Have leave to laugh at and despise.
And gun and bomb were sleeping,
Before the camp, with mournful mien,
The loveliest embassy were seen,
All kneeling low and weeping.
So sweetly, plaintively they prayed,
But no reply save this was made:
Each with her choicest treasure;
But let the knaves, their husbands, know
That unto them the king will show
The weight of his displeasure.”
With these sad terms the lovely train
Stole weeping from the camp again.
What happened? Give attention.
The city gates wide open fly,
And all the wives came trudging by,
Each bearing—need I mention?—
Her own dear husband on her back,
All snugly seated in a sack!
Not relishing, protested,
And urged the king; but Conrad spoke:
“A monarch’s word must not be broke!”
And there the matter rested.
“Bravo!” he cried. “Ha-ha! Bravo!
Our lady guessed it would be so.”
That night, at royal quarters.
The fiddles squeaked, the trumpets blew,
And up and down the dancers flew,
Court sprigs with city daughters.
The mayor’s wife—oh, rarest sight!—
Danced with the shoemaker that night!
’Tis sure a famous city;
It must have cradled, in its day,
Full many a maid of noble clay,
And matrons wise and witty;
And if ever marriage should happen to me,
A Weinsberg dame my wife shall be.