Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Zwei Lager

by Charles Follen Adams

ZWEI LAGER.

Der night vas dark as anyding,

Ven at mine door two vellers ring,

Und say, ven I ask who vas dhere,

"Git oup und git" — und den dey schvear-

"Zwei lager."

I says, "Tis late: schust leaf mine house,

Und don'd pe making sooch a towse!"

Dey only lauft me in der face,

Und say, "Pring oudt, ' Old Schweizerkase,'

Zwei lager."

I dold dem dot der bier vas oudt;

But dose two snaps set oup a shout,

Und said no matter if 'tvas late,

Dot dey moost haf "put on der schlate!

Zwei lager.

"Oh! go avay, dot is goot poys,"

Mine moder says, "und schtop der noise:"

But sdill dem vellers yellt avay;

Und dis vas all dot dey vould say, —

"Zwei lager."

"Vot makes you gome I" mine taughter said,

"Ven beoples all vas in deir ped:

Schust gome to-morrow ven you're dhry."

But dem two plackguards sdill did cry,

"Zwei lager."

"Vot means you by sooch dings as dese

I go und calls for der boleese,"

Says SchneigeH'ritz, who lifs next door:

Dey only yellt more as pefore.

"Zwei lager."

" You schust holdt on a leedle vhile,"

Says mine Katrina mit a schmile:

"I vix dose shaps, you pet my life,

So dey don'd ask off Pfeiffer's vife

Zwei lager."

Den righdt avay she got a peese

Of goot und schtrong old Limburg cheese,

Und put it schust outside der door;

Und den ve didn't hear no more

"Zwei lager."