Hoffmann.--To the prosperity of my dear friends! May you--if in the autumn of our lives we should meet again--say to me, "All that we once wished thee on thy birthday, has had its fulfilment in ourselves. But may there never come a winter in your lives!" Let us sing something in company.
There twinkle three stars, oh! so friendly! I' the darkness of life do they shine, These stars, oh! they sparkle so kindly, We call them love, music, and wine, We call them love, music, and wine.
There lives in the sweet voice of singing, A heart sympathizing and true; Song giveth new youth to rejoicing, And barreth the heart to all rue!
But wine unto song is united, A joyous and wondrous thing; With glowing rays clothes itself brightly,-- To earth a perpetual spring!
But glitt'ring and joyfully winking, When brightly the third star doth shine; It sounds in the spirit like singing, It glows in the bosom like wine.
Then fill, ye three cordial planets, Our breasts with your glory divine; In life and in death our companions, Be love, and sweet music, and wine!
And wine, and sweet love, and singing, They honour the festival night; Then live! who in kissing and loving, In wine and in singing delight! In wine and in singing delight!
Hoffmann.--Gentlemen, don't drink yet. I must yet once more animate you; so then sing:--
Roundelay and barley-wine, Love we them for ever; Grasp them bravely where they shine,-- Cup's exhausted never!
(To Mr. Traveller.) Brother, thy beloved is called?--
All.--Georgina, she shall live-o! shall live-o! Georgina, she shall live-o!
All.--Roundelay and true grape wine, Love we them for ever. Grasp them bravely where they shine,-- Cup's exhausted never.
(To Von Kronen). Brother, thy beloved is called?--
All.--Rapunzel, she shall live-o! shall live-o! shall live-o! Rapunzel, she shall live-o!
So goes the song in this manner round; and each one names the actual or feigned name of his lady.
Mr. Traveller.--Where, then, have you found the name of Rapunzel, Von Kronen?
Von Kronen.--Look into Grimms' "Kinder und Haus-Märchen;" there you may read the moving history of Rapunzel, which has so seized upon me that I have without further ado made the poor Rapunzel my beloved.
Enderlin.--I hope that thou correspondest with her. How touchingly must the subscription of the letters sound:--"Thy faithful Rapunzel," or "Thy affectionate Rapunzel."